Google Maps + Connected Drive = Amazing

TheGr8Swami · 03-29-2013, 06:23 PM

Awhile back I posted about issues my folks were having with poor driving directions from BMW's latest TeleNav update. My parents don't trust the built in navigation and will use a Garmin or their Android phone for directions. Yesterday while updating my BMW billing information online I read about the full capabilities of Connected Drive and wanted to try the Google Maps feature. After finding the problem addresses on Google, I sent them to my parents' car and asked them to try it out. Low and behold the turn by turn directions were spot on! If these directions weren't correct, my mother would've sent me to get neutered like that poor Boxer in the commercial.

Another win for Google Maps & Connected Drive!!

dmontg · 03-30-2013, 03:11 PM

We'll.....
Best I could do was to send destinations, can you tell us how you sent a route? I am defining a route as travel with an interim destination and a final one.

TheGr8Swami · 03-30-2013, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmontg

We'll.....
Best I could do was to send destinations, can you tell us how you sent a route? I am defining a route as travel with an interim destination and a final one.

dmontg, the issue with the TeleNav/TomTom mapping update is that certain locations/destinations aren't on the maps. By sending the destinations via Google Maps through BMW Connected Drive, you alleviate this problem.

I did 3 tests with problem addresses. Previous attempts to get to these addresses by entering them from BMW's iDrive were unsuccessful. You're either sent on a wild goose chase, or you end up at the wrong location! When using the Google Map message in Connected Drive, the Navigation System was spot-on!

psyxologos · 03-30-2013, 08:19 PM

send to car from the google play store is great, if this is what you are talking about...

Luigi524TD · 03-30-2013, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psyxologos

send to car from the google play store is great, if this is what you are talking about...

Actually you can do both ... with an active BMW Assist account you can use the smartphone app (send to car) OR if using Google Maps on a PC you can send the map/destination to the car (using the BMW Assist account name). BTW - this was possible with a BMW w/Nav manufactured after 9/2006 as long as you have an active BMW Assist account.

mdrobc13 · 03-31-2013, 01:49 AM

So how do you use this again? Is it an option on all cars or something you have to order? I have a BMW Assist account but rarely use it. So you're saying I can send goggle map addresses to the car via that avenue?

TheGr8Swami · 03-31-2013, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdrobc13

So how do you use this again? Is it an option on all cars or something you have to order? I have a BMW Assist account but rarely use it. So you're saying I can send goggle map addresses to the car via that avenue?

As long as you have Navigation and Connected Drive the service is activated.

Find your location in Google Maps and double click the pin. Select "More" and then choose "Send to Car". Choose BMW then enter your Connected Drive email address and the location is sent to your Messages.

mdrobc13 · 03-31-2013, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGr8Swami

As long as you have Navigation and Connected Drive the service is activated.

Find your location in Google Maps and double click the pin. Select "More" and then choose "Send to Car". Choose BMW then enter your Connected Drive email address and the location is sent to your Messages.

I think you have to have the $199/yr BMW Assist plan to send Google Maps to the car. From what I saw on my contract for BMW Assist that is where it identified BMW Assist and Google Maps as a requirement. Not sure its worth the extra $199/mo.

hinckley · 04-05-2013, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdrobc13

I think you have to have the $199/yr BMW Assist plan to send Google Maps to the car. From what I saw on my contract for BMW Assist that is where it identified BMW Assist and Google Maps as a requirement. Not sure its worth the extra $199/mo.

Not correct. As the OP said, just an active Connected Drive account.

mdrobc13 · 04-07-2013, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hinckley

Not correct. As the OP said, just an active Connected Drive account.

Hmm...still do not get any contacts sent to the car. Menu on i-drive is blank and says none despite sending multiple items to the car's account listed by BMW Assist. Even called them to verify the correct email address. I think you have to have the $199 plan to get this as it doesn't show on my paperwork as listed on the basic free plan from BMW but as part of the convenience plan at $199/mo.

hinckley · 04-07-2013, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdrobc13

Hmm...still do not get any contacts sent to the car. Menu on i-drive is blank and says none despite sending multiple items to the car's account listed by BMW Assist. Even called them to verify the correct email address. I think you have to have the $199 plan to get this as it doesn't show on my paperwork as listed on the basic free plan from BMW but as part of the convenience plan at $199/mo.

