[Lost Rider]

So there I was in a situation where I wanted to try out my free BMW Assist/Concierge service for the first time, since I did the setup call at the PCD.
So I push the button and wait.
Then I waited for 1 Minute.
Then I waited for another minute.
So then I try to use the iDrive.
Nothing, no response.
The whole time it's saying "connecting to BMW assist" in the screen.
Then I push voice commands. Nothing.
It's been about 3 minutes by now and I'm pushing buttons trying to get any response,
and finally the screen showed " cancel BMW assist?"

So I finally get to cancel it, and get control of my iDrive again.
Not cool, what if I was hurt in a ditch, "trying to connect" wouldn't cut it.


I guess I'll contact my dealer tomorrow.

Has this happened to anyone?

[JSpira]

You might have been in a no reception area.

Did you try again? Tell Assist of the problem, NOT the dealer.

[Lost Rider]

I did not try again, but will tomorrow, thanks
I was an hour outside of Chicago, shoudn't be "outside" any reception area.
What's this no reception area you're talking about?

[Tiffz MiniS]

My boyfriends 330 wont send Vehicle data to bmw assist

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

I was an hour outside of Chicago, shoudn't be "outside" any reception area.
What's this no reception area you're talking about?

I don´t know about your experiences, but all mobile operators have dead spots and zones.

[bsjd00]

Rumor is that BMW Assist (for calls, not GPS obviously) piggybacks on Verizon's network. Do you know if you were in a Verizon service area at the time?

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by bsjd00

Rumor is that BMW Assist (for calls, not GPS obviously) piggybacks on Verizon's network. Do you know if you were in a Verizon service area at the time?

Rumor is <cough cough> correct.

[poldim]

Verizon is supposed to be the best coverage. I havent had a dropped call unless I was driving through the mountains.

That sucks. Makes me want to go test mine out.

[Lost Rider]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Rumor is <cough cough> correct.

This is what I mean about "no service area"
Thanks, I will look into Verizons coverage and see what I come up with.
I know that I had full bars with my Cingular service.




Can you hear me know?

[Lost Rider]

According to Verizon's coverage map, I was in a digital coverage are at the time.
I'll try it out tomorrow and see what happens.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by poldim

Verizon is supposed to be the best coverage. I havent had a dropped call unless I was driving through the mountains.

That sucks. Makes me want to go test mine out.

All mobile operators have large gaps. Even in an area where a mobile operator is strong, there will be small areas where there is simply no reception.

[steverequiem]

Similar thing happened to me. I finished the call with the concierge service, but the system never disconnected. Took 15 minutes for the call to cut off and idrive to become useable again.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

According to Verizon's coverage map, I was in a digital coverage are at the time.
I'll try it out tomorrow and see what happens.

Coverage maps do not indicate discrete gaps. Other things (sunspots, no I'm not kidding) can intervene.

[ThreeBimm]

Happened to me within the first week of getting my car. Eventually I had to find the card with the 800 number on it and call from my cell phone. My cell service is Verizon so I know I was in a service area.

I never thought about it after that but I know it works now since my brother used it while he was driving my car. Now I'm wondering what the problem may have been.

[hotsand5]

How long did you hold the SOS button for? Were you holding for one minute or just waiting that long? You need to hold it for a good ten seconds or so. Let us know if it works.

[ex-poster]

I had similar problems on the first call. Don't quite remember how I fixed it, it was a year ago now.

Does anyone know if the system uses analog or digital? I do know OnStar uses Verizon analog, this is the first time I've heard someone mention the carrier for BMW...

[westcoaster]

same thing happend to me but only i need a cop to come out and take a report.

[goIrish]

I couldn't imagine a car company would design a safety service reliant on cell phone signals and not make it dual mode (analog and digital).

Whats kinda odd is with the sharkfin they didn't strike a deal with Iridium and put a satellite phone into the car.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by smithrh

I had similar problems on the first call. Don't quite remember how I fixed it, it was a year ago now.

Does anyone know if the system uses analog or digital? I do know OnStar uses Verizon analog, this is the first time I've heard someone mention the carrier for BMW...

Last time I checked, BMW was using analog.

Here is what I wrote in an article exactly 2 years ago to date, describing the unit:
TeleService (and BMW Assist) use the CM42 Cellular Communication Unit from Sony Ericsson, a dual mode, dual band unit that was designed to access CDMA, CDMA2000 1xRTT and AMPS networks. This essentially coverts the gamut of mobile communications, from 1G (analog AMPS) through 3G CDMA2000 1xRTT services, which are of course not yet widely deployed. It also promises a high degree of reliability in rural as well as urban areas, which are still largely dependent on 1G service. Although TeleService uses SMS as the data transport today, the fact that BMW chose to install the CM42 means that the system in future can support a data transfer rate of up to 153 kbps.

[3aficionado]

Originally Posted by smithrh

I had similar problems on the first call. Don't quite remember how I fixed it, it was a year ago now.

Does anyone know if the system uses analog or digital? I do know OnStar uses Verizon analog, this is the first time I've heard someone mention the carrier for BMW...

OnStar started as analog (only real option back then – digital was sporadic). For several years OnStar has been dual mode. By 2008 GM plans on having a full digital OnStar system since digital cell service is in as many places as analog.

Like OnStar, BMWAssist uses a more powerful cellular signal (something like 3 watts instead of the normal 0.6 watts of a cell phone). This increased power makes the OnStar/Assist systems able to produce clearer calls from farther distances reducing the number of dead spots the system experiences. But all systems will have some dead spots unless they use satellite technology. It sounds like the first post may have something else wrong if he cant get Assist just outside Chicago. That’s a problem to call the service department about.

[Scrooge4277]

Same thing happened to me for about 15 minutes when i was trying to set up assist when i picked up the car. The salesman had no idea what was going on and thought we (read: he) had messed up the car somehow. Eventually, a woman answers the other line and proceeds to confirm my details. She also explained that they deprioritize first time setup calls, especially when they have a heavy volume of emergency calls. Perhaps it was just an excuse, but it makes sense i think.

[puck724]

Originally Posted by Tiffz MiniS

My boyfriends 330 wont send Vehicle data to bmw assist

that happend to me too. this was after i had the car updated. i took it back to the dealership and my SA did something in the communication screen on iDrive and fixed it. tell art to call up his dealer and they should take care of it.