Both my X1 and my grand tourer work as advertised, I’ve never had a problem with the app. I use Google maps on my laptop to send directions and the app on my phone when I’m out and about. All the family have the app and if anyone needs picking up they send the directions to my car, the app then let’s them know how long I’ll be.
The i-drive did fail completely on my gran tourer, unfortunately the day before a trip to France, I called Sycamore BMW in Peterborough and they arranged for it to come in on my return, they changed the head unit, gave me free real time traffic for a year and free map updates for 3 years, vacuumed and washed the car all for £150, this car isn’t a Motability car so that was another expense I had to bear.
All in all connected drive works well for me.