User Guide
How to set up and use the app
Nexiter LIVE sends your BMW or MINI's live state of charge — plus bonus data like charging status and tyre pressure — straight to A Better Route Planner (ABRP) — no OBD dongle and no monthly subscription. It connects directly to BMW CarData (BMW's own data service) using your personal accounts, and keeps running quietly in the background while you drive. Speed is included too, and location comes from your phone's own GPS by default (configurable in Settings).
1. What you'll need
| An Android phone | Android 12 or newer. |
|---|---|
| Main-user BMW account | The BMW ID that is the vehicle's primary user (see above). |
| A BMW CarData client | Free, created once in the BMW portal during setup (about 10 minutes). |
| An ABRP account + token | The live-data token requires ABRP Premium. You'll copy one token from the ABRP app. |
2. First launch
The first time you open the app it shows a short disclaimer explaining that Nexiter LIVE is independent and not affiliated with BMW or ABRP, and that those services can change at any time. Read it and tap I Understand — Continue. This also starts your 14-day free trial.
3. Setup wizard (5 steps)
The wizard walks you through connecting BMW and ABRP.
- Welcome A quick overview and the main-user reminder. Tap Get Started.
-
Create your BMW CarData client
Pick your brand (BMW or MINI) and tap Open BMW Portal —
it opens the correct site for your country. Sign in with your BMW ID, then:
- Subscribe to both CarData API and CarData Streaming (both free).
- Create a new client (name it anything, e.g. "Nexiter LIVE") and enable the data stream for your car.
- Copy your Client ID and note your 17-character VIN.
-
Connect to BMW
Enter your Client ID and VIN and tap
Connect to BMW. The app shows a short code and a button to
open the BMW sign-in page. On that page, sign in as the car's main user
and type the code. When it's approved, the app shows BMW Connected ✓.
There is no "client secret" to enter — the app uses a secure code-based login instead.
- Connect to ABRP Tap Open ABRP, then in ABRP open your car's Live Data settings and copy your user token. Paste it into the app and tap Test Connection. You do not need an ABRP API key — that's built into the app.
- Start the bridge Tap Start Bridge. You'll land on the Dashboard and your live data begins flowing to ABRP — even with the screen off.
4. The Dashboard
Your home screen once set up:
- State of Charge — the big number is your battery %; below it, speed, charging, and estimated range when available.
- Received / Pushed — when the app last got data from BMW and last sent it to ABRP.
- Bridge status: RUNNING (streaming), RECONNECTING (re-establishing the link), STOPPED (off), or RE-LINK NEEDED (your BMW login expired — see Troubleshooting).
- Start / Stop Bridge — turn the background service on or off.
- Open ABRP — jump to the ABRP app to see your live trip.
- During the trial, a banner shows the days remaining and a shortcut to unlock.
5. Settings
| Theme | System, Light, or Dark. |
|---|---|
| Language | 13 languages; defaults to your phone's language. |
| Location & speed | Use phone GPS for location (on by default, recommended) — ABRP uses your phone's accurate GPS instead of the car's slower, sparse location. Speed is always sent either way. |
| Notification | Show live details (battery, speed) in the ongoing status notification. |
| Car Bluetooth | Pick your car's Bluetooth so the bridge wakes automatically when you get in (drive start). Optional. |
| BMW connection | Re-link BMW — re-run the BMW sign-in if your connection ever expires, without losing your other settings. |
| Background running | Allow the app to run unrestricted so Android doesn't kill it (see below). |
| BMW REST quota | Shows how many of BMW's limited daily data calls you've used (the app stays well under the limit). |
| Log | The last 100 log lines — handy if something isn't working. |
| Clear all data & reset | Removes all credentials and settings and starts setup over. |
6. Keeping it running in the background
- Allow background running. In Settings, tap Allow background running and approve, so Android (especially Samsung) doesn't stop the bridge while the screen is off.
- After a phone restart the bridge restarts itself — you don't have to open the app.
- After ANY app or Android update, open the app once. Android puts updated apps in a paused state where no background trigger works — until you open it, the bridge will not auto-start on your next drive.
- Bluetooth wake. If you set your Car Bluetooth, connecting to the car wakes the bridge for the drive.
- One phone per car. Install on a single phone per car — BMW allows only one live data stream per account, so two phones would knock each other off it.
7. Trial & purchase
- Full access for 14 days, free.
- After that, a one-time €9.99 unlock gives lifetime access — no subscription, ever.
- Changed phones? Tap Restore Purchase to recover it on the same Google account.
8. Troubleshooting
| Status says RE-LINK NEEDED | Your BMW login expired. Tap the red banner on the Dashboard (or Settings → BMW connection → Re-link BMW) and complete the BMW sign-in again. The main user must do this step. |
|---|---|
| No data appears in ABRP | Check the bridge is RUNNING; confirm "Allow background running" is enabled; make sure your ABRP token is for the right vehicle. A parked car only sends data occasionally — that's normal. |
| "Connection failed" during BMW setup | Confirm you subscribed to both CarData API and Streaming, that the Client ID and VIN are correct (VIN is 17 characters), and that you signed in as the main user. |
| Battery seems higher than expected | The app only transmits when the car sends new data (every few minutes while driving), so drain is normally negligible. If it seems high, check the Settings → Log for constant reconnects and get in touch. |
| Bridge stops when screen is off | Enable "Allow background running" and set the app's battery usage to Unrestricted in your phone's settings. |
9. Your data & privacy
Your BMW and ABRP credentials are stored securely on your phone and are never sent to us — there is no Nexiter LIVE server. Vehicle data flows only between BMW, your phone, and ABRP. See the Privacy Policy for details.
10. Disclaimer
Nexiter LIVE is an independent app and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by BMW Group or Iternio (ABRP). These companies may change or discontinue their services at any time, which could stop the app from working. See the Terms of Service.
Need help?
Email nexiter@flax-creative.com.
