[djacinto]

Hey everyone,

The new app just released and you can get it at this link if you scan it off another device

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bmw...w-app.amp.html

I've been playing around with it and here's my findings so far

1. Responsiveness is roughly the same if not a little better. With connected drive it could take as little as 15 seconds, or as much as 2 or 3 minutes if I'm really paying attention to send remote actions to the car

2. Still no customization
The biggest thing I wanted was the ability to change the way my car looked. Something as simple as changing the wheels or just being able to say the car isn't stock anymore would be awesome. I know it's not hard as many of us do OEM upgrades like 437m wheels or adding a little spoiler or even m sport conversion kits. Wouldn't it be awesome if we could change our cars in the app to reflect that change?

3. It's just a UI change
So with connected drive I only had access to the remote services and the most basic of access. No mileage counter, I can't see my fuel levels, or even what I was most excited about, seeing the status of my car like maintenance schedules or if a door is open. I think this is due to my car being a 2014 so maybe it's just not possible, or because the app is brand new to the US, but the rest of the world has it!!

Other than that I think #3 is the most indicative of how this app is. To me at least it's no more than a UI change to look newer and more related to current bmw styling. While I'm not mad that there's no new options available to me like mentioned previously, I'm simply disappointed that the app marketed to replace that godforsaken connected drive is literally the same and that they've had YEARS to fix

I hope you all with newer vehicles have better luck with it, I will have to wait and see if more features are rolled out later.

[Pauloxxi]

I hardly believe there is any improvement with this. It depends a lot on the hardware in your car. For 2014 models, the connected drive will be dropped in February 2022, because it is 3G technology.

[Icecph]

Ugh somehow looks worse than connecteddrive lol

[drdino]

Actually it's worse in terms of functionality, they've removed the TPMS status.

[Skyhigh]

I installed it a few months ago... it is just a different UI, which I find less practical.
The HUGE illustration of the vehicle taking half of the screen and ENORMOUS "ALLES OK" (mine is in German) stamp on it is incomprehensible...

As noted - no new functionality whatsoever. I just noticed they have actually even removed the horn function (not that I use it, but still... can be handy in some cases!).

I simply continue using the old one. Looks better, feels better, does the same and more. Hope they don't phase it out.

[Pauloxxi]

Originally Posted by Skyhigh

I installed it a few months ago... it is just a different UI, which I find less practical.
The HUGE illustration of the vehicle taking half of the screen and ENORMOUS "ALLES OK" (mine is in German) stamp on it is incomprehensible...

As noted - no new functionality whatsoever. I just noticed they have actually even removed the horn function (not that I use it, but still... can be handy in some cases!).

I simply continue using the old one. Looks better, feels better, does the same and more. Hope they don't phase it out.

Interesting comments. I was wondering if I could keep using previous one for longer.

[Th3Walrus]

I just get 'We are sorry but a technical error has occurred. Please try again later'.

Canada.

[Skyhigh]

Originally Posted by Pauloxxi

Interesting comments. I was wondering if I could keep using previous one for longer.

I certainly hope so. The new one has been available for months and is working in parallel with the new. I will certainly use it as long as I can... not that it is something I use daily anyway....

Originally Posted by Th3Walrus

I just get 'We are sorry but a technical error has occurred. Please try again later'.

Canada.

Not sure what you mean. When/where do you get that?

[Th3Walrus]

When I installed the app, opened it, and clicked 'Next' at the bottom. That's the error I get.

[Skyhigh]

"Congratulations"...! The good old app will be discontinued after 30.06.2021!



We are kindly invited to use the new, "better", "more capable" My BMW app.... which in reality is:
- with appreciably inferior HMI
- chaotically organised
- instead of introducing new functionality, actually LACKING functionality previously available (e.g. horn)

I'm contemplating sending a complaint to BMW ConnectedDrive... probably a voice in the desert, but if we don't bother complaining to them, what's the point of complaining here...

[tardboi]

Originally Posted by Pauloxxi

I hardly believe there is any improvement with this. It depends a lot on the hardware in your car. For 2014 models, the connected drive will be dropped in February 2022, because it is 3G technology.

Is 2014 the cutoff, or Pre-LCI? I would think 2015s are 3g as well.

I actually like the new app more. The map function is much better than the ConnectedDrive version. (That, or its just more intuitive -- previously I didnt see a way to drop a pin and send to the car)

[joesid]

I have a 2016 and lost the ability to see my mileage and fuel with the new app...

[damack]

Originally Posted by Th3Walrus

I just get 'We are sorry but a technical error has occurred. Please try again later'.

Canada.

Works for me in Vancouver.


Seems the same functionally, just looks a bit different. Nice for Canada we get metric units. Didn't have that option with Connected.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by Pauloxxi

I hardly believe there is any improvement with this. It depends a lot on the hardware in your car. For 2014 models, the connected drive will be dropped in February 2022, because it is 3G technology.

Doesn't matter anyway - none of the Connected Drive features work on my car anymore, even the ones that were supposed to be good for 10 years.

[Skyhigh]

Originally Posted by damack

Works for me in Vancouver.


Seems the same functionally, just looks a bit different. Nice for Canada we get metric units. Didn't have that option with Connected.

Not the same - less. Find the horn function in the new one, if you can....

[dillishep]

I recently got a 2015 116d and have experienced the same loss of functionality in the new app vs. old as mentioned by others;

1. No fuel level or range displayed
2. Date & time of last update not displayed
3. Mileage not displayed anywhere
3. Location doesn't automatically track correctly and is slow to update when refreshed manually

It's especially poor when compared to the functions available for my 2018 420d in the new app, seems like a real step backwards for any car with iDrive 5 or older. I contacted ConnectedDrive to query it and after email ping pong was advised that the 1 series was too old to support the functions of the new app hence I still use the old version for that car, however they told me after June it would receive fewer updates not that it would be withdrawn.

[Skyhigh]

That's good news if it remains active and usable!

[auburnf30x]

I’ve been using the new app for a while and all seems okay so far. Sending functions to the car seems to work a little quicker.

But yes...I do see the horn function is missing. Not that I used it before, but I don’t like losing options.

[damack]

Originally Posted by Skyhigh

Not the same - less. Find the horn function in the new one, if you can....

hmm, you're right.

I actually never knew the old one had a horn button

[HRMendez]

Why don't they just update the existing app? seems confusing to have multiple apps that do the same thing 🤷*♂️

[Skyhigh]

Why didn't they just keep updating Windows 3.1...?

Evolution often requires restarting from a clean sheet of paper. That's not the problem.

[drdino]

Originally Posted by Skyhigh

That's good news if it remains active and usable!

I guess we'll see in a few months...