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      03-29-2021, 07:06 PM   #1
WidowMaker03TX
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ConnectedDrive Services Using 3G Ends Feb 2022

I got an email today from BMW of NA.

"Due to a phasing out of the 3G network by cellular carriers, ConnectedDrive services can no longer be supported starting February 2022 for your BMW. The decision to phase out 3G network technology was made at the discretion of the respective cellular carriers and lies beyond the control of BMW."
...
"... complimentary Connected Package Professional or BMW Assist Safety Plan subscription will automatically be activated for your BMW until February 1, 2022."

There was no mentioning of converting the 3G to 4/5G.
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      03-29-2021, 10:54 PM   #2
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Full message.

"There are important ConnectedDrive service changes affecting your 2016 i3, Vehicle Identification Number ending in [XXXX].

Due to a phasing out of the 3G network by cellular carriers, ConnectedDrive services can no longer be supported starting February 2022 for your BMW. The decision to phase out 3G network technology was made at the discretion of the respective cellular carriers and lies beyond the control of BMW.

We want you to be able to enjoy ConnectedDrive services for as long as they are supported for your vehicle, so a complimentary Connected Package Professional or BMW Assist Safety Plan subscription will automatically be activated for your BMW until February 1, 2022. Your vehicle will receive all services within the Connected Package Professional or BMW Assist Safety Plan subscription that it is technically capable of receiving.

To ensure you receive the complimentary services, you will need to “Update Services” via iDrive, as outlined below. If after performing an “Update Services” you do not have the services available to you, please contact BMW Assist Customer Care at 1‑888‑333‑6118 or customercare@bmwassist.com.

We regret that ConnectedDrive services will no longer be supported as of February 2022 for your vehicle but hope that you enjoy the complimentary ConnectedDrive services in the meantime.

BMW ConnectedDrive

HOW TO UPDATE SERVICES

Depending on your vehicle’s Model Year and Make, navigate to “BMW Assist”, “ConnectedDrive” or “Apps” using your iDrive controller.

Under BMW Assist or ConnectedDrive:



Open “Options” (physical button surrounding your iDrive controller)


Click on “Update BMW Assist”
Under Apps:



Click on “All Apps”



Open “Options” (physical button surrounding your iDrive controller)


Click on “Update apps and services”"
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      04-11-2021, 04:09 AM   #3
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Are new i3s also made with 3G technology? And if not, when was it changed to newer standards?
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      04-11-2021, 06:56 AM   #4
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I'm curious if anyone has tried to use a 3G microcell linked to a 4G/LTE mobile hotspot to make a bridge for the NBT head units?????
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      04-12-2021, 10:03 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ovekvam View Post
Are new i3s also made with 3G technology? And if not, when was it changed to newer standards?
Even if you look up the new part numbers for our com boxes they all show 4g now.

Their is probably a way to just buy the new part number and get the newer tech.
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      04-12-2021, 07:22 PM   #6
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They could just rewrite Connected App use your phones G4-G5 connection
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      04-13-2021, 05:15 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TruckerAlex View Post
They could just rewrite Connected App use your phones G4-G5 connection
This! Every BMW driver will have (at least) one 4G/5G enabled phone with them probably with unlimited data (even if not I can't imagine the car using that much data). So why not take advantage of the phone's data and tap into that? Why do we need separate HW and data subscription for ConnectedDrive? Seems like something designed pre 2010 that shouldn't exist anymore (yeah, I'm that guy! Any tech pre 2010 is old!)
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      04-20-2021, 01:41 AM   #8
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Well, having the option to use the 4G/5G network your phone is connected to isn't really an option when it comes to things like turning on the heater or AC since you normally aren't in the car then
Same with checking the status of your charge.
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      04-21-2021, 04:59 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ovesund View Post
Well, having the option to use the 4G/5G network your phone is connected to isn't really an option when it comes to things like turning on the heater or AC since you normally aren't in the car then
Same with checking the status of your charge.
Yes, very good point, my suggestion does look stupid now, thanks
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      04-21-2021, 07:06 AM   #10
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My question about using a 3G microcell at home to have access to the car from the driveway is still a potential workaround.....
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      04-22-2021, 05:44 AM   #11
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It would have been really nice to have the option to connect the car to your home WIFI.
That would for sure speed up things like OTA updates and enable more frequent map updates etc.
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      04-22-2021, 06:03 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vreihen16 View Post
My question about using a 3G microcell at home to have access to the car from the driveway is still a potential workaround.....
I guess it will never even try to connect unless the provider for the SIM in the car has a roaming agreement with the operator, not sure how that works with microcells.
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      04-22-2021, 06:56 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by soheil View Post
Yes, very good point, my suggestion does look stupid now, thanks
Well, not entirely.

