Reverse Engineering the BMW i3 API

[psquare]

[shudders slightly]

https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2015/11/reverse-engineering-the-bmw-i3-api/

 

[alohart]

Of course, an API could be a double-edge sword if BMW has not secured it well. But this API has been exposed in an earlier hackathon, so presumably it's been suitably hardened. I look forward to others using this API to create apps that are much more functional than iRemote.

More important to me would be an app that could connect directly with the car without involving the car's cellular transceiver and BMW's servers (e.g., via the car's data port). Implementing this app would require identifying data that's flowing over the car's data busses which would not be easy. This app could be an enhanced data display available while driving. Almost certainly, much more data are available via the data port than are sent from the car to BMW's servers. A talented electronics whiz built an enhanced data display device for our Honda Insight, so it's certainly doable.

Let the hacking begin!

 

[Schnort]

I'd just like my car to tell me when it's been plugged in or is done charging.

 

[Sparky]

and the i3 app does that.

 

[psquare]

and the i3 app does that.

I think Schnort was talking about a Push-Message instead of firing up an app or website to check the status.

 

[Schnort]

Yes, I was referring to push notifications.

 

[Sparky]

My bad.