Factory Software

[McHaggis69]

Hi folks,

just had the car in for a scheduled brake service - £83 all good.

I asked them to check the software on the car and they've just told me its still on factory software and there are updates available. They will do it for £170. I have said no at this stage as I want to have a word with them when I pick it up.

Two questions really -

Why have I not been getting the automatic software uploads to my car - I was up until recently a paying subscriber to BMW 'online services' for 12 months.

Are the dealers the only people who can force an update or can I DIY it?


thanks - its a 2019 G29 Z4

 

[ToddG]

If you want a dealer to do it, my guess is they are charging for the time, not the software.

I haven't figured it out yet (!) how to do it even though MyBMW app told me 6 weeks ago there was a new version. Just won't update the car.

Good luck.

 

[millview22]

Assuming you are registered, login to My BMW. Select vehicle overview to see all registered and optional services that are available. If you are not registered, you will need to create a login and add your car VIN.

Hope that helps.

 

[ToddG]

Everything is complete in the app. The app says the software is ready for installation. Please follow the instructions in the car. The car says the software is ready to install. All the settings for installation were in place (even a battery tender) but nothing happens.

 

[Scubaregs]

Which dealer?

 

[PSQ777]

I had the same issue on my car which was 3 years old when I bought it. It had never been updated from new. My dealer just updated it for free when I took it in for a service. However once I had the battery replaced updates just arrived over the air and automatically installed. I do have the connected booster subscription, if that makes any difference.

 

[millview22]

Everything is complete in the app. The app says the software is ready for installation. Please follow the instructions in the car. The car says the software is ready to install. All the settings for installation were in place (even a battery tender) but nothing happens.

My point is that logging on to your account via a PC or tablet provides a way of easily checking what services you are subscribed to. My son receives notifications of upgrades, but they will not install because he no longer subscribes to certain services.

 

[Nanu]

My local dealer who I don't use for servicing just gave me a memory stick and I plugged it into the car, ran around in it for a day and it updated all the software. No charges.

I would change dealers or have a word with BMW UK

 

[Zed Baron]

As BMW state on their website: 'Remote Software Upgrade is provided at no additional charge for all eligible vehicles with the correct hardware.' 'We send Remote Software Upgrades over-the-air to make everything quick and easy. It works the same as it does with your smartphone. * You will receive new functions or functional improvements, free of charge, as soon as they are available, depending on your vehicle's country, model, equipment, and condition.' clearly the system has major bugs and BMW should be offering an alternative. Can't imagine how many cars are suffering the same.

 

[BigDave]

"clearly the system has major bugs"

No s##t Sherlock.... :x :x

 

[ori]

Everything is complete in the app. The app says the software is ready for installation. Please follow the instructions in the car. The car says the software is ready to install. All the settings for installation were in place (even a battery tender) but nothing happens.

Handbrake on? Car in park and switch off engine. It should then offer you to install the update.

 

[ori]

I had the same issue on my car which was 3 years old when I bought it. It had never been updated from new. My dealer just updated it for free when I took it in for a service. However once I had the battery replaced updates just arrived over the air and automatically installed. I do have the connected booster subscription, if that makes any difference.

I find it shocking that both of us with cars under 3 years old needed new batteries.

 

[PSQ777]

I had the same issue on my car which was 3 years old when I bought it. It had never been updated from new. My dealer just updated it for free when I took it in for a service. However once I had the battery replaced updates just arrived over the air and automatically installed. I do have the connected booster subscription, if that makes any difference.

I find it shocking that both of us with cars under 3 years old needed new batteries.

Agreed. I once had a car that never needed a battery replacing in over 15 years. What does the G29 do to them ?

 

[B21]

I had the same issue on my car which was 3 years old when I bought it. It had never been updated from new. My dealer just updated it for free when I took it in for a service. However once I had the battery replaced updates just arrived over the air and automatically installed. I do have the connected booster subscription, if that makes any difference.

I find it shocking that both of us with cars under 3 years old needed new batteries.

Agreed. I once had a car that never needed a battery replacing in over 15 years. What does the G29 do to them ?

It has a multitude of ECUs many of which continue to run in the background plus several radio receivers and transmitters running in the background…

 

[ori]

I find it shocking that both of us with cars under 3 years old needed new batteries.

Agreed. I once had a car that never needed a battery replacing in over 15 years. What does the G29 do to them ?

It has a multitude of ECUs many of which continue to run in the background plus several radio receivers and transmitters running in the background…

Most cars do that nowadays.

I got into my mates Porsche and his car is 7 years old and his battery is still fine. I know this because his stop start was still working.
All my friends cars haven’t needed new batteries within 3 years. Maybe it’s just a bad batch around that horrid Covid time?

 

[McHaggis69]

Just an update -

I contacted BMW directly and initially they sent a helpful email with a few things to try in the car.
However when none of their suggestions worked, I then got nowhere. They wont advise on how to force an upgrade and they said the cost of having it done at the dealer was down to the dealer. They couldn't tell the dealer to do it for free.

I'm slightly annoyed as the car feature list notes (paraphrasing here) 'Free software upgrades'.

I'm selling the car Aug/Sept time (forced to, not because I want to) so unless I can get a free upgrade somehow I aint spending £170 for a few weeks driving...

Disappointed with BMW themselves. Their first email response was long, polite and full of suggestions. The next email (from someone different at BMW) was short, nippy and no help at all.

 

[Zed Baron]

Disappointed with BMW themselves. Their first email response was long, polite and full of suggestions. The next email (from someone different at BMW) was short, nippy and no help at all.

Exactly the same experience with BMW :thumbsdown:

 

[finalcut]

My car would download the updates, but never offer to install them. The history of the car meant that it had spent a fair amount of time on a dealership forecourt. Start/Stop availability was very hit and miss too. I decided to buy a Ctek Mxs5 to charge/condition the battery. After a few hours it offered and completed the update.