Set your BMW's clock from your phone

Disconnecting or replacing the battery can reset a BMW's clock to a default date, and on some BMWs it's fiddly to set from the dashboard.

AutoLingo for BMW sets the instrument cluster's date and time to your phone's in one tap. When you connect, it also tells you if the car's clock is more than a few minutes off.

Which BMWs

BMWs whose instrument cluster AutoLingo for BMW can set. It changes the car, so it runs on the cars we've confirmed it on (below); on others the app shows it as Coming until we have, and you can set the clock in the car's own settings.

Confirmed on a real car: BMW 3 Series (E90) (October 2026)

Service jobs that change the car come to each BMW once we've confirmed them on a real car like it; until then the app shows them as Coming. Every update is free.

Before you start

  • Ignition on, engine off.
  • Your phone's clock right (it is when it sets itself from the network).
  • The AutoLingo for BMW adapter plugged in and connected.

Step by step

  1. Open the Service tab. Under “Clock”, tap Set next to “Set the car's clock”.
  2. The app reads the car's clock and asks whether to set it to your phone's time. Tap “Set the clock”.
  3. The app confirms: “Done — the cluster clock now reads …”.

Good to know

  • If the dashboard still shows the old time, turn the ignition off and on.
  • When you connect and the car's clock is more than 3 minutes off, the app offers to set it: tap “Set the clock”, or “Not now”.
  • After the clocks change for daylight saving time, set it again.

More how-tos: Check if your BMW is ready for an emissions inspection · Check your BMW's battery health · Register a new battery in your BMW · Read and reset your BMW's service intervals (CBS) · Open your BMW's electric parking brake for a rear brake job · Test your BMW's fuel pump, fans and injectors