Are you talking about sending contacts from your phone to your car, or sending a Google destination from your computer to your car?

Contacts are sent via Bluetooth and must be configured correctly in your phone. Google destinations via your computer do not need the $199/mo plan. I don't have the plan and have sent destinations several times.

mdrobc13 · 04-07-2013, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hinckley

Are you talking about sending contacts from your phone to your car, or sending a Google destination from your computer to your car?

Contacts are sent via Bluetooth and must be configured correctly in your phone. Google destinations via your computer do not need the $199/mo plan. I don't have the plan and have sent destinations several times.

Contacts via blue tooth work great. Its the Google destinations which I have yet to have work properly. Have sent many destinations to the car with nothing showing multiple times via my computer. Guess I get to call BMWAssist once again.

hinckley · 04-07-2013, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdrobc13

Contacts via blue tooth work great. Its the Google destinations which I have yet to have work properly. Have sent many destinations to the car with nothing showing multiple times via my computer. Guess I get to call BMWAssist once again.

And just to be sure . . . if the Google destinations were getting to your car, they'd show up as a message. You'd need to open the message and then save the destination imbedded in the message. Have you checked your messages in iDrive?

kthankzbye · 04-07-2013, 06:07 PM

Download the BMW remote app in the appstore. Put in your name and password to your BMW assist. Go to google maps and find the destination then SEND TO CAR. It's free and i've been using it since I got my car. Other features include remote locking and unlocking, flashing of the lights and honking.

mdrobc13 · 04-07-2013, 07:58 PM

Checked messages and nothing is there. No messages each time I look.

kthankzbye · 04-07-2013, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdrobc13

Checked messages and nothing is there. No messages each time I look.

You need to send the destination to your car via email address linked to your BMW assist.

mdrobc13 · 04-07-2013, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kthankzbye

You need to send the destination to your car via email address linked to your BMW assist.

Have done that already and STILL get nothing. That's my problem. I verified the email address they have and have sent like 10 destinations to the car but got nothing on the i-drive.

kthankzbye · 04-07-2013, 09:53 PM

Did you activate BMW Assist inside your car? I had that problem the first time and the dealer told me to push the SOS button and talk to a BMW assist rep. and that helped me solve my problem.

Zaman · 04-07-2013, 10:08 PM

Interesting stuff. I have to go and try that.
Thanks Guys.

satzinger · 11-25-2014, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGr8Swami

As long as you have Navigation and Connected Drive the service is activated.

Find your location in Google Maps and double click the pin. Select "More" and then choose "Send to Car". Choose BMW then enter your Connected Drive email address and the location is sent to your Messages.

I have been trying like crazy, but i cannot figure this bmw-connecteddrive out.
Where do you get the bmw-connecteddrive email address?
I tried to go to the CD portal but there is nothing for the USA, only Mexico and Brazil.
This drives me nuts.
Can anybody help me?

marsb007 · 12-27-2014, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satzinger

I have been trying like crazy, but i cannot figure this bmw-connecteddrive out.
Where do you get the bmw-connecteddrive email address?
I tried to go to the CD portal but there is nothing for the USA, only Mexico and Brazil.
This drives me nuts.
Can anybody help me?

When your vehicle was set up, didn't they ask you for an email address for BMW Assist? If it wasn't set up, just call the 800 number, or go thru Idrive to connected services and contact them from there. You'll need to have a valid account before you can even remotely begin...

Once you are set, you should have access to the "BMW Remote" app which allows you to lock/flash headlights/honk/etc, and search for addresses on Google. From there you can also send to car.

The message should appear in your "office/messages" folder in your car in 20-30 seconds.

If you're feeling adventurous, activate the send to car feature in your desktop/laptop as well. You can google "Google maps send to car" and it should point you into the right direction.

Good luck!

al2813 · 01-04-2015, 10:36 AM

I am currently looking at the possibility to retrofit BMW apps (6NR) to my car. will I be able to then have connected drive and send Google destinations to my car? I do not have BMW Assist (no SOS button). What are the fees involved (except the one time FSC for getting apps)?

Many thanks from a confused newbie.

