Frequently asked questions
What dongle do I need?
Any standard ELM327-compatible Bluetooth OBD-II adapter that supports BMW's diagnostic protocol — Carista is confirmed working. No proprietary hardware to buy.
Can this modify my car or change any setting?
No. BIM DPF GUARD only ever reads data from your car — it never sends any command, write, or control instruction. It cannot trigger a regeneration, change a setting, or affect the vehicle in any way.
Does the app use my phone's microphone?
No, never.
Will the alert interrupt my car's radio?
Only if your phone is the active Bluetooth audio source at the time (e.g. streaming music/calls) — the alert plays through whatever audio route your phone is already using. If the car's built-in radio/tuner is active instead, a phone app has no way to duck or interrupt it, since that's the head unit's own separate audio source.
Does the background monitoring drain my battery?
No meaningfully — in real-world testing, hours of background reconnect attempts used well under 1% battery per hour.
Does it start automatically when I get in the car?
Usually, yes, once you've paired your dongle for the first time — Android reconnects in the background, typically within seconds to a couple of minutes. It's not instant or 100% guaranteed every single time (that's an Android platform limitation, not specific to this app), so a manual "Start monitoring" button is always available as a fallback. A persistent notification appears at the top of your screen showing the live status (connected, reconnecting, soot mass, active regeneration) — you can tell at a glance whether the app is running, without needing to open it.
Can I use bimmer-tool or another OBD app at the same time?
Not reliably at the same time — most Bluetooth OBD dongles (including Carista) only support one connected app at a time. Use the "Pause monitoring" button to free up the dongle for another app; it automatically resumes on your next drive.
How does billing work?
BIM DPF GUARD is an annual subscription: €12.99 for the first year, then €5.99/year on renewal. You can cancel anytime from Paddle's receipt email — your license stays active until the end of the period you've already paid for, then simply isn't renewed.
How many devices can I activate my license on?
Up to 2 at a time. If you get a new phone, just activate on the new one — if you're already at the limit, the app shows your currently active devices and lets you pick one to deactivate right there, no need to contact support.
Which cars/engines are supported?
BMW F/G-series diesels on the B47/B47D engine family are confirmed. Coverage is actively expanding — see the home page for the current status.
I didn't get my license email — what do I do?
Check your spam folder first. If it's still not there after 10 minutes, get in touch and we'll resend your code.