Bmw sim reader

[Andrey K]

Does anyone know why is it blocked in usa and canada. And when they are going to unlock it. On all european markets it works.
This thing

[AlteBMW]

I certainly don't know for sure, but I suspect that it is an issue with the major US and Canada mobile carriers

[Andrey K]

Thanks. I think same. But maybe theres some regulations as well took influence. there are a lot of small providers, any of them can solve this problem

[Ice4life]

Apparently it does not have fcc approval in the USA for some reason. I believe it has something to do with a newer regulation which requires certain devices to use an esim. I imagine the vehicles fall into this category.

[CaboM4]

I was unaware that it was "blocked" in North America. I just thoguht it was technically unavailable. i thought I could source it from elsewhere and still use it? Is that not the case?

I was planning on having T-Mobile migrate my BMW eSIM to a physical SIM and use the SIM reader so I could not have it tied to my personal phone, and instead use it in whatever BMW the kids were in for WiFi for their iPads.

[Ice4life]

Originally Posted by CaboM4

I was unaware that it was "blocked" in North America. I just thoguht it was technically unavailable. i thought I could source it from elsewhere and still use it? Is that not the case?

I was planning on having T-Mobile migrate my BMW eSIM to a physical SIM and use the SIM reader so I could not have it tied to my personal phone, and instead use it in whatever BMW the kids were in for WiFi for their iPads.

I read a few different forum posts where it was throwing an error when they tried to set it up in the US. BMW confirmed it was blocked from being used. I'll have to see if I can find the posts.

It's easy to purchase. You can get it from plenty of us BMW sites like ecstuning or getbmwparts. However it doesn't appear to be working.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...l/84105a48c11/

[Andrey K]

Originally Posted by Ice4life

I read a few different forum posts where it was throwing an error when they tried to set it up in the US. BMW confirmed it was blocked from being used. I'll have to see if I can find the posts.

It's easy to purchase. You can get it from plenty of us BMW sites like ecstuning or getbmwparts. However it doesn't appear to be working.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...l/84105a48c11/

i bought it useless,
dont you have an info from bmw wherether they are going to unblock it or not?
when if yes

[rdstudio]

In Poland this device is only way to activate esim. I used it and worked flawless.

[evanevery]

I finally got around to try and use the "BMW SIM Reader" with my i7 M70 (iDrive 8.5 delivered Jan 8 2024).

(I am a hardware/software engineer who designs and codes GSM cellular hardware and software. I have several products which are designed to integrate cellular communications onto arduino and ESP32 platforms).

Anyway...

I believe the BMW SIM Reader is simply a device which is intended to read the unique ICCID code from a SIM and transmit it (via Bluetooth) to the vehicle so it can be cloned onto the onboard firmware.

I have a single Google Fi account with three numbers (SIMs). As one is largely unused, I purchased a BMW SIM Reader to try and read it into my i7.

*** It should be noted, that once a SIM is cloned in this way, you can not ALSO continue to use the original SIM card. There should never be two "SIM Cards" on the cellular network tied to the same ICCID at the same time. In order to start using the physical SIM card again, the eSIM should be cleared from the vehicle.

Anyway (again)...

I tried using the SIM Reader in my i7 and there simply is no option to do this in the iDrive menus (at least for American cars). I would expect that the underlying function/support might still be there, but there is no menu option to begin the import process.

The whole point of the SIM Reader (for me) was to be able to take service from a provider which was not available directly from, or integrated with, BMW (via the web/app). Although, technically the reader should allow this, there appears to be no way to activate the import function on US cars.

So, I guess, the only way to get data service directly into the i7 is to use one of the providers who are directly integrated into the BMW App/Web so they can push their eSIM info down into the car from the BMW Data Connection itself...

...and I'm simply not signing up with another cellular provider just because BMW has a business agreement with them.

[Andrey K]

well, course. for some reason bmw in NA dont want you to use unleashed cellular connection. But they activated it in europe. hope we will get it some day as well

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by Andrey K

well, course. for some reason bmw in NA dont want you to use unleashed cellular connection. But they activated it in europe. hope we will get it some day as well

It might be as simple as an FCC regulation regarding the duplication of physical SIM identities. (We are constantly being groomed for maximum paranoia after all...)

