[sbhagat]

As many of you may be aware, BMW Assist is being deactivated at the end of this year for vehicles typically 2013 and older. I believe US-based vehicles only. Reason being the combox in these vehicles is 2G technology and it will no longer be supported by BMW and their cellular provider.

To mitigate this, if you have a vehicle that is affected by discontinuation but have a BMW Assist plan that runs past the end of this year, BMW provides three options:

-A retrofit to upgrade the cellular technology in the vehicle.
-A $300 voucher for BMW Accessories + deactivation of Assist technology.
-A $200 prepaid cash card + deactivation of Assist technology.

If you are eligible for this mitigation, you can put in your vin at this rebate website from BMW for the next steps:

https://bmwassistoffer.com/sunset/vin.htm

If there are complications with your eligibility, I urge you to contact BMW NA Customer Relations and make your case for disappointment before taking an L.

[Boucheroux]

???????????????

[Kabrich]

Anyone taken the unit apart to know if there is a removable AT&T Sim Card in the BMW?

http://www.fiercewireless.com/wirele...ahead-shutdown

[sbhagat]

Originally Posted by Boucheroux

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It is true.. You can find a bulletin containing this information on other threads that was released a few months ago.
However this may pertain to US based vehicles only.

[sbhagat]

Originally Posted by Kabrich

Anyone taken the unit apart to know if there is a removable AT&T Sim Card in the BMW?

http://www.fiercewireless.com/wirele...ahead-shutdown

I haven't read of anyone doing that, to my understanding, the combox does not have a removable chip.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by sbhagat

I haven't read of anyone doing that, to my understanding, the combox does not have a removable chip.

Chip does not have to be removed. SIM Card swap is all that is needed if BMW uses one. As it could easily be non-customer accessible, some technical knowledge would be needed.

And again, as I stated in another thread, one would most likely need to pay monthly for T-Mobil data, so it might not be cost effective even if doable.

[bateau]

Bought a CPO 2013 328i in March. Looks like my BMW Assist contract expires in March 2019, so I'm eligible for this offer. Submitted request to retrofit my vehicle and will post updates once that happens.

[sbhagat]

Originally Posted by bateau

Bought a CPO 2013 328i in March. Looks like my BMW Assist contract expires in March 2019, so I'm eligible for this offer. Submitted request to retrofit my vehicle and will post updates once that happens.

Great, I chose the same option, did you get an email for further instructions?

Because I got this today:

"Thank you for your quick action regarding this upcoming change. We apologize but we’re experiencing some technical problems at the moment which are delaying the emails going out with further direction. If you have completed the submission process you will receive an email within the next 5 days with more direction.

Thanks,

Dan Richter | Senior Program Coordinator"

[swreefkeeper]

So i know this is a long shot. But does anyone know with the updated sim card and whatever else is needed can we receive map updates over the air? This would be a AWESOME if that made it possible.

[sbhagat]

Originally Posted by swreefkeeper

So i know this is a long shot. But does anyone know with the updated sim card and whatever else is needed can we receive map updates over the air? This would be a AWESOME if that made it possible.

To be honest, this retrofit upgrade has only been offered recently. Once it gets installed we can outline the part number and benefits (or consequences) of the upgrade.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by swreefkeeper

So i know this is a long shot. But does anyone know with the updated sim card and whatever else is needed can we receive map updates over the air? This would be a AWESOME if that made it possible.

The BMW Solution will be ALOT more extensive than an updated SIM Card.

It will involve a New Transciever capable of LTE transmission and reception.

[swreefkeeper]

Originally Posted by Kabrich

The BMW Solution will be ALOT more extensive than an updated SIM Card.

It will involve a New Transciever capable of LTE transmission and reception.

Im sure that is the case Im just wondering what other capabilities we might get with the update.

[Hyperlink]

Thank you sbhagat I just signed up for this offer. I guess we'll have to see what this retrofit includes.

[AGONXF30]

Originally Posted by Kabrich

The BMW Solution will be ALOT more extensive than an updated SIM Card.

It will involve a New Transciever capable of LTE transmission and reception.

So you are saying I will have LTE in the car? Firmware for CIC for over the air maps? Hahahahaha.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by AGONXF30

So you are saying I will have LTE in the car? Firmware for CIC for over the air maps? Hahahahaha.

Interesting you need glasses or reading compression classes.

No one said anything about free maps (though that could easily depend on price BMW charges). .

Most likely you are just keeping your current services instead of the plug being pulled on them.

[hsk1610]

Thanks for the info. I just signed up. Have been Googling this topic a lot lately to keep up with the latest news.

[AGONXF30]

Originally Posted by Kabrich

Interesting you need glasses or reading compression classes.

No one said anything about free maps (though that could easily depend on price BMW charges). .

Most likely you are just keeping your current services instead of the plug being pulled on them.

What's with the insult buttercup? I posed the question that if we get LTE would we get a firmware for CIC for over the air. I do see how I phrased it a bit confusing, still no need to call someone names.

[etinifni]

Sweet, just submitted my retrofit request as my current subscription doesn't expire until February 2018. Thank you for sharing OP.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by swreefkeeper

Im sure that is the case Im just wondering what other capabilities we might get with the update.

You won't get new capabilities. BMW is simply replacing the GSM radio with one that supports UMTS or faster speed. No OTA maps, no Advanced RTTI, no NBT specific features.

BMW is not about to break out the Fujitsu CPU development kits to work on new features. Nor does the CIC hardware support most of what you hope will be added. Finally, BMW has nothing to gain by adding new features to CIC cars. They want everyone in new vehicles. The only reason why they're offering this retrofit is because some users have contracts that are still valid. Plus, assist includes safety features that are important to their culture. Cutting that off for some models that are just barely 2 years old would be bad business.

The reality is BMW knew in 2010 that 2G sunsetting was being discussed. The whole industry knew it was coming. Took them 3 years to act and for some models 2G wasn't replaced until just last year. Pathetic.

[sbhagat]

Originally Posted by etinifni

Sweet, just submitted my retrofit request as my current subscription doesn't expire until February 2018. Thank you for sharing OP.

etinifni No problem. Did you get a email following the application that gave you the next steps? I haven't received mine and if you could screenshot the following steps, I'd appreciate it.

[etinifni]

Originally Posted by sbhagat

etinifni No problem. Did you get a email following the application that gave you the next steps? I haven't received mine and if you could screenshot the following steps, I'd appreciate it.

No I haven't received any email as of yet.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by claykin

You won't get new capabilities. BMW is simply replacing the GSM radio with one that supports UMTS or faster speed. No OTA maps, no Advanced RTTI, no NBT specific features.

BMW is not about to break out the Fujitsu CPU development kits to work on new features. Nor does the CIC hardware support most of what you hope will be added. Finally, BMW has nothing to gain by adding new features to CIC cars. They want everyone in new vehicles. The only reason why they're offering this retrofit is because some users have contracts that are still valid. Plus, assist includes safety features that are important to their culture. Cutting that off for some models that are just barely 2 years old would be bad business.

The reality is BMW knew in 2010 that 2G sunsetting was being discussed. The whole industry knew it was coming. Took them 3 years to act and for some models 2G wasn't replaced until just last year. Pathetic.

Exactly