When I leased a BMW i4 nearly two years ago, I thought I had found the perfect balance of luxury, style, and sustainability. Unlike many futuristic-looking EVs, the i4’s understated design appealed to me. I loved its wide color range, especially “Brooklyn Gray” and I appreciated that it was less common than a Tesla in Northern California. Those first drives felt exhilarating. Smooth, powerful, and sleek, the i4 seemed like the car I’d been waiting for.
Fast forward, and I now find myself counting the days until my lease ends, because the software has been a disaster.
Basic features like the BMW Digital Key often fail, leaving me stranded outside my own car juggling groceries. Owners have documented elaborate, multi-step hacks just to get the system working. The iDrive user profile system also overcomplicates what should be simple, automatically prioritizing other drivers’ devices over mine.
CarPlay integration is equally frustrating, often breaking after updates and even dumping me out of navigation mid-drive. The backup camera barely functions in low light, and the infotainment screen gets uncomfortably hot. Worse, a “pseudo-sleep mode” sometimes leaves the car’s lights blazing long after I’ve parked, draining the battery.
These frustrations come on top of serious safety issues. The 2022 i4 was hit with six recalls in its first year, including one warning owners to stop driving due to fire risks. Other recalls involved sudden power loss from faulty battery control units.
BMW has tried to patch problems with frequent software updates, but the over-the-air system itself is buggy. Updates often stall or disable key services, forcing trips to the dealer. Owners of cheaper cars from Hyundai and Lexus report far smoother digital experiences, making BMW’s premium positioning feel hollow.
I wanted this relationship to work. The i4 is beautiful and drives like a dream. But owning it has meant constant workarounds, botched updates, and daily aggravation over features that should “just work.” Even my tech-savvy husband admitted defeat after one meltdown, muttering that he “needed to meditate” afterward.
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At over $50,000, a car should not feel like beta software. Instead of driving into the sunset, I’ll be handing back my keys. I never thought I’d say it, but I can’t wait for this lease to end.