Once again, I expect the only thing that has been disabled is the ability to recognize/use the BMW SIM Reader. I bet the ability to use a duplicate SIM is still functional inside the firmware (we just have no way to copy the ICCID).

It would be a really great mission to see if it could be re-enabled via simple coding... (like we do with anti-dazzle headlights, etc)

I'm just going to pop in a FireStick 4K and use my phone as a hotspot. I already have a 5G data source. Why would I need to pay for yet another?

Its really confusing. On one hand, they work so we can do everything with our phone (like unlock the car, start the car, stream music, carplay, android auto)... Then, on the other hand, they tell us the 5G we ALREADY have in our phone is not good enough to serve as a hotspot in the car for onboard data services. ????

I don't need two separate 5G sources in my car thank you. I already have one. I shouldn't be REQUIRED to pay for another monthly service for something I already have. They should have provided the ability to stream video content via a Wifi source (from a phone). The Theater has built in FireTV. FireTV normally runs over WiFi. But NOT the one in OUR car! ...so now I got to plug in a external FireTV stick if I want to have that ability. Go figure!

I'm one of those rare folks who seldom carries his cell phone. It can sit in the charger all weekend and I'll never look at it. But I DO carry it in the car when I travel so it would be available for streaming services when I would most likely need it. Unfortunately BMW won't stream data off my existing 5G source.

[Andrey K]

Your proposal about regulative paranoia sounds convincing. But they allowed to implement esim in the usa so youre able transfer it from phone to phone. My g70
specificated for canada , made for canadian market and still no option for sim reader in menu.

about to get internet from phones hot spot… many cars have this ability. Mercedes for example has. This is bmw paranoia.
Bmw sells cars in a lot of counries where theres no fire tv contry specific content, no connected drive services and no esim operator agreement. The functionality of those cars and theatre screen very limited there.
But they still dont let you use external internet.

[Ice4life]

Us Legal dept is very risk averse. I'll leave it at that

[AlteBMW]

Since they allowed sim reader in Europe where EU rules are strict, my conclusion is this not BMW paranoia but different regulatory schemes in North America. FCC in US and whatever Canadian agency is counterpart. The carriers here may also have something to do with it. BMW may get paid by ATT, TMobile and Verizon for semi exclusive access to the BMW system to sell eSIM. The external reader would end run that. Europe may not allow the restriction and therefore the external sim can be used.
We can’t have paranoia about BMW paranoia when the culprit almost surely lies elsewhere.

If you import a car from one country to another this is a risk to be assumed. In the good one days you could code out stuff but not in the G70 for most stuff. At least BMW didn’t shut the car down remotely when it got its location. Now that would be paranoia.

[Andrey K]

this would be a violation of all liberal market laws and buyer rights

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by Andrey K

this would be a violation of all liberal market laws and buyer rights

Its not the "liberals" you have to worry about...

[evanevery]

Yup, "FireTV Stick 4K Max" ($59) plugged directly into the HDMI port and getting power from the USB port right next to the HDMI port. (Using a very short USB-C to Micro-USB cable for power)

Streaming video right off the 5G WiFi hotspot on my EXISTING phone. Sits nice and flush right behind the screen. Nothing hanging down. No wires running all over the car. Don't even have to remove it. Folds right up with the screen. Might add a little double sided tape just be sure it doesn't work its way out out over time.

[Amazon also sells a little adapter ($21) to boost the power output from a TV's USB port to keep the FireStick happy (which can draw more than the 500ma USB default) but I haven't needed it (even during software updates). The USB-C port on the screen may actually provide more than that anyway. I have an adapter on the way just in case...]

No BS, No extra cellular lines, No configuration issues, no extra monthly fee's.

It just works. $59 once for the stick and I'm done...

[Andrey K]

thank you
i bought xiaomi tv stick

[rollingtaser]

Originally Posted by Andrey K

thank you
i bought xiaomi tv stick

quick question... is it android or android TV?

like: can you install ALL applications?


there is a difference: some devices have normal android and some have ATV (android TV).

ATV will identify as TV if ask by apps
the others as mobile or whatever

some apps are not available on ATV
AND
some apps from TV provider will ask money or ask to deactivate the settop box they provide

[Andrey K]

Its android tv
It has google play
You are able to install video app, games, etc