- This topic has 13 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 6 months ago by
.
- Topic
Find out everything you need to know about BMW’s sophisticated BMW Connected Driveinfotainment and connected services suite.
Connected Drive is a phrase you may well already have seen attached to a BMW, as it was first introduced way back in 2008 and was a step forward from the previous BMW Online system.Beginning as a simple web browser, Connected Drive has frequently evolved and now incorporates a host of online services, safety functions and convenience features. The heart of the Connected Drive system is the central infotainment screen and a SIM card that is installed in the vehicle as a means of sending and receiving data via the Internet.
• What is Land Rover InControl?
Depending on the age of the vehicle and the specification, the screen is controlled with the i-Drive controller, the touchscreen interface and voice activation, or a combination of all three.
As Connected Drive is a term that covers almost all the digital services offered by BMW, it is worth breaking them down into the various functions and facilities. Connected Drive Services includes BMW Online, with features such as weather, news, browsing, office services and BMW Routes, which allows you to search routes on another device and send them to your car.
Within Connected Drive Services is BMW Apps, which allows you to use certain apps on your smartphone in the car, such as Audible, Spotify and Deezer.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/108063/what-is-bmw-connected-drive
- Replies
What is BMW ConnectedDrive?
In a word – Rubbish.
Funny you’ve posted this Brydo, I was considering posting about it.
I have an X1 (over two yrs now) and it’s been down more than up. And it’s been completely done for over four months now. Numerous calls, emails, Tweets to BMW and they’ve been useless. Absolutely shocking service. I’ve been told it’s an issue with the head units (the in-car unit), the software, issues at BMW’s end. Nobody there knows what the real issue is and what’s being done.
I appreciate that Motability have negotiated the package (multiple packages available) and it should be great, but this is a service paid for, but not delivered.
Very disappointing.
? I will be remembered for nothing but had great fun doing it ?
What’s been the problem Bionic? Our X1 is 14 months old and works fine, if you ignore the strange routing decisions the satnav makes in Devon.
Hi Wigwam,
That’s unbelievable. Well I have to say I’m glad it works ok for you. ?
The phone app was intermittent on what it shows. It should show Fuel, range and mileage. It’s blank more often than not. Also I should be able to send destinations from the app to the car. I would use this a lot as I have to go to different hospitals, centres, etc for reviews, pain clinic, etc. It has only worked for me three times.
I’m fairly tech savvy before you wonder??
Also, it should have internet search via the on-board SIM card (BMW Online), news, weather and allow me to use Spotify via my phone. This hasn’t been there for four months now. BMW have refreshed the software, carried out numerous updates but it still doesn’t work.
As well as this, when I picked up the car, the package that the car came with<b> (fantastic job by Motability adding this by the way) </b>also<b> </b>had ‘check doors and windows’ the salesman showed me this. It disappeared a couple of days later and never came back. Talking to BMW, they could see it should be there and it came back for another 24hrs then nothing. They now say it’s not in my package!
And now to top it all, the app has deleted my car and won’t accept it back!
So completely gone at the moment. This package cost £180!
? I will be remembered for nothing but had great fun doing it ?
What can i say Wayne, great minds think alike lol, lets forget the other bit.
Wayne, I don’t use Spotify but I’ve just checked all the other things you mention and they work fine for me. We didn’t pay anything for ConnectedDrive services by the way.
If it helps any our iDrive version is
TT-002.097.001 (Tel)
MT-002.097.001 (media)
BMW Connected app version is 6.2.2.5861 running on Android 9
I use Google maps and send to my X1 which is 37 months old. Works 99% of the time. Also online search is great to find and get directions directly to say nav.
Totally agree about the phone app Wayne it’s rubbish.
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.
Thanks for your views guys.
If I’m honest, I’m glad some of us are getting good use out of it. It has so much potential.
Wigwam, thank you for your info. Interestingly, I’m running on iOS. I wonder if that’s a factor ?. It would be strange if that affected the head unit in the car though I would have thought. I have read app reviews and most are shocking, however I do take these with a pinch of salt, I mean how many of us write a good review when something works as it should. ?
Have a great weekend all.
? I will be remembered for nothing but had great fun doing it ?
is this not an unnecessary complication. Do we really need all this tech on cars?
No, of course not. But once you’ve had it, you want it on the next car, and so it goes on. Average life of a car nowadays is 15 years without major expense. They have to sell new ones somehow.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.