I guess most of us have an old 4g phone lying around by now.
You could place that in glove compartment or something with a permanent power supply.
Not sure if you have the option, but in my country you can get a twin sim-card.
That way you could use the old phone in the car on the same subscription as your main phone.

Downside being that the phone it the car would receive all your messages, receive all your calls etc. so you would have to keep it on silent and not sure how the hands free would react with two phones connected, one plugged in and one Bluetooth.
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      04-22-2021, 08:39 AM   #14
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true but BMW will never support such a corner case.
It just doesn't make sense from a business perspective
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      04-22-2021, 09:21 AM   #15
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Let me ask a silly question. How many people are actually using the telematics services that will be discontinued by the 3G sunset?

For me...

iConcierge and emergency calling? No

Service appointment scheduling and remote diagnostics? No

ConnectedDrive app? Doesn't work reliably enough to count on it from my experience.

Maps and navigation? Would rather use Apple CarPlay.

Music/multimedia? Would rather use Apple CarPlay.

Am I missing anything else that's worth a possible $2000+ expense if a 4G/LTE upgrade was available from BMW?

For me, a ~$400 aftermarket Apple CarPlay box would actually be an improvement over the included BMW stuff in my 2015 i3 (with the larger "business" screen).

I'm also not ruling out either the aftermarket or an open-source project based on a Raspberry Pi or ESP32 coming along in the next few months that can tap the CAN bus and do some of the current ConnectedDrive stuff like lock/unlock, climatize, etc via wifi, Bluetooth, or even 4G/LTE.....
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      04-23-2021, 01:28 AM   #16
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Well, I (and my wife as well) use the MyBMW app daily during the cold months (say from september to April) to preheat the cars and on sunny days in the summertime to cool them down before driving.
That is pretty much the only usage on the '16 i3, but on the G20 330e I also use Spotify daily and maps on occasion since I really hate the look&feel of Apple Carplay. It just looks so dated and boring and is in my opinion less user friendly.
I guess I will give Android Auto a shot sometime now that I have received support for it in the latest OTA upgrade but really, I'm happy the way BMW designed it
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      04-23-2021, 10:24 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ovesund View Post
Well, I (and my wife as well) use the MyBMW app daily during the cold months (say from september to April) to preheat the cars and on sunny days in the summertime to cool them down before driving.
That is pretty much the only usage on the '16 i3, but on the G20 330e I also use Spotify daily and maps on occasion since I really hate the look&feel of Apple Carplay. It just looks so dated and boring and is in my opinion less user friendly.
I guess I will give Android Auto a shot sometime now that I have received support for it in the latest OTA upgrade but really, I'm happy the way BMW designed it
I'm the same.
I use the remote a lot for preheating/cooling.
Also check the charge from time to time to see if I need to charge during the night.
I regularly send destination adresses from my phone because using the iDrive wheel to scroll and write is not very user friendly.
I like having the traffic info as well.

I use Apple car play on my -20 i3s, but it could have been better, especially when you can't scroll trough your playlist and change songs on the steering wheel, like you can when not using CarPlay.
Had high hopes for CarPlay, but I was slightly disappointed to be honest, probably works a lot better with the new touch screen on the new regular series models.
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      05-27-2021, 09:51 AM   #18
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Yesterday BMW sent me this email. “ The decision to phase out 3G network technology was made at the discretion of the respective cellular carriers and lies beyond the control of BMW.

As a result of the sunset of 3G service by wireless carrier partners, by February 2022 your vehicle will no longer be able to receive any ConnectedDrive/BMW Assist services, such as BMW Assist eCall, Advanced Real‑Time Traffic Information, Remote Services and BMW Online, depending on your BMW model.

Unfortunately, for your vehicle, there is not a technology upgrade available that would allow you to continue to use ConnectedDrive/BMW Assist services after the expiration of your contract, or February 2022, whichever occurs first.”

I have to decide if ConnectedDrive is enough to sell the car and move to another EV option.
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      05-27-2021, 01:58 PM   #19
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If there is no technology upgrade available, how do they make new i3 models with it?
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      05-27-2021, 03:05 PM   #20
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Good question, BMW could have made some $$$ if a 4G or 5G option was available.
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      05-28-2021, 09:27 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ovekvam View Post
If there is no technology upgrade available, how do they make new i3 models with it?
Well, model year 2022 is the last production year for i3 so it would be interesting to see if they even offer connected drive or not
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      05-28-2021, 10:23 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ovekvam View Post
If there is no technology upgrade available, how do they make new i3 models with it?
Our cars have 4G.
Its probably an issue for the pre-LCI i3's and no alternative unit is available, I looked in the parts catalogue and looks like they installed 4G with the introduction of 120ah version for the MY2019 i3/i3s.

I guess the "no update available" is due to different connectors or software incompatibility with the rest of the system.

I guess my F10 has 3G, I have not received any such mail and my service is due for renewal in August.
I guess as long as we have an operating 3G network the service will still be available.
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