Upcoming 3G Cellular Discontinuation - ConnectedDrive Services

[RoundelM3]

I recently had my wife's 2016 F23 convertible (11/2015 build) upgraded with new hardware/software, and I can validate that it wiped out all my presets plus all my custom coding (aside from the LED upgrades to the rear lights). I was able to quickly re-code everything and restore my presents from the "profiles" that I had exported to a USB thumb drive. The upgrade was covered under a separate warranty and there was no charge for the part or labor.

Has anyone heard or seen anything about an aftermarket solution for 4G on 5/15 and earlier cars? My 2015 F80 is likely one of the last batch of its model year, and it seems odd that there's no way to swap out the modem for one from a 2016 or later build.

[fknlo]

Originally Posted by RoundelM3

Has anyone heard or seen anything about an aftermarket solution for 4G on 5/15 and earlier cars? My 2015 F80 is likely one of the last batch of its model year, and it seems odd that there's no way to swap out the modem for one from a 2016 or later build.

I think a retrofit is the only option? I'm just waiting to see if retrofitmybimmer.com has a black friday sale and the price goes any lower and I'll grab that.

e:and the head unit retrofit doesn't do anything for the 3G/4G issue either. It just updates things so you can use carplay to get around losing all the BMW connected drive stuff.

[GarlicBread]

Just to add I have 17 m4 comp and it required this service. It was a software update only and they did full software update not just head unit

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by GarlicBread

Just to add I have 17 m4 comp and it required this service. It was a software update only and they did full software update not just head unit

FYI the 4G upgrade from BMW replaces the telematics modem, not the head unit.

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by GarlicBread

Just to add I have 17 m4 comp and it required this service. It was a software update only and they did full software update not just head unit

Interesting….. I have a ‘17 M3 Comp with a 11/16 build date. Brought my car into the dealer for this to check applicability a month ago (my dealer was familiar with this SIB) but my VIN was not flagged as it being needed (neither software nor hardware upgrade). But then, the software in my car has been updated a few times during my ownership. I am currently running an I-step from mid/late 2018 which would explain why my car was not flagged for this issue.

According to some of the docs posted earlier in this thread, assuming your car has “early” 4G hardware (which mine does based on build date), you would only get the software update for this fix IF your I-Step was 2016 or older - my original I-step was from 2016. Unlike the newer G-series BMWs where routine software updates are performed via OTA 1-2 times a year (on average), the F-series BMWs only got software updates if they were at the dealer for some type of problem that required a software update to fix. So it is quite possible there are several cars out there that could still be running their original I-step software from the factory - which would explain why some cars need the update and others don’t, despite being in the same affected vehicle range based on VIN and build date.

But, I think the moral of this story is to take your car to the dealer and have them do a quick key read to determine applicability since the documentation of affected vehicles is all over the place….

[spidy512]

Yo!

FWIW, I have a 11/14 build, and the car has whatr appears to be the original I-step loaded from the factory. Looks like I am one of those who never needed the update....

Happy Thanksgiving!
josh

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by RoundelM3

Has anyone heard or seen anything about an aftermarket solution for 4G on 5/15 and earlier cars? My 2015 F80 is likely one of the last batch of its model year, and it seems odd that there's no way to swap out the modem for one from a 2016 or later build.

I have one of the first M4s, 6/4/14 production and this is what my letter from BMW said,

"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."

Real time traffic and vehicle locator are the things I miss. May be a reason to get a new one.

[DO444]

Originally Posted by kyleb350

Can't do a lot of things! No app integration with iDrive, no speech to text for SMS/texting or navi, but that's a separate rant.

Speech to text is the only thing I’d need, but it is very nice and I’d want to keep that.

[Danlnyc88]

I have a 2020 and the dealer told me there is a recall even on my car for this 4g thing I didn't really look deep into.

All I knew was with this update I'd have to pull out my DME to get to bench unlocked again which would be a huge pain in the ass considering I'd do the work myself.

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

I have one of the first M4s, 6/4/14 production and this is what my letter from BMW said,

"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."

Real time traffic and vehicle locator are the things I miss. May be a reason to get a new one.

Actually, there IS an upgrade to an EVO head unit and telematics unit, but it costs somewhere near $3K including labor (assuming you don't try to install it yourself). Not really worth it, but I do miss being able to send destinations to the car and RTTI.

[NSX2M4]

I just dropped my car off for end of warranty checks. My SA mentioned doing the upgrade. He specifically asked if there were any tunes on the car as it may affect them. I only have the GTS DCT flash so I said to go ahead and do it. According to my SA it is a complete update on the telematics of the car.

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by NSX2M4

I just dropped my car off for end of warranty checks. My SA mentioned doing the upgrade. He specifically asked if there were any tunes on the car as it may affect them. I only have the GTS DCT flash so I said to go ahead and do it. According to my SA it is a complete update on the telematics of the car.

It may affect any custom feature coding, but just the telematics update should not affect your DCT flash or any engine tuning. If they're updating the entire car's software, that will definitely affect all modules.

[NSX2M4]

Originally Posted by RoundelM3

It may affect any custom feature coding, but just the telematics update should not affect your DCT flash or any engine tuning. If they're updating the entire car's software, that will definitely affect all modules.

Good to know. Thanks.
In retrospect, I do not care if I lose the DCT flash as it was fairly cheap.
Bonus though is they found my intercooler slightly leaking and they're putting a new one in now. Warranty ends today. Whew!

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by NSX2M4

Good to know. Thanks.
In retrospect, I do not care if I lose the DCT flash as it was fairly cheap.
Bonus though is they found my intercooler slightly leaking and they're putting a new one in now. Warranty ends today. Whew!

[shamshir]

Is the "Points of Interest - Online Search" voice activation working for anyone post 4G hardware swap?

[NSX2M4]

Got the car back today. GTS coding seems to still be there. I did lose some coding stuff such as display warning at start up, puddle lights in reverse, DRL brake lights, etc. Will have to use Bimmer-remote again now. Oh well, did get a brand new intercooler out of it.