[Jgcdude1]

Just ran into this with my 2011 E93. I was trying to activate the BMW remote features.

The customer service rep, basically just told me that bmw is no longer supporting our 2013 and below due to new contracts in place with AT&T. Had to do with our cars (well mine) being 2G vs newer cars being 3G & 4G.

This freaking sucks.

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by Jgcdude1

Just ran into this with my 2011 E93. I was trying to activate the BMW remote features.

The customer service rep, basically just told me that bmw is no longer supporting our 2013 and below due to new contracts in place with AT&T. Had to do with our cars (well mine) being 2G vs newer cars being 3G & 4G.

This freaking sucks.

BMW is supposed to be working on a technical update for older vehicles. However, they only mention it for vehicles still covered by BMW-paid BMW Assist subscriptions (like the new-vehicle contract). It doesn't mention anything about people who want to upgrade their older cars and still for the subscriptions themselves.

So at the moment, everything regarding older vehicles is only speculation (even from your dealer/customer service) because BMW hasn't finalized their plans yet.

[55Nomad]

Has anyone tried these alternatives to BMW Assist?

Automatic

Hum

Vinli

Zubie

[ORIGIN M.]

Great post!

Bunch of whiners!!!

The technology is going away. Every manufacture is facing the same issue. BMW is really just excepting the facts of life and informing their customers accordingly. People on here need to quit telling themselves BS stories. 2G is soon to be dead... Soon we will have 6G, and 3G will die. Then Kenny G, and so on...

Originally Posted by 55Nomad

Has anyone tried these alternatives to BMW Assist?

Automatic

Hum

Vinli

Zubie

[ChasInMN]

I posted this in the general forum as well, but since I was most interested in what it meant for the F30, here's what I found out so far. Talked to the foreman at my dealership (who I trust, for what it's worth), and they just had a technical meeting specifically about this issue. According to him, cars with a combox (CIC, NBT) will be receiving a retrofit upgrade to solve the issue in the next couple of months (July/August 2016). However, he is under the impression that BMW may be requiring an active Assist plan to perform this upgrade under warranty. He isn't certain exactly what the fix is yet, but at least for my 2013 F30, he's almost sure there will be a fix very soon to keep these services going, but on the faster network (3G/4G). He did say that they were told there will be no option for older vehicles (2011 and older) without a combox - those vehicles will just unfortunately have inactive buttons and menu features after January 1, 2017. Again, not sure what the specific requirements will be, according to my shop, the 2012-2013 F30 with an active Assist account and factory warranty should have a technical fix "any day now" - his words. Can't confirm for other vehicles.

[Hyperlink]

Originally Posted by ChasInMN

I posted this in the general forum as well, but since I was most interested in what it meant for the F30, here's what I found out so far. Talked to the foreman at my dealership (who I trust, for what it's worth), and they just had a technical meeting specifically about this issue. According to him, cars with a combox (CIC, NBT) will be receiving a retrofit upgrade to solve the issue in the next couple of months (July/August 2016). However, he is under the impression that BMW may be requiring an active Assist plan to perform this upgrade under warranty. He isn't certain exactly what the fix is yet, but at least for my 2013 F30, he's almost sure there will be a fix very soon to keep these services going, but on the faster network (3G/4G). He did say that they were told there will be no option for older vehicles (2011 and older) without a combox - those vehicles will just unfortunately have inactive buttons and menu features after January 1, 2017. Again, not sure what the specific requirements will be, according to my shop, the 2012-2013 F30 with an active Assist account and factory warranty should have a technical fix "any day now" - his words. Can't confirm for other vehicles.

Thanks ChasInMN. Let us know when the dealership gets back to you regarding this issue. I'm curious to see if I'm eligible for this upgrade.

[Dracon]

NBT vehicles don't have a combox for telematics. They have a combox media built in and a TCB (telematics control box) externally which is already 3G equipped.

I'm watching the dealership new feeds and when I see more information, I'll post it up here.

[SharpAndCunning]

Wait, so this means the 2013 x1 that I am hours away from putting a deposit on, is part of this?

