BMW M Laptimer App available for download on iTunes

[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Launches the BMW M Laptimer App

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Precise, real-time racing-style telematics for BMW Enthusiasts.

BMW Group Technology Office USA announced today the release of the BMW M Laptimer App. The BMW M Laptimer App is made for BMW Brand vehicles with the BMW Apps option, and is now available in the iTunes Store.

Previewed in June 2013 (see BIMMERPOST preview video below) and intended for off-road use only, the BMW M Laptimer App records data from a BMW Apps–equipped vehicle’s on-board network and GPS receiver to create comparative track sessions and provide essential performance information. It generates track maps and captures essential driving data including top speed, number of laps, best lap time and ambient temperature. Information is then presented on the scorecard screen when the vehicle is no longer in motion.

The BMW M Laptimer provides highly visual depictions of throttle, speed, brake input, engine RPM, fuel level, and g-force. Users can easily zoom in and out, and rewind or fast forward through track recordings. BMW M Laptimer will automatically calculate laps and times for the user without the need for pre-installed track map data. The App can be used on virtually any closed circuit.

A Comparison Mode gives users the ability to view individual or dual runs in real-time. Users can select their own laps or compare against a lap sent by another BMW driver. Users may also share track day results with friends to compare data. Additionally, users can post results through social media integration, including Facebook and Twitter.

The BMW M Laptimer app can be downloaded for free in the iTunes App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bmw-...ign-mpt=uo%3D2

BIMMERPOST Addendum:

Instructions for installing app from outside the U.S.

Go to settings and choose Itunes and App Store then click on your iTunes id and select view. Change your location to be US. Then enter payment information, choose Method to be None. Next put in any valid address (only need the city and state - I chose Cupertino CA for the irony of it).

Then put in a phone number with a 3 digit area code and (I think) 7 digits for the rest. now you are done.

Go back to this post and click the link - and you will go straight to the app in the US iTunes store. Once you have downloaded it, you will of course have to set your details back using the same method as above to be your home location.

Takes 5 mins from start to finish and you will have the app.

BMW Announcement Video

BIMMERPOST Video Demo

Screenshots:

BMW M Power App

BIMMERPOST BMW M Laptimer App Review

BIMMERPOST review:

In short, the M Power App records data from the various automotive sensors in the car and uses that information to record track sessions and provide:

• lap times and scorecard view
• real-time review of the lap (with comparison modes)
• important technical data
  • throttle input
  • steering input
  • braking force
  • G-force
  • RPM
  • fuel efficiency

Two of my favorite features of the app include the head-to-head ghost comparison mode and the custom track generator feature.

The app can generate custom tracks on the fly, so you aren't limited to only using the app for its preprogrammed tracks. This feature will be useful for autocross, custom tracks or regular trips to your grocery store.

The head-to-head ghost comparison mode lets you compare two separate laps and view both runs on the track map in real time. It's a great way to see where one lap gained or lost time to the other. The two laps chosen for comparison can both be the user's own laps, or compared against a lap sent to the user by anyone else (friend, track instructor, etc.). Enough talk, you can see best for yourself in the video below.

The app was demoed to us by two fellas from the BMW Technology Office - Phil Johnston, Product Manager for the BMW Group Apps Platform and Paul Doersch, the US Product Manager and Technical Lead for the M Power App.

Requirements / Availability:
iOS6 / iOS7
BMW Apps Option
USB Cable or Snap-In Adapter
* Can be used for any BMW model (not only M cars) with BMW Apps option

[sergeremi]

DAMNIT! One week after my session at Roebling Road! Grrrr.

But sweet that it's out now!

[timbo_3101]

Thanks for alerting us to this.
Seems to be available (free) on US iTunes.

My only issue with Harry's LapTimer is some slight inconsistencies compared to others' devices. For example, circuit length may differ by 1-2% and therefore speed calculations are affected. Furthermore, it occasionally fails to register speed at particular data points on a given lap. (I store my iPhone under my central arm rest, quite far from any window.)

I wonder if this freely available BMW M LapTimer is more reliable ...

[Jason]

Added instructions to first post for installing this outside the U.S.

[fastauto]

Jason, how easy is it to add bmw apps to a car that did not come with it.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by sergeremi

DAMNIT! One week after my session at Roebling Road! Grrrr.

But sweet that it's out now!