03-29-2013, 06:23 PM	#1
TheGr8Swami Private First Class 17 Rep 186 Posts Drives: 2012 550i M-Sport w/XDrive Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (0)	Google Maps + Connected Drive = Amazing Awhile back I posted about issues my folks were having with poor driving directions from BMW's latest TeleNav update. My parents don't trust the built in navigation and will use a Garmin or their Android phone for directions. Yesterday while updating my BMW billing information online I read about the full capabilities of Connected Drive and wanted to try the Google Maps feature. After finding the problem addresses on Google, I sent them to my parents' car and asked them to try it out. Low and behold the turn by turn directions were spot on! If these directions weren't correct, my mother would've sent me to get neutered like that poor Boxer in the commercial. Another win for Google Maps & Connected Drive!! __________________ 2012 550xi MSport - everything but TV's in the head rests!
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03-30-2013, 03:11 PM	#2
dmontg Private 3 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 2013 MSport 550i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	We'll..... Best I could do was to send destinations, can you tell us how you sent a route? I am defining a route as travel with an interim destination and a final one. __________________ Best regards, Don M
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03-30-2013, 08:19 PM	#4
psyxologos Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 203 Posts Drives: E46 330 ci SE, F11 530d SE Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Lancaster, Lancashire iTrader: (0)	send to car from the google play store is great, if this is what you are talking about...
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03-31-2013, 01:49 AM	#6
mdrobc13 Colonel 340 Rep 2,232 Posts Drives: Made in Bavaria Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: On a base somewhere near or afar! iTrader: (8) Garage List 2021 BMW X3e [0.00] 2016 BMW M4 [9.00]	So how do you use this again? Is it an option on all cars or something you have to order? I have a BMW Assist account but rarely use it. So you're saying I can send goggle map addresses to the car via that avenue? __________________ '22 BMW M4 Comp (SSG/Black) '16 BMW M4 (Shakir Orange/Black) - gone not forgotten '15 BMW M3 (Black/Black) - gone not forgotten '10 BMW X5M (Black/Black) - gone not forgotten '08 BMW M3 (Space Gray/Black) - gone not forgotten
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04-07-2013, 06:07 PM	#14
kthankzbye Lieutenant 86 Rep 459 Posts Drives: 2011 F10 550i, 2020 G05 40i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NYC iTrader: (1)	Download the BMW remote app in the appstore. Put in your name and password to your BMW assist. Go to google maps and find the destination then SEND TO CAR. It's free and i've been using it since I got my car. Other features include remote locking and unlocking, flashing of the lights and honking.
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04-07-2013, 07:58 PM	#15
mdrobc13 Colonel 340 Rep 2,232 Posts Drives: Made in Bavaria Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: On a base somewhere near or afar! iTrader: (8) Garage List 2021 BMW X3e [0.00] 2016 BMW M4 [9.00]	Checked messages and nothing is there. No messages each time I look. __________________ '22 BMW M4 Comp (SSG/Black) '16 BMW M4 (Shakir Orange/Black) - gone not forgotten '15 BMW M3 (Black/Black) - gone not forgotten '10 BMW X5M (Black/Black) - gone not forgotten '08 BMW M3 (Space Gray/Black) - gone not forgotten
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04-07-2013, 09:53 PM	#18
kthankzbye Lieutenant 86 Rep 459 Posts Drives: 2011 F10 550i, 2020 G05 40i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NYC iTrader: (1)	Did you activate BMW Assist inside your car? I had that problem the first time and the dealer told me to push the SOS button and talk to a BMW assist rep. and that helped me solve my problem.
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04-07-2013, 10:08 PM	#19
Zaman Second Lieutenant 39 Rep 263 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW (F10) 528i Xdrive Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Calgary,Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 528i Xdrive [0.00]	Interesting stuff. I have to go and try that. Thanks Guys. __________________ BMW F10: A formula to captivate the senses. *2012 528i XDrive Alpine white*
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01-04-2015, 10:36 AM	#22
al2813 New Member 1 Rep 20 Posts Drives: BMW X5 X50e 2024 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	I am currently looking at the possibility to retrofit BMW apps (6NR) to my car. will I be able to then have connected drive and send Google destinations to my car? I do not have BMW Assist (no SOS button). What are the fees involved (except the one time FSC for getting apps)? Many thanks from a confused newbie.
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