BMW ConnectedDrive

[PhilW]

My new car is supposed to support BMW ConnectedDrive, but I just can't get it working.

I registered on the portal at www.bmw-connecteddrive.co.uk, added my car and got the message through to my car with a security code on. I entered that but it doesn't seem to want to do anything. The website portal says I have 3 years of BMW Online and a few other bits, which should work via the integrated SIM in the car.

When I try to access BMW Online in the car it just says "Activate data services for Bluetooth device or contact Service". I dropped an email to them but they just told me to select "Update Services", which I can't do as it's greyed out! Since then they're not replying to me so before I venture into phoning a call centre, does anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Z4_35i]

Sounds like a trip to the dealer is needed to sort it out, as it looks like they need to enable something.

We didn't renew our online services after it expired, the only thing I found it useful for was the Google send destination to car, but not worth the additional fee after it expired.

 

[dk345]

You may have done this, but you haven't said so in your post...

Have you been and explicitly enabled the service in the BMW ConnectedDrive portal? Signing up, enabling communication with the car and enabling a service are all distinct actions.

Here's a screenshot from my account. You need to go into the settings and turn the feature on.

Like I said, you may have done this and I've just misunderstood. If that's the case then sorry.

 

[PhilW]

Have you been and explicitly enabled the service in the BMW ConnectedDrive portal? Signing up, enabling communication with the car and enabling a service are all distinct actions.

Thanks for the info, but I don't have the remote services option (it's a paid-for extra I might consider though), it's the basic ConnectedDrive stuff itself that doesn't work (i.e. sending routes to the car, weather services, news etc) which isn't something you can enable per-car, it should "just work".

An update - I phoned them and they said I'd done everything right, but that the fact that "Update BMW Services" was greyed out means it's a hardware issue and I need to get it booked in at the dealer's. So I've done that and will see what happens. :sos:

Although about an hour after that, I finally got a response on email from a guy who said "I’ll need to raise the issue with BMW Germany, to see if they can send a trigger to the car to re-set the iDrive". I sent him a photo of the greyed-out option he asked for, so will also see if that gets me anywhere.

I'll keep you posted, if anything so someone in the future who has the same issue can find this post!

 

[dk345]

Thanks for the info, but I don't have the remote services option (it's a paid-for extra I might consider though), it's the basic ConnectedDrive stuff itself that doesn't work (i.e. sending routes to the car, weather services, news etc) which isn't something you can enable per-car, it should "just work".

Ah, my mistake.

Hopefully you get somewhere with the dealership then. Not fantastic that you're having a problem, but we'll see how easily it gets put right.

 

[PhilW]

Just an update on this - it's all started working! The rather slow email support finally came through with the goods and someone in Germany did something remotely which made everything kick in! So I can access news, weather, send routes to my car etc.

I can also update the software via the connection. Anyone done this? Is it worth it? Despite the car being brand new it looks like there's a much newer software version available.

Also is BMW Remote worth paying £50 for? Apart from lock, unlock and locate is there anything else it does? Roof up/down perhaps?

Cheers,
Phil

 

[Maniac]

The software update is just new phone drivers etc it doesn't update the cars software other than this.

BMW remote is now £50?!... Other than send to car from your mobile it's not worth it then imho.