Amazing. This aint the days of the E36 M3.... (when BMW was denying claims of vehicles that had been tracked when the valve spring retainers were blowing)

[ayao]

Originally Posted by fastauto

Jason, how easy is it to add bmw apps to a car that did not come with it.

Regretting at the moment not springing for BMW Apps on stripper car...although functionality and ROI seems limited sans big nav screen.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by ayao

Regretting at the moment not springing for BMW Apps on stripper car...although functionality and ROI seems limited sans big nav screen.

Same here... but just for a second.. then realized it would be a feature that I would have paid for 2 years ago that really got little to no use until now.

[Mnime]

Come on Mark...you know you would still have fun with it even though it was late. You can check mine out at the next event

[sergeremi]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Amazing. This aint the days of the E36 M3.... (when BMW was denying claims of vehicles that had been tracked when the valve spring retainers were blowing)

Well, not so sure they still wouldn't deny them. The disclaimer when launching the app says warranty provisions still apply and that it's not intended for "performance" or high risk driving. So they may still play that game.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Mnime

Come on Mark...you know you would still have fun with it even though it was late. You can check mine out at the next event

or ... I would have already puchased a SOLO DL. ha!

[robertm]

We ran an AIM Solo something or another in the car last weekend. The predictive lap timer was really fricken awesome! Gave you the ability to know if you were on a hot lap or not. Also helped to see if any changes made on track helped or hurt on the fly. All within reason of course, but man I really enjoyed having it!!

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by robertm

We ran an AIM Solo something or another in the car last weekend. The predictive lap timer was really fricken awesome! Gave you the ability to know if you were on a hot lap or not. Also helped to see if any changes made on track helped or hurt on the fly. All within reason of course, but man I really enjoyed having it!!

Predictive lap on the solo is AWESOME!

[DarthColin]

If anyone has a recording of a nurburgring lap, I'd be happy to accept an email share of it, wink wink, nudge nudge.

[CP 1///M]

Digging this from the dead because I wanted to hack the data output...

I remember some old posting where someone posted a graph of RPM vs Time, and so far based on my investigation, the data is only proprietary but not encrypted so it's relatively easy to reverse engineer. I don't know if this kind of proprietary info would get me in trouble with the BMW lawyers so PM me for more details...

Ideally, someone with iOS development background would be able assist on the real data type, and the least we can do, is make a converter so someone can make an gauge overlay with Dashware and such. Looks like the M developers like to use IEEE Double for storage

[scotth944]

I'd be interested in knowing how many data fields are accessible via the USB port compared to the OBD2 and what sampling rate you can access them at. It would be nice if we could use a smart phone instead of a laptop to call up any of the available system parameters for logging while going down the road.

[CP 1///M]

I think the BMW Apps protocol is proprietary enough for me not to bother - all I'm doing right now is take the M laptimer recorded data and trying to convert it into a CSV or other useful format. The M laptimer seems to only record a sample when it's changed - for example, if the speed didn't change (ie, you're stopped), you get 1 record showing 0 Km/h at a certain time. RPM / Acceleration / Location data seems to have the highest frequency - I get RPM samples somewhere between 400-800 microseconds. The built-in Nav tries to supply "corrected" coordinates based on the roads on the map set

Apparently BMW Apps SDK isn't something you can just buy either

[SpencerMH]

Originally Posted by scotth944

I'd be interested in knowing how many data fields are accessible via the USB port compared to the OBD2 and what sampling rate you can access them at. It would be nice if we could use a smart phone instead of a laptop to call up any of the available system parameters for logging while going down the road.

You could do this for many but not all parameters with a jb4 and the jb4connect app fyi

[Hobbe]

...so if I use iTunes the whole world would soon be able to se my private laptimes ?

[CP 1///M]

Only if you share... I intend to use this data for making video

[cmcgonag]

I contacted the BMW apps people multiple times. I have talked to their engineers and the higher ups. Anything involving deep diving into CANBUS data they wont let you get at. You can hack whatever you want but just dont expect help on their end. I am looking for a BMW app that displays all the AWRON data on the iDRIVE screen. I think the SDK they give people doesnt have access to canbus data.

[CP 1///M]

So basically, making an independent app to log the relevant data is out of question - but conversion is very much possible from the data collected by the M Laptimer app. I have 2 scripts that will work with the data files generated by this app to generate a CSV equivalent - except for the fuel consumption data. There were are few files that I haven't investigated yet (because my runs weren't exactly on a track so it never created multiple laps) - I should probably look at the sample files and see what other data were generated if you actually drive in a lap