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by jpc647

Wait, so this means the 2013 x1 that I am hours away from putting a deposit on, is part of this?

At the moment, correct.

Any vehicle older than MY2014 (except the X6 which is MY2015) is affected by this.

[bsd107]

I have a 2009 E90 and also was denied renewal of my BMW Assist plan. (In fact, they turned it off without telling me or sending me anything in the mail to tell me.)

So, I already lost Google Send-to-Car and BMW Assist.

Is the Navigation traffic info also being sent to the car via this method? Traffic info is still coming through to my iDrive navigation, although that was never part of the subscription service.

Will the traffic info stop being sent in 2017 when they completely turn off the Assist services? Or is the traffic info transmitted some other way?

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by bsd107

I have a 2009 E90 and also was denied renewal of my BMW Assist plan. (In fact, they turned it off without telling me or sending me anything in the mail to tell me.)

So, I already lost Google Send-to-Car and BMW Assist.

Is the Navigation traffic info also being sent to the car via this method? Traffic info is still coming through to my iDrive navigation, although that was never part of the subscription service.

Will the traffic info stop being sent in 2017 when they completely turn off the Assist services? Or is the traffic info transmitted some other way?

There's two types of traffic info services for vehicles.

RTTI which is traffic information broadcast over the local FM radio stations (commonly called Traffic Message Channel in the US). This is free and available automatically on any vehicle equipped with option 6UH (which is most vehicles with navigation produced 03/2007 and up).

ARTTI is Advanced Real Time Traffic Information and is a data service provided by BMW Assist services for a subscription fee (actual data is provided by INRIX, which does some pretty cool things to provide real-time traffic information). It's more accurate than RTTI (as it fuses TMC data along with real-time data crowdsourced from other connected vehicles and devices) and is updated every 3 minutes by the vehicle. This is available only for 2013+ model years with NBT navigation systems.

You use RTTI in your vehicle which is transmitted via the FM channels and not via BMW Assist so it'll continue to function forever as long as your local FM radio stations continue to broadcast the data.

[jkwhar]

Any update on this?

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by jkwhar

Any update on this?

BMW still hasn't posted anything regarding this. Rumor currently is that we won't see anything in relation to their plans until mid September.

[jkwhar]

Originally Posted by Dracon

BMW still hasn't posted anything regarding this. Rumor currently is that we won't see anything in relation to their plans until mid September.

Thanks! I have around 7500 miles left of the original warranty and use the send -to-nav feature pretty frequently and would hate to lose it.

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by jkwhar

Thanks! I have around 7500 miles left of the original warranty and use the send -to-nav feature pretty frequently and would hate to lose it.

BMW Assist typically isn't mileage based but time based. It expires 3-4 years after the original vehicle sale date.

[PrairieDiablo]

I recently purchased a 2013 X3 that is still under warranty. I was told by the dealer that BMW Assist will not be activated because they are discontinuing support for the model year. Totally ridiculous on an expensive SUV.

[trixdout]

So besides the overpriced vehicles they are still managing to sell at their overpriced-price, they now want to start selling services that used to be free. Services that were free that helped convince people to buy bmw's. All in order to make more money on us. Bravo BMW, Bravo. Surely enough, they are slowly solidifying my decision to move away from bmw as soon as my e90 shits the bed. I may even swap the dam thing when someone comes out with a harness and ems to go ls.

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by trixdout

So besides the overpriced vehicles they are still managing to sell at their overpriced-price, they now want to start selling services that used to be free. Services that were free that helped convince people to buy bmw's. All in order to make more money on us. Bravo BMW, Bravo. Surely enough, they are slowly solidifying my decision to move away from bmw as soon as my e90 shits the bed. I may even swap the dam thing when someone comes out with a harness and ems to go ls.

What do you mean services that used to be free?

New vehicles come with BMW Assist for free for the first couple years of purchase.

Afterwards the core BMW Assist services (TeleService, Emergency Call, etc) work for I think 10 years from original purchase date. Extra services like concierge, Advanced Real Time Traffic data, etc have to be renewed after the free period.

