[alpha265]

BMW no longer charges for CarPlay.


https://www.engadget.com/2019/12/04/...scription-fee/

[LittleJoe]

BMW will no longer require a subscription to use CarPlay in some cars

https://9to5mac.com/2019/12/04/bmw-w...#disqus_thread

[huskerdoc2020]

Good move.

[LittleJoe]

This article is a bit more definitive and says "BMW will now offer *CarPlay* for free for the lifetime of the car on all models that have the latest ConnectedDrive infotainment system installed" which of course includes the X7:

https://www.macrumors.com/2019/12/04...y-monthly-fee/

[toddwalton]

Considering how substandard the connectivity is and how it's virtually impossible for a husband and wife to have two iPhones in the car simultaneously without confusing the sh** out of iDrive, damned right it's free.

They should pay me $80 per year for the aggravation.

[drbmw]

Right move by bmw
About time !

[Wild Blue]

Since we've argued here for quite some time that CarPlay should be free, just like it is in sub-$20k cars from other manufacturers, it's good to see that BMW is taking action on this.

[LittleJoe]

'Wireless' CarPlay requires additional equipment that cars with 'wired' CarPlay do not have or need. Here are some specific equipment requirements needed to support wireless CarPlay:

• A very good Wi-Fi connection to handle the amount of data coming from the phone
  
• An in-vehicle dual-band router to accommodate the extra data
  
• An in-vehicle GPS receiver dedicated to CarPlay

This article explains how it works in more detail:

https://www.jsonline.com/story/money...ow/2014559001/


It must not be a trivial matter for BMW to support wireless CarPlay because there are very few companies who support it so far. More will come but for now BMW is paving the way and deserves some credit for trying, even with the lumps and bumps some have endured in the early days of the X7. The removal of the subscription is even better news for iPhone users.

[toddwalton]

Originally Posted by Wild Blue

Since we've argued here for quite some time that CarPlay should be free, just like it is in sub-$20k cars from other manufacturers, it's good to see that BMW is taking action on this.

Before we get too excited, CarPlay still requires BMW navigation as currently constituted, so watch for them to raise the price $300 and wind up getting the revenue from us that way. If the day ever comes that BMW offers us a 'dumb' screen in lieu of navigation, I'll be excited when the lease is up. I'm not counting on it.

[unotaz]

LOL, 100%. There are no free lunch in this world. I bet you the MSRP for the 2021 X7 will increase by $350 across the board.

Originally Posted by toddwalton

Before we get too excited, CarPlay still requires BMW navigation as currently constituted, so watch for them to raise the price $300 and wind up getting the revenue from us that way. If the day ever comes that BMW offers us a 'dumb' screen in lieu of navigation, I'll be excited when the lease is up. I'm not counting on it.

[LittleJoe]

You're both correct, there's no free lunch. Many buyers don't blink at the cost of certain options but complain about this subscription option. It was BMW's way to cover the cost of the hardware in ALL builds but only charge those with iPhones that wanted to actually use CarPlay. No doubt the highest percentage of owners are Android phone users and not iPhone users so for these owners this was a fair approach. So yes, I think BMW's decision to discontinue the subscription based approach will end up costing everyone (including Android users) a little more for a X7 in the future. They'll include it in the base cost and everyone will be blissfully happy.

[huskerdoc2020]

However I think you are wrong in the assertion that more BMW owners would be Android users. General population yes, because they are cheap and for the masses.

[unotaz]

So when will this change take place? Effectively immediately? So I guess people who bought the 2020 model lucked out then before they start to jack the MSRP up for 2021!

[huskerdoc2020]

It's $300 people. I get that it was stupid to charge for it, but it's also only $300.

[CruiseControl]

Don't see this posted but got this email just now..

----

This is to advise you of an important change to your Apple CarPlay Compatibility option as part of BMW ConnectedDrive.

BMW is extending the Apple CarPlay Compatibility option for your vehicle to remain active in your vehicle for as long as the feature is technically supported. You will no longer be required to purchase a subscription to keep CarPlay active.

This extension will be at no additional cost to you, and there is no action required on your part to receive the extension.

To use Apple CarPlay in your vehicle with your iPhone, be sure to choose “Apple CarPlay” as the connection mode for your mobile device in the Communication settings.

Note:
As part of this change, we also recommend performing an update of the ConnectedDrive services in your vehicle. This can be done by following the steps below:

Depending on your vehicle’s Model Year and Make, navigate to “BMW Assist”, “ConnectedDrive” or “Apps” using your iDrive controller.

Under BMW Assist or ConnectedDrive:
Open “Options” (physical button surrounding your iDrive controller).
Click on “Update BMW Assist”.
Under Apps:
Click on “All Apps”.
Open “Options” (physical button surrounding your iDrive controller)
Click on “Update apps and services”
Once the update completes, we then recommend shutting the vehicle off and allowing a few minutes before restarting the vehicle to check the connection.

Should you have any questions, please contact customercare@bmwassist.com or call BMW Assist Customer Care at 1-888-333-6118. You can check the current status of Apple CarPlay and ConnectedDrive services for your vehicle by visiting www.bmwusa.com/MyBMW/ConnectedDrive.

Kind Regards,
BMW ConnectedDrive

[2020bmwx7]

I received the email notification from BMW but when I tried checking out both BMW Assist and BMW Connected in Apps, I don't see any options to update apps.

I do see that I am subscribed to CarPlay in the connected drive website (albeit a year from purchase date).

Anyone else able to see their CarPlay w/ no end date? Or able to update the app per the email instructions on their X7?

[CruiseControl]

I clicked on Apps and once there clicked the physical button surrounding the iDrive controller. I saw the option to update, clicked it and it said transferring data and then said apps are updated or something like that. I turned off the vehicle and came back hours later and was still able to see the update option so, I did it again. Carplay still shows an end date of 10/04/2020 within the ConnectedDrive app online.

[CruiseControl]

ConnectedDrive now states Carplay is subscribed until 10/04/2039. I took a long drive yesterday and Waze was very unstable though. It would freeze and restart. Also, I could not play any music from my apple playlist.

[LittleJoe]

Originally Posted by CruiseControl

ConnectedDrive now states Carplay is subscribed until 10/04/2039. I took a long drive yesterday and Waze was very unstable though. It would freeze and restart. Also, I could not play any music from my apple playlist.

I was using Waze today and it wasn't tracking us on the correct street but don't believe iDrive had anything to do with an app running on our iPhones. More likely the issue was with Waze itself because after I manually closed and restarted Waze, it worked fine. Could have been a Waze server issue.

[CruiseControl]

Originally Posted by LittleJoe

I was using Waze today and it wasn't tracking us on the correct street but don't believe iDrive had anything to do with an app running on our iPhones. More likely the issue was with Waze itself because after I manually closed and restarted Waze, it worked fine. Could have been a Waze server issue.

My phone was being charged on the wireless charger while using Waze. When I picked up the phone it was hot. I suspect the performance degraded due to the excessive heat. Others have complained about their phones heating up while on the wireless charger. Its in a bad location. It needs to be located where the appropriate airflow exists.

[CruiseControl]

Originally Posted by CruiseControl

ConnectedDrive now states Carplay is subscribed until 10/04/2039. I took a long drive yesterday and Waze was very unstable though. It would freeze and restart. Also, I could not play any music from my apple playlist.

I resolved the inability to play music from my apple playlist. One thing I didn't mention is I upgraded my iPhone. I found under setting/music cellular data was turned off after the upgrade and migration of data from one phone to the other. Turning this on resolved this issue.

Today, while using Waze my screen went white. It still continued to provide guidance via voice but no visual map options were available.