[dbs600]

So this is a new one…

Forgot my BMW Remote iPhone app password and been meaning to call BMW to reset same.

Got around to doing so this past weekend, but learned that the BMW Assist plan is required for the app to work which I didn’t previously know.

Nevertheless, the telephone rep told me that BMW suspended BMW Assist enrollment and re-enrollment on cars 4+ years old. I asked why and the rep didn’t know. I asked when the suspension will be lifted and she didn’t know same either.

BMW portrays and advertises safety as paramount, yet they’ve suspended BMW Assist renewal - which automatically calls emergency services after an accident, need be - on older cars with no notice to owners.

Anyone come across this?

[andrewtanko]

Yes, unfortunately.

BMW Assist prior to 2014 will not be reactivated in 2017

http://www.bimmerfest.com/news/89154...vated-in-2017/

[AP]

isnt this where you need to pay a yearly fee after a few years?
In the UK this expires after 3 years and you then have the choice to pay £120 which reactivates your data card / phone in the car . includes RTTI as well.
this was the main reason I renewed so I had real time traffic on the satnav.

[dbs600]

Yes, but BMW suspended reactivation even if one wants to pay.

It's $199 / year in the US and the emergency features are a must.

Absolutely absurd that the service and features have been suspended.

[Reallybro]

It's not so much BMW, as it's the technology of the wireless connection. Most assist functions operate
using a 2G/3G cell data wireless standard on the model years affected. Wireless carriers are shutting down those in favor of 4G/LTE data transfers. My brother had an older cell phone & had to upgrade. Maybe BMW can swap out the GSM chip, maybe not.
I believe the main reason is their assist network is probably upgraded , & not backwards compatible.

[Reallybro]

http://www.bimmerfest.com/news/89154...vated-in-2017/

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by Reallybro

It's not so much BMW, as it's the technology of the wireless connection. Most assist functions operate
using a 2G/3G cell data wireless standard on the model years affected. Wireless carriers are shutting down those in favor of 4G/LTE data transfers. My brother had an older cell phone & had to upgrade. Maybe BMW can swap out the GSM chip, maybe not.
I believe the main reason is their assist network is probably upgraded , & not backwards compatible.

That's real forward thinking by BMW for cars that usually last 10-15 years on the road. Wow!

[dbs600]

Originally Posted by Reallybro

It's not so much BMW, as it's the technology of the wireless connection. Most assist functions operate
using a 2G/3G cell data wireless standard on the model years affected. Wireless carriers are shutting down those in favor of 4G/LTE data transfers. My brother had an older cell phone & had to upgrade. Maybe BMW can swap out the GSM chip, maybe not.
I believe the main reason is their assist network is probably upgraded , & not backwards compatible.

Thanks for this info.

A retrofit should've been fast-tracked and launched before any suspension at no cost.

Our cars were marketed and advertised with these features, as stated.

Cars that renewed prior to year-end still have service and there was no prior notice.

[Reallybro]

I'm totally with you. Seems like they would offer to upgrade the wireless chip.

[dbs600]

If truly a matter of the technology no longer being supported, you'd think they'd allow these important safety features to continue until the technology is actually terminated, and reimburse customers on a prorated basis thereafter, but no, people continue to have these services if they renewed prior to year-end.

[BMWrules7]

Originally Posted by dbs600

If truly a matter of the technology no longer being supported, you'd think they'd allow these important safety features to continue until the technology is actually terminated, and reimburse customers on a prorated basis thereafter, but no, people continue to have these services if they renewed prior to year-end. Not right.

Dbs600, too risky.

You can't run life safety systems on a "best effort" as those two concepts are in tension with each other.

Look, if all these car companies secured contracts that said Verizon and att had to maintain backward compatibility then this wouldn't be an issue.

But, somehow, the telecoms dodged the backward compatibility bullet. That saved the telecoms billions and will allow for much better telecom services sooner. Backward compatibility stifles innovation.

To say that such a critical component of BMW's can't be used while some of these cars are still on lease or freshly off a finance deal is insane: can anyone say CLASS ACTION?

[Gpfarrell]

I'm not the least bit concerned and I wonder where you find the time and shutzpa to get so upset over such a minor issue.

[BMWrules7]

Originally Posted by Gpfarrell

I'm not the least bit concerned and I wonder where you find the time and shutzpa to get so upset over such a minor issue.

Lol. I don't know.


I am one of those new fangled bimmer heads that could care a less about the ride and more about the gizmos and gadgets.

I couldn't tell if my car is pulling to the right or bone dry on oil, but I will notice that the crappy satellite radio is rolled off at 12 kHz. Or, the iPhone email fails to reliably work.

I am the guy that's diluting the purity of the motor and the wheel in favor of gadgets. BMW is/was catering to me more than you.

I am your worst nightmare since my purchase is letting BMW know they can get away with an inferior ride so long as the gadgets work.

Nice to meet you too.

[dbs600]

Thanks for the replies, but this is far from a minor issue.

That said, anyone know if we can program the SOS button to dial 911?

[dbs600]

So the SOS button can bypass BMW Assist and call 911 directly, as shown by sgcrockett1's posts on this thread: http://www.7post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1224838.

I called BMW Customer Service and a BMW 'Genius' confirmed that having the SOS button call 911 is possible on non-US cars, but he was unable to state why or how a US car is able to do same.

In light of BMW's decision to discontinue BMW Assist on 2014 and older model year cars, we must figure out how to program our cars so the SOS button can call 911...

[Jcbama85]

Well this stinks.

[BMWrules7]

Originally Posted by Jcbama85

Well this stinks.

What stinks is BMW's failure to fall on its sword here, offer a heartfelt apology and promise a retrofit for LTE within 6 months.

BMW now wants us all to think Connected Drive is trivial and anyone complaining about no longer having access to BMW Google search and concierge is equally trivial.

Of course, this comes after BMW touted the value of current and future connected drive services---now, BMW will have us all think these services were worthless and trivial.

[Gpfarrell]

I never realized new technology would become obsolete.

[dbs600]

Originally Posted by Gpfarrell

I never realized new technology would become obsolete.

Mind boggling that new 2014 model year cars were being sold less than one year ago with no notice of this, with BMW Assist capability being flaunted no doubt.

[Mike550i]

My 2012 550i was 4 years old in Dec 2015, so I renewed my Drive Assist subscription for 1 year, expiring in Dec 2016. At that time I sent a test address to my car and it worked. After reading about problems, yesterday I sent addresses from the BMW Remote smartphone app, Google Maps and also from the BMW Connected Drive website. Nothing was downloaded to the car when I used it this morning.
This custom electronics becoming obsolete in cars situation is out of control. I'm not buying any new vehicle that does not have Apple CarPlay. Many manufacturers offer it already. BMW offers it on none of there vehicles, even the new flagship 7 series according to the Apple CarPlay website.

[lemetier]

Some straight talk, rational, and informative information in response to the same topic/duplicate thread by the OP here:

http://www.7post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1224838

[bscarlett]

While I agree that BMW should have better underpinning contracts, this is an issue with the cellular carrier they partner with. In Canada, I have just confirmed that the service will continue through and into 2017 and this issue does not affect Canadian cars.