ConnectedDrive/IDrive Signal Coverage

M

Maniac

Elite
For the last year or two, certain spots I've travelled to (including areas of central manchester) have made the iDrive drop its connection meaning I can't use the online services, concierge etc. If anyone else has these services have they ever had this? I certainly wouldn't expect coverage to be poor in a main city, and it can be. BMW tell me there can be local interference, buildings etc as well as remote location issues, which I can understand a bit, but it seems more often than not I get a 'searching for signal' usually when I want to use it! I've been looking on the old tinterweb and there doesn't seem to be a lot of info on this and confusion reigns over which antenna in the car is used for it. I've even tried replacing my stubby with the OEM aerial, just in case, but no difference. So I'm wondering a) has something gone wrong with the antenna in the car, like its been disconnected or whatever, or is it truly that coverage is uber patchy?

EDIT: BMW Confirm coverage is provided by T-Mobile and Orange... who probably have crap GPRS coverage cos they're using it all for EE 4G!
 
Not much help but I havent exprienced this , does it always happen at the same location every time or is it random?
 
It is reproducible, lending credence to the fact that locations can be affected by interference from buildings etc. I guess it depends how much you use it, I use it a lot. I guess only someone else in Manchester or surrounding areas might be able to tell me really. My concern as I say is that an antenna isn't working in the car as it should. I'm not about to pay £100 for a dealer to 'check' it either unless I'm pretty sure its that where the fault lies.
 
I've not used many of the services yet so can't realistically comment on the in-car reliability.
However I can believe that the Orange/EE signal is to blame. We have hot and cold signal spots around the house but they are illogical.
The house seems to form a shadow whereby the patio gets no signal but on the grass 3m away it's fine.
Any buildings in the line of sight from the transmitter are likely to have the same effect.
 
I seem to have issues near the office block where I'm based, so that could explain one element, and I've no issues near home which is all standard height housing. I've had issues in the countryside too but then I've also seen my iphone on one or two bars then so perhaps this is indeed just crap luck with signal blocks here and there...
 
How interesting. The MINI connected I have in my clubman requires me to use my iphone connected via the cable (or snap in) to operate, but then it uses the network I choose.

Makes me wonder if there is a sim in the car somewhere that you could replace with a different network?

I'm on three and find it excellent almost universally where I go.
 
There is a SIM in the car, but, a) I've no idea where and b) if I replaced it, I'd have to pay for the data :)

Having read around online there is a 5 series forum where other people complain of the same issue, so I guess I'll draw a line under it and just accept that coverage isn't great. I'll certainly use this though as its due for renewal (BMW Assist services) in December at £120 and I'm damn sure I'll not pay top notch for patchy signal services.
 
Right then...

2 antennae, one in front of roof (used when roof is up) and one in rear bumper on N.S. corner.

There is a service menu on the CIC that allows you to check the status of the on-board telephone :)

On the iDrive. Push Up for at least 10 seconds, release, 3 right, 3 left, 1 right, 1 left, 1 right, then push in.

Under the Settings menu you will then have an extra service menu off the bottom of the list. Select this, then telephone and you can see several settings including the signal strength. Just tried it at home and I am getting 20/100.
 
20 out of a hundred and that is with the roof up! Not sure what difference I will get with the roof down. One other thing.... I haven't worked out how to remove the service menu yet :?
 
It doesn't work for me. Do you do this from the main menu?

I've had a software update for the whole car about six months ago, wonder if they changed the way you enable this?
 
From the main menu, up (as in forwards towards the bonnet) for 10+ secs, release, right 3 clicks, left 3, r1,l1,r1 then push down (as in confirm). ?
 
Z4_Gaz said:
From the main menu, up (as in forwards towards the bonnet) for 10+ secs, release, right 3 clicks, left 3, r1,l1,r1 then push down (as in confirm). ?
Click to expand...

Yep that's what I did, several times. Nada. Key in, ignition off also ignition on. main menu and settings menu. nada. Not to worry, clearly it's just a signal issue that I'm not alone in experiencing!
 
Sketchley said:
Just a thought "three clicks to the right", is that turns right like a safe dial, or three pushes to the right?
Click to expand...

Even tried that. I can only think its been changed on a recent software update. Be a nice geeky thing to see but as for the purpose of this thread, seems the intermittent performance is fairly normal :(
 
Right I've just tried this again.

Key in, ignition off. Idrive menu selection at very top item in list.

Press controller toward front of car for 10 secs.

Now 'turn' the controller clockwise 3 clicks
Then anti clockwise 3 clicks
Then clockwise 1 click
Anticlockwise 1 click
Clockwise 1 click
Push down on the controller (select)

Then as outlined earlier the item appears in the settings menu. It disappears after the car goes to sleep.

My signal at home (south Manchester) is 30/100 (poor)

Which I find staggering in a major city.
 
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