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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 F10 Technical Topics Navigation, iDrive, Audio, Video, Bluetooth, Phone, Coding 3G SIM card on board?
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      11-19-2012, 01:56 PM   #1
copello
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3G SIM card on board?

I have a 2012 520d with nav pro.
All Connected drive connections run through edge SIM card. On newer models, this SIM card is now 3G: Any one Knows if the upgrade is possible? Internet and email are so slow through edge connections.....
Tranks for the feedback!
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      11-19-2012, 02:11 PM   #2
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I've never heard of an upgrade for that. Seems like it would be more involved than just swapping out SIMs, i.e. programming, maybe different hardware required, etc.
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      11-19-2012, 02:46 PM   #3
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I could be wrong but I thought the 3G sim was for cars with the new nav system introduced in the second half of this year.
Give how patchy 3G reception can be* , I ownder how much of an advtanage that actually turns ot to be?

* (I'm going by my blackberry coverage into London on the train every day!)
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      11-19-2012, 04:29 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AP View Post
I could be wrong but I thought the 3G sim was for cars with the new nav system introduced in the second half of this year.
Give how patchy 3G reception can be* , I ownder how much of an advtanage that actually turns ot to be?

* (I'm going by my blackberry coverage into London on the train every day!)
You are correct, the 3G SIM is standard for the new Nav introduced this summer. Which means the older system in the 2012s would probably need a lot of modification, if such a thing was at all possible.

The original poster may be better served by holding out for a complete "new" Nav retrofit, should some third party offer it, in the upcoming years.

We have excellent 3G coverage here, and pretty decent LTE coverage as well. It is is not uncommon for me to hit 40Mpbs+ on downloads via my iPhone 5!
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      11-20-2012, 01:36 AM   #5
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Thanks for your contribution.... Probably best to swap the entire car.....
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      11-20-2012, 02:11 AM   #6
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You need to change combox, about 500E.
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      11-20-2012, 05:41 AM   #7
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just out of curiosity, where exactly is the sim?
Is it hidden away? I've no idead where it is.
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      11-20-2012, 06:44 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by copello View Post
Thanks for your contribution.... Probably best to swap the entire car.....
Correct, unfortunately.


Quote:
Originally Posted by AP View Post
just out of curiosity, where exactly is the sim?
Is it hidden away? I've no idead where it is.

I understand it to be in the rooftop antennae aka shark fin.
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      11-20-2012, 06:52 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by monogramus View Post
You need to change combox, about 500E.
I don't think so. Which Combox is he going to swap it out for? The new Nav hardware is not available via any 3rd party members, and likely won't be for some time.
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      11-20-2012, 03:56 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SamS View Post
I understand it to be in the rooftop antennae aka shark fin.
The E60s sim was located in the telematics control unit I would imagine as the combox has replaced the TCU thats where it would be.
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      11-27-2012, 10:48 PM   #11
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The SIM Card is located in the Combox Telematics module.

The new NBT Head Unit with 3G has the Combox built into it.
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      10-17-2013, 02:49 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shawnsheridan View Post
The SIM Card is located in the Combox Telematics module.

The new NBT Head Unit with 3G has the Combox built into it.
How can we change / insert a new SIM in the integrated Combox of the NBT? For NBT retrofit, how can we enable connected drive services such as remote access?
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      06-06-2014, 10:30 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by izen View Post
How can we change / insert a new SIM in the integrated Combox of the NBT? For NBT retrofit, how can we enable connected drive services such as remote access?
You can't

The car has something called an Intelligent Soft SIM which is actually software not hardware so unlike the SIM you have in your mobile phone, you can't just swap it out.

In theory a Soft SIM can work on any network if the network itself supports it however right now, all SIMs in all BMWs in all countries are provided by one supplier (the same applies for Audi, Jaguar LandRover, Fiat and others) and you would need to get BMW to get them to make the change (not going to happen)

As for the upgrade to 3G, this is dictated by the GSM hardware in the car and not the SIM card in use
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      06-16-2014, 06:09 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m@rk View Post
You can't

The car has something called an Intelligent Soft SIM which is actually software not hardware so unlike the SIM you have in your mobile phone, you can't just swap it out.

In theory a Soft SIM can work on any network if the network itself supports it however right now, all SIMs in all BMWs in all countries are provided by one supplier (the same applies for Audi, Jaguar LandRover, Fiat and others) and you would need to get BMW to get them to make the change (not going to happen)

As for the upgrade to 3G, this is dictated by the GSM hardware in the car and not the SIM card in use
Does that mean even if I have the connected drive services I cannot change to the High speed service from Edge to 3G? I have a free 3 year subscription on a aug 2010 car with professional sat nav.
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      06-17-2014, 10:11 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Barryoor View Post
Does that mean even if I have the connected drive services I cannot change to the High speed service from Edge to 3G? I have a free 3 year subscription on a aug 2010 car with professional sat nav.
You are limited by the hardware fitted into the car not the network itself. I am guessing that the hardware in the car is GSM only

I am surprised however that BMW have yet moved to better hardware. We did a big announcement earlier this year for Audi who are now fitting 4G onto all new cars moving forward
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      06-22-2014, 06:10 PM   #16
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thanks!!
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      04-03-2015, 04:28 PM   #17
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I know it's an old thread, but anyone aware, if the 3G sim can be updated to 4g, as it's not an actual sim, and just a bit of software?
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      04-04-2015, 10:33 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dexteryout View Post
I know it's an old thread, but anyone aware, if the 3G sim can be updated to 4g, as it's not an actual sim, and just a bit of software?
It's nothing to do with the SIM. It's the radio hardware that would need to be upgraded. Audi are certainly now fitting 4G radio hardware into all their new models so one would assume BMW will also be following suit however I can't see any reason for a retro fit.
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      04-04-2015, 10:52 AM   #19
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Yeah, agree wouldn't bother with a retrofit, just wondering if this is something that could be done, with a simple booking in, upgrade some software and leave, guess not.
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