[Garethdphillips]

I have been experiencing a very bizzare issue with the vehicle finder function of my F11 since early or mid December, and I was curious if this was just me, or if others are seeing the same.

I have tried the new BMW connected app and the older BMW remote app, and the results are the same in both, which leads me to think this is more likely an issue with the service than the app.

When I request the location of my vehicle, the location is returned as my location (i.e. the location of my mobile device). If I am stood next to the car when I am testing, I may initially think that this is working as expected, but obviously If I am away from my vehicle, this issue becomes apparent, as the app still reports that the vehicle is in the exact spot that my phone is reporting, which is clearly nonsense.

I have noticed that the vehicle finder service has been very hit and miss, often failing to return a result for the locator search, but it appears to me that rather than resolve any underlying issue with the service, BMW have opted to simply return the mobile location to avoid returning an error message? Or is it just me....

Can anybody else test for me?

Thanks

[xenon]

Works fine for me using the new combined app - the old app doesn't even run for me. I assume you have location services switched on in the car to get rid of the 1500m limit?

[Garethdphillips]

Originally Posted by xenon

Works fine for me using the new combined app - the old app doesn't even run for me. I assume you have location services switched on in the car to get rid of the 1500m limit?

Thank you for trying that.

It works in that the BMW Connected app (new combined app) appears to locate the car, but it just puts it at my current location. If I move away from the car, its still putting me directly op top of the car.

I cannot see any way to remove the 1500m limit. I have a pre NBT iDrive, its the Pro idrive, so that option isnt available, and the screens look a bit different.

[xenon]

Hmm. I thought CCC was always restricted to 1500m. Not that that completely explains your predicament.

[Garethdphillips]

Originally Posted by xenon

Hmm. I thought CCC was always restricted to 1500m. Not that that completely explains your predicament.

Mine isnt CCC, it is CIC Pro, but its not just the LCI version with the upgraded graphics and animations etc (NBT I think its called)

[Garethdphillips]

Originally Posted by xenon

Hmm. I thought CCC was always restricted to 1500m. Not that that completely explains your predicament.

...So when you use the mobile app (connected drive) to locate the vehicle, it reports the correct location?

as I say, mine just shows the car at the same location as me (blue spot on the map) even though it is reporting a success and appears to be working

[xenon]

Yes. On the two F10s I had, both of which had CiC, it would report the correct location but only if you were within 1500m otherwise it was hidden for 'privacy reasons'. In the F31 with NBT (pictured above) there is the option for GPS tracking within the menu that when activated shows the car position correctly even if you're on a different continent.

However, at the moment it is working correctly for me.

[Garethdphillips]

Originally Posted by xenon

Yes. On the two F10s I had, both of which had CiC, it would report the correct location but only if you were within 1500m otherwise it was hidden for 'privacy reasons'. In the F31 with NBT (pictured above) there is the option for GPS tracking within the menu that when activated shows the car position correctly even if you're on a different continent.

However, at the moment it is working correctly for me.

Ok thanks again.

Mine has worked, for sure, but now its stopped. Even if I spoof my GPS location on my phone using an app, the BMW app then tells me that my car is there, totally screwy!

Regarding the 1500m restriction, I guess there is no way to remove this on a pre NBT car.

[IanS100]

On the BMW Remote app there are 2 choices on the map screen, one return the current location of the phone / app while the other returns the current location of the car. Both shortcuts are located on the map screen one above the other, and just under the satellite icon.

[Garethdphillips]

Originally Posted by IanS100

On the BMW Remote app there are 2 choices on the map screen, one return the current location of the phone / app while the other returns the current location of the car. Both shortcuts are located on the map screen one above the other, and just under the satellite icon.

Yes, but I am definitely using the correct one. I get the car icon, and the date / time of the location request updates to current time. It just places the car on my phone location dot (blue dot) for no apparent reason

[Garethdphillips]

This issue could be specific to android (though it is doing the same in both the "BMW Connected" app, and the "My BMW Remote" app.

I will try an iPhone and report back...

[Garethdphillips]

So I tried this on an iPhone too, same behaviour. It's crazy.

Walked around the block and tried to locate the vehicle at several points, Each time the location of the car was reported as having followed me around !

[Fox530]

How old is the car? My first F10 didn't have this feature at all despite the app suggesting it did and therefore the app behaved exactly as yours is - it always showed my location, not the car, and marked it as if that was the cars location.

I think its pre Combox cars that don't have it - so just 10 plate ones.

[Garethdphillips]

The car is 2010 but has combox with BMW online and apps, as well as remote services:

Remote lock / unlock
Remote headlight flash
Ventilation
Vehicle locator

It's always worked until December and all other remote services work. I can unlock the car, or lock the car, or send an address to the car.

Maybe it's died for older cars, not sure why though. The car knows where it is as if I call consierge services, they can see where I am.

[Apples12]

How do I enable vehicle finder?

I have all the other options incl BMW apps, remote services and online services..

[MrPogle]

Originally Posted by Garethdphillips

Maybe it's died for older cars, not sure why though. The car knows where it is as if I call consierge services, they can see where I am.

Mine is the same. I don't know when it was last working but it was definitely OK a few months ago. 2014 LCI with pro navigation and an HTC M8.

Also, I have NBT but can't disable the 1500m limit. I assume a later software release must be required.

[Garethdphillips]

Originally Posted by MrPogle

Mine is the same. I don't know when it was last working but it was definitely OK a few months ago. 2014 LCI with pro navigation and an HTC M8.

Thanks. Not sure if that is a good thing or not, but it's not just me. Maybe all none NBT systems?

[Garethdphillips]

Originally Posted by Apples12

How do I enable vehicle finder?

I have all the other options incl BMW apps, remote services and online services..

If your car lists it as one of the available services, it should be available in the connected drive app.

Login at connected drive UK website to check services (though vehicle finder only works in the app)

[MrPogle]

Originally Posted by Garethdphillips

Thanks. Not sure if that is a good thing or not, but it's not just me. Maybe all none NBT systems?

I have NBT.

[Garethdphillips]

Originally Posted by MrPogle

I have NBT.

Ok ,must be a bigger problem then. but I guess not everybody.

Thanks for confirming. My other remote services are fine, so hopefully they will resolve this. Not that it really matters, its just annoying

[Garethdphillips]

Originally Posted by MrPogle

Mine is the same. I don't know when it was last working but it was definitely OK a few months ago. 2014 LCI with pro navigation and an HTC M8.

Also, I have NBT but can't disable the 1500m limit. I assume a later software release must be required.

Regarding the 1500m limit, you would think that was controllable by the connected drive service / servers, not only in the car. Who knows.

[IanS100]

I have a 2015 NBT (built Nov or Dec 2014 I think) but BMW Remote accurately shows both where I am and where the car is!

I haven't tested the 1500m limit