[trixdout]

Originally Posted by Dracon

What do you mean services that used to be free?

New vehicles come with BMW Assist for free for the first couple years of purchase.

Afterwards the core BMW Assist services (TeleService, Emergency Call, etc) work for I think 10 years from original purchase date. Extra services like concierge, Advanced Real Time Traffic data, etc have to be renewed after the free period.

What I understood from the OP is that services will not be renewed for free but instead renewed under a fee.

[jkwhar]

Originally Posted by Dracon

BMW Assist typically isn't mileage based but time based. It expires 3-4 years after the original vehicle sale date.

I was referencing it to BMW doing a 'fix' if the vehicle was under warranty.

[Dracon]

Looks like BMW has finally posted what they are going to do for BMW Assist on older vehicles for customers still under contract/agreement.

BMW has developed several solutions in order to provide continued BMW Assist service or provide alternative compensation to customers with active BMW Assist contracts expiring after December 31, 2016 on vehicles equipped with a 2G GSM telematics device (e.g., COMBOX).

Background

For GSM vehicles equipped with a 2nd generation (2G) GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) telematics device from the factory, the 2G GSM service will no longer be supported after December 31, 2016. Most of these vehicles were offered with BMW Assist Safety Plan and Convenience Plan, however, some 2014 Model Year and newer vehicles (e.g., E84 X1, E89 Z4, and E71 X6) were also offered with the new ConnectedDrive offering structure. Please refer to the table at the end of this message for a summary of which vehicles are equipped with 2G GSM telematics.

Compensation or retrofit offerings

Compensation:
For those customers that would rather not have BMW Assist services in their vehicle, BMW will be offering the following compensation options

• $300 BMW Lifestyle and Accessories voucher for in*Center purchases + Deactivation of existing technology

• $200 Visa Pre*Paid Debit Card + Deactivation of existing technology

Hardware Retrofit:
For customers who have an active contract that expires after December 31, 2016 and who would like to maintain service after December 31, 2016, a hardware retrofit of a new telematics module will be available

Please note: BMW will not be offering any retrofit or compensation for customers whose contract has already expired or whose contract will expire on or before December 31, 2016.

As soon as details of the final offerings are available, updated communications will be released, including direct customer communications. This message will also be updated with important information for dealers.

2G GSM application by vehicle model.

Vehicle Model                       2G GSM Equipped
1 Series                            March 2008 - EOP*
2 Series                            N/A
3 Series                            March 2008 through MY2013
4 Series                            N/A
5 Series                            March 2008 through MY2012
6 Series                            March 2008 through MY2013
7 Series                            F01 Only: SOP through MY2012
X1                                  E84 Only: SOP* through MY2015 
                                    F84: N/A
X3                                  F25 (SOP*) through MY2013
X4                                  N/A
X5                                  April 2008 through MY2013
X6                                  April 2008 through MY2014
Z4                                  E89: MY2010 through EOP*

*EOP = End of Production; SOP = Start of Production

[jkwhar]

Originally Posted by Dracon

Looks like BMW has finally posted what they are going to do for BMW Assist on older vehicles for customers still under contract/agreement.

2G GSM application by vehicle model.

Vehicle Model                       2G GSM Equipped
1 Series                            March 2008 - EOP*
2 Series                            N/A
3 Series                            March 2008 through MY2013
4 Series                            N/A
5 Series                            March 2008 through MY2012
6 Series                            March 2008 through MY2013
7 Series                            F01 Only: SOP through MY2012
X1                                  E84 Only: SOP* through MY2015 
                                    F84: N/A
X3                                  F25 (SOP*) through MY2013
X4                                  N/A
X5                                  April 2008 through MY2013
X6                                  April 2008 through MY2014
Z4                                  E89: MY2010 through EOP*

*EOP = End of Production; SOP = Start of Production

Great to hear BMW will offer a retrofit for existing customers.

Just to clarify, if I have the safety plan (exp 6/17) but not the connivence plan, would I still qualify for the retrofit?