BMW connected drive

[inque1]

Who pays for BMW connected packages? The only feature I want is real time traffic information and that comes with Carplay for free. I am disappointed that BMW charges for this feature when other car companies offer this for free.

[Moopai]

I paid for the traffic info as used it heavily prior to COVID. The one year just expired and I'm debating if I should renew or get the Apple CarPlay coded! I agree with you, BMW should offer this for free considering the amount of cash they charge for these cars. I guess nothing is for free and they can always argue that they are maintaining the software and that cost money!

Originally Posted by inque1

Who pays for BMW connected packages? The only feature I want is real time traffic information and that comes with Carplay for free. I am disappointed that BMW charges for this feature when other car companies offer this for free.

[Al Pinã]

Originally Posted by Moopai

I paid for the traffic info as used it heavily prior to COVID. The one year just expired and I'm debating if I should renew or get the Apple CarPlay coded! I agree with you, BMW should offer this for free considering the amount of cash they charge for these cars. I guess nothing is for free and they can always argue that they are maintaining the software and that cost money!

Pretty sure they updated the BMW Connected portion of all cars to make Carplay free.

I know it is available in my 2019 and I never paid a cent for it.

[Markr]

Yes, I got an email telling me that after the initial 3 year period it will be renewed free of charge - I have 6 months to go yet. I currently have most things enabled for the first 3 years as part of the package, and I think it is just under £300 per year to renew. I have used the concierge service a few times, so will probably just renew the whole lot. I am hardly using the car at the moment, and it is low miles/immaculate so rather than change to a new one, might just invest in this and a bit of warranty when it expires.

[Moopai]

I doubt CarPlay is available for 2016 via ConnectedDrive. I remember when I purchased the car, I looked on CD and the option was not available.

Originally Posted by ALPINA_DREAMS

Pretty sure they updated the BMW Connected portion of all cars to make Carplay free.

I know it is available in my 2019 and I never paid a cent for it.

[kubax86]

Originally Posted by Moopai

I doubt CarPlay is available for 2016 via ConnectedDrive. I remember when I purchased the car, I looked on CD and the option was not available.

2016 can install aftermarket CarPlay. Way cheaper and better option than Connected Drive price...

[Bmwtechgeek]

Originally Posted by kubax86

2016 can install aftermarket CarPlay. Way cheaper and better option than Connected Drive price...

I know someone who can provide carplay. You install it yourself from a laptop.

[kubax86]

Originally Posted by Bmwtechgeek

I know someone who can provide carplay. You install it yourself from a laptop.

[jlin101]

Originally Posted by ALPINA_DREAMS

Pretty sure they updated the BMW Connected portion of all cars to make Carplay free.

I know it is available in my 2019 and I never paid a cent for it.

CarPlay only became free in MY2020.

[jlin101]

Originally Posted by Moopai

I doubt CarPlay is available for 2016 via ConnectedDrive. I remember when I purchased the car, I looked on CD and the option was not available.

You need to update you iDrive to 2017 or later before Carplay can be coded.

[Al Pinã]

Originally Posted by jlin101

CarPlay only became free in MY2020.

Not true at all.

BMW retroactively made it free for a iDrive 5/6 users. Google is your friend, look it up.

I'm currently riding around in my 2019 750 with free lifetime CarPlay that I never use.

[JustinP]

It’s still a chargeable feature here in the U.K. for my 2019 G11

[jlin101]

Originally Posted by ALPINA_DREAMS

Not true at all.

BMW retroactively made it free for a iDrive 5/6 users. Google is your friend, look it up.

I'm currently riding around in my 2019 750 with free lifetime CarPlay that I never use.

Does the "free" Carplay require an active Connected Drive?
I log into my connected drive for my '16 750 but it still says ACP is NOT an available feature; I already had my car coded for ACP, lol.

[Al Pinã]

Originally Posted by jlin101

Does the "free" Carplay require an active Connected Drive?
I log into my connected drive for my '16 750 but it still says ACP is NOT an available feature; I already had my car coded for ACP, lol.

Yes, you definitely need an active Connected Drive subscription.

[Markr]

Here is the email I had in December 2019

ANNOUNCING A CHANGE TO
APPLE CARPLAY® SUBSCRIPTIONS.
Hello Mark,
We would like to inform you about an important change to your Apple CarPlay Subscription as part of BMW ConnectedDrive.

In response to customer feedback, we have adjusted the Apple CarPlay offering to remove subscription periods.
Here’s what this means for you:

For all customers whose vehicles are equipped with Apple CarPlay, BMW is automatically extending the service to be an unlimited runtime, with no end date.

This extension will be at no additional cost to you, and there is no action required on your side.
Should you have any questions, please contact bmwconnecteddrive@bmwfin.com or call BMW Customer Support on 0800 3256 000. You can check the current status of Apple CarPlay and ConnectedDrive services for your vehicle by visiting the BMW ConnectedDrive Portal.

[pcrispy]

I used this place to code my 2016 760 with wireless FullScreen CarPlay just over a year ago. It has worked perfectly everyday since. I just had to hook up a Windows computer to the OBD port to run the program they sent configured for my car.

https://************************/app...ay-full-screen

[Moopai]

When I log into ConnectedDrive it does not list CarPlay as an option, that's why I'm positive it's not available for 2016. My car has the latest firmware on!

Originally Posted by ALPINA_DREAMS

Not true at all.

BMW retroactively made it free for a iDrive 5/6 users. Google is your friend, look it up.

I'm currently riding around in my 2019 750 with free lifetime CarPlay that I never use.

[pcrispy]

Originally Posted by Moopai

When I log into ConnectedDrive it does not list CarPlay as an option, that's why I'm positive it's not available for 2016. My car has the latest firmware on!

As stated above, wireless CarPlay works awesome in my 2016 750. The build date of my car is March 2016 for what it's worth.

[RaptorStrike]

Originally Posted by JustinP

It’s still a chargeable feature here in the U.K. for my 2019 G11

It shouldn't be. I have CarPlay in my 2018 G12 and it shows as free in connected drive store.

[bigmac f02+g12]

Originally Posted by Moopai

When I log into ConnectedDrive it does not list CarPlay as an option, that's why I'm positive it's not available for 2016. My car has the latest firmware on!

It does work on 2016 G 12's just depends on the build date !!! Works perfectly in my 2016 they started it mid year I believe

[Markr]

Originally Posted by RaptorStrike

It shouldn't be. I have CarPlay in my 2018 G12 and it shows as free in connected drive store.

In 2018 it was a chargeable option, but all you purchased was the right to use for 3 years. The original option after that was to extend for 1 year, 3 years or unlimited - each for an ever increasing cost.

However, in 2019 they decided that once purchased it would no longer expire.

As JustinP has stated, it may still have been a chargeable option in 2019 (but may vary by market) but once purchased, it would not now expire after 3 years.

This was the same across most, if not all BMW’s in 2018 - I stopped my company car drivers from ordering it as an option on 1, 3, 4 and 5 series - ie. a paid option on a 3 year subscription for a car on a 4 year lease - I could see a lot of complaints coming my way on this in year 4 when it stopped working and a debate about who pays for it.

[jlin101]

Originally Posted by bigmac f02+g12

It does work on 2016 G 12's just depends on the build date !!! Works perfectly in my 2016 they started it mid year I believe

It depends on the software--you can have an older build date (mine is 8/2015); as long as the software has been updated (to 7/2016 and later, I think), ACP can be activated.