Kingsley Coman struck superbly for goals in the ninth and 14th minutes and Thomas Muller headed home for 3-0 five minutes later as Bayern got full points after drawing their first three 2023 league matches.
But after Jakub Kaminski pulled one back for Wolfsburg in the 44th and Bayern's key midfielder Joshua Kimmich was sent off in the 54th minute for a second bookable offence, things became a little more complicated for the champions who had to play for over half-and-hour with 10 men.
But a stunning solo goal from Jamal Musiala in the 73rd clinched matters for Bayern, even though fighting Wolfsburg got a second from Mattias Svanberg in the 81st and also had another goal disallowed.
"It became quite a lot of work as the game progressed. Conceding shortly before the break and then the dismissal. The 4-1 goal was very important," Muller told streaming portal DAZN.
Musiala had demonstrated all his class when he weaved past four defenders to smash that key fourth.
"You could see that we lusted to win. We had to win. But I see some potential for improvement. In the end the victory was deserved although Wolfsburg had their chances."
The 10-time reigning champions appeared mostly unaffected by internal unrest after harsh criticism from injured captain Manuel Neuer of the club's sporting leadership in connection with the release of goalkeeper coach Toni Tapalovic.
Bayern are now one point ahead of Union Berlin and three clear of Borussia Dortmund in the table. Union beat Mainz 2-1 on Saturday and Dortmund trounced Freiburg 5-1.
VfB Stuttgart, meanwhile, fell 2-0 at home against Werder Bremen in the other Sunday game to remain winless in the second part of the Bundesliga season under new coach Bruno Labbadia and stuck in the league's danger zone in third-last.
Bremen are eighth after their first win in a decade in Stuttgart from second-half goals by Jens Stage and Marvin Duksch.
