MyBMW app -- how does it connect to the car?

8262S · 07-15-2022, 08:40 PM

This is probably a really dumb question, but the real point is do I need to pay for a data connection for the vehicle?

My CA said "no."

I asked him how the app connected to the car, and he said "satellite."

Is there literally a free satellite connection to these cars that lets the MyBMW app talk to them?

(And no, I am not talking about Bluetooth or Wifi, I am talking about connecting to the car from miles away from it.)

Thanks, and are there still no such thing as dumb questions?

wooblewobble · 07-15-2022, 09:01 PM

Haha. Why do people just make up shit when they don't know the answer? It most definitely is not satellite. The cars have, for lack of a better way to describe it, built-in cell phones with mobile data connections. If you look around on My Garage site, you'll see the car's phone number listed. I believe in the US, BMW uses AT&T.

8262S · 07-15-2022, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooblewobble

Haha. Why do people just make up shit when they don't know the answer? It most definitely is not satellite. The cars have, for lack of a better way to describe it, built-in cell phones with mobile data connections. If you look around on My Garage site, you'll see the car's phone number listed. I believe in the US, BMW uses AT&T.

The satellite receiver gets installed after they unlock the extra 100hp at the 1200 miles. Duh.

So the real answer is as I suspect -- I have to pay for a data plan, correct?

Friggin' mission impossible satellite connection in my M3.

8262S · 07-15-2022, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8262S

The satellite receiver gets installed after they unlock the extra 100hp at the 1200 miles. Duh.

So the real answer is as I suspect -- I have to pay for a data plan, correct?

Friggin' mission impossible satellite connection in my M3.

And I should add that what is described is similar to my wife's Volvo. The car has a data plan.

That was what I was expecting and the CA's answer just didn't make any sense to me.

jimbethesda · 07-18-2022, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8262S

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooblewobble

[COLOR="Red"]Haha. Why do people just make up shit when they don't know the answer?[/COLOR] It most definitely is not satellite. The cars have, for lack of a better way to describe it, built-in cell phones with mobile data connections. If you look around on My Garage site, you'll see the car's phone number listed. I believe in the US, BMW uses AT&T.

The satellite receiver gets installed after they unlock the extra 100hp at the 1200 miles. Duh.

So the real answer is as I suspect -- I have to pay for a data plan, correct?

Friggin' mission impossible satellite connection in my M3.

No, you don't need a data plan. A data plan is only needed if you have the WiFi hotspot option, which is a useless feature anyway

wooblewobble · 07-26-2022, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8262S

The satellite receiver gets installed after they unlock the extra 100hp at the 1200 miles. Duh.

So the real answer is as I suspect -- I have to pay for a data plan, correct?

Friggin' mission impossible satellite connection in my M3.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbethesda

No, you don't need a data plan. A data plan is only needed if you have the WiFi hotspot option, which is a useless feature anyway

Right, you don't need to set up any kind of separate data service directly with a provider. Once the included ConnectedDrive stuff runs out, paying BMW for that service will include any necessary data connectivity, which BMW in turn would get from the relevant wireless carrier.

8262S · 07-26-2022, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooblewobble

Right, you don't need to set up any kind of separate data service directly with a provider. Once the included ConnectedDrive stuff runs out, paying BMW for that service will include any necessary data connectivity, which BMW in turn would get from the relevant wireless carrier.

That is the question I should have asked. I just didn't know the terminology and services.

How long is the complimentary ConnectedDrive service, and how much is it when I have to pay for it?

I knew car connectivity wasn't free. Of course I suppose it could pull from my WiFi at home, and on the road from my phone through Apple CarPlay.

jimbethesda · 07-27-2022, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8262S

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooblewobble

Right, you don't need to set up any kind of separate data service directly with a provider. [COLOR="Red"]Once the included ConnectedDrive stuff runs out[/COLOR], paying BMW for that service will include any necessary data connectivity, which BMW in turn would get from the relevant wireless carrier.

That is the question I should have asked. I just didn't know the terminology and services.

How long is the complimentary ConnectedDrive service, and how much is it when I have to pay for it?

I knew car connectivity wasn't free. Of course I suppose it could pull from my WiFi at home, and on the road from my phone through Apple CarPlay.

The car comes with a 4 year subscription

nearwater4me · 07-29-2022, 03:02 PM

Just like any other telematics system, the car has a dedicated communication module with IMEI and phone number to go along with it.
The central comm center makes the call to the vehicle, switches to data, then accesses the necessary data or sends whatever command initiated by the user.

Just FYI, when I was working for a company that developed/manufactured the telematics system for probably the world's 1st telematics system company, we had the capability to make 'stealth call' through a call center simulator.

When the call is made, the occupant in the vehicle will have no knowledge whatsoever that a call is established.
We could access all data of the vehicle, including listening to the conversation through the vehicle mic.

8262S · 07-29-2022, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbethesda

The car comes with a 4 year subscription

For a premium car like this that is good to know!

07-15-2022, 08:40 PM	#1
8262S Captain 723 Rep 724 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	MyBMW app -- how does it connect to the car? This is probably a really dumb question, but the real point is do I need to pay for a data connection for the vehicle? My CA said "no." I asked him how the app connected to the car, and he said "satellite." Is there literally a free satellite connection to these cars that lets the MyBMW app talk to them? (And no, I am not talking about Bluetooth or Wifi, I am talking about connecting to the car from miles away from it.) Thanks, and are there still no such thing as dumb questions? __________________ BMW M3 Competition xDrive, Dravit Grey over Tartufo
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07-15-2022, 09:01 PM	#2
wooblewobble Private First Class 191 Rep 162 Posts Drives: 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid Join Date: May 2021 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Haha. Why do people just make up shit when they don't know the answer? It most definitely is not satellite. The cars have, for lack of a better way to describe it, built-in cell phones with mobile data connections. If you look around on My Garage site, you'll see the car's phone number listed. I believe in the US, BMW uses AT&T.
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07-29-2022, 03:02 PM	#9
nearwater4me Colonel 1916 Rep 2,135 Posts Drives: '22 G82 Base Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: GA iTrader: (1)	Just like any other telematics system, the car has a dedicated communication module with IMEI and phone number to go along with it. The central comm center makes the call to the vehicle, switches to data, then accesses the necessary data or sends whatever command initiated by the user. Just FYI, when I was working for a company that developed/manufactured the telematics system for probably the world's 1st telematics system company, we had the capability to make 'stealth call' through a call center simulator. When the call is made, the occupant in the vehicle will have no knowledge whatsoever that a call is established. We could access all data of the vehicle, including listening to the conversation through the vehicle mic.
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