[livemane]

Just FYI
I have a 2017 330 and got the notice to upgrade to 4g. The dealer updated the car with no hardware but updated the software I guess. When I got home I tried to reflash bm3 and it bricked my car… pft support got me back in business but now I can't use bm3 unless I get a bench unlock. I'm so bummed

[im_an_alien]

Originally Posted by livemane

Just FYI
I have a 2017 330 and got the notice to upgrade to 4g. The dealer updated the car with no hardware but updated the software I guess. When I got home I tried to reflash bm3 and it bricked my car… pft support got me back in business but now I can't use bm3 unless I get a bench unlock. I'm so bummed

Bummer...glad PTF were able to get your car running. There seems to be no logical explanation regarding who gets their DME locked and who doesn't. Just had this update done last week (hardware and software) and was able to flash stage 1. It was a tense few minutes because I was expecting the flash to fail...
What i-step did they update you to?

[livemane]

Originally Posted by im_an_alien

bummer...glad ptf were able to get your car running. There seems to be no logical explanation regarding who gets their dme locked and who doesn't. Just had this update done last week (hardware and software) and was able to flash stage 1. It was a tense few minutes because i was expecting the flash to fail...
What i-step did they update you to?

f020-21-03-545

[im_an_alien]

Originally Posted by livemane

f020-21-03-545

Well the plot thickens....mine was updated to F20-21-03-545 as well and I was able to flash the MHD tune. Not sure if it makes a difference, but I've had a bench unlock done before late last year when some warranty work was done and the car was updated to F20-20-11-540 which locked the DME and the MHD flash would fail at 4%. Maybe the bench unlock "code" didn't get wiped...

[WhiteCollarMetalHead]

Whats the situation for those of us with "no options" to upgrade per BMW? Our cars have all of this equipment and compontents and now its just useless but still communicating with the DME.

Example, are we going to get warning lights about comm issues? I recently had a code pop up "SOS emergency call issue" I believe its due to a low backup battery for the TCU .....all of these components and services soon to be obsolete and non functionaly anyway will BMW "code out" the warnings related to this? I dont want to spend money to replace a battery on a system that will be non functional.

[amancuso]

My 2016 428iX Has 4G in it already.

[gnolivos]

Originally Posted by amancuso

My 2016 428iX Has 4G in it already.

Likely also 3G so will need updated like my 2016 328xi

[2017F30]

Originally Posted by livemane

f020-21-03-545

Received this I-level update last week for the vent pressure vibration aka helicopter noise. Forgot about the 3G discontinuation but one less issue.

[gnolivos]

Originally Posted by 2017F30

Received this I-level update last week for the vent pressure vibration aka helicopter noise. Forgot about the 3G discontinuation but one less issue.

Can you point me to a thread discussing this issue please?

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by gnolivos

Likely also 3G so will need updated like my 2016 328xi

When I check the version it shows 4G in the upper corner. I'll take a picture later. Also BMW never sent me an email for this car, but did for my 2016 X1 which is def. 3G.

[2017F30]

Originally Posted by gnolivos

Can you point me to a thread discussing this issue please?

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1424308&page=4

[im_an_alien]

Originally Posted by amancuso

My 2016 428iX Has 4G in it already.

My 16 also showed 4G but still needed the update so I wouldn't go by that alone..

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by im_an_alien

My 16 also showed 4G but still needed the update so I wouldn't go by that alone..

Alright. I guess I'll contact BMW then.

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by im_an_alien

My 16 also showed 4G but still needed the update so I wouldn't go by that alone..

You were right. I didn't get an email for it, but they checked the VIN and said it was eligible for the update. Appointment made for 11/15.

[Mr. F22]

Originally Posted by Poochie

Just for clarification, only 2016+ model year (03/2015+ for the 2 Series) vehicles are capable and eligible for this free 4G LTE upgrade. Absolutely no already 3G telematics system (vehicle built date 06/2015 and below) is capable nor is eligible for this hardware revision.

Hi Poochie, my 2-series with 3/15 build date is at the dealership now. It has NBTEvo but the dealership is telling me that my vehicles equipment was made for 3G, and I would need a HU and Antenna along with the telematics retrofit in order to get this working? Any guidance/thoughts?

[sspade]

Originally Posted by Mr. F22

Hi Poochie, my 2-series with 3/15 build date is at the dealership now. It has NBTEvo but the dealership is telling me that my vehicles equipment was made for 3G, and I would need a HU and Antenna along with the telematics retrofit in order to get this working? Any guidance/thoughts?

My 02/16 build doesn't qualify for the upgrade either.

Its not as simple as saying all 2016+ vehicles are eligible… Must have NBT Evo ID 5/6.

[im_an_alien]

Originally Posted by sspade

My 02/16 build doesn't qualify for the upgrade either.

Its not as simple as saying all 2016+ vehicles are eligible… Must have NBT Evo ID 5/6.

To muddy the waters a bit more I got the free upgrade with ID4. MY 2016, 10/15 build.

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by Mr. F22

Hi Poochie, my 2-series with 3/15 build date is at the dealership now. It has NBTEvo but the dealership is telling me that my vehicles equipment was made for 3G, and I would need a HU and Antenna along with the telematics retrofit in order to get this working? Any guidance/thoughts?

Originally Posted by sspade

My 02/16 build doesn't qualify for the upgrade either.

Its not as simple as saying all 2016+ vehicles are eligible… Must have NBT Evo ID 5/6.

The dealers are feeding you some misinformation; if your vehicle has at least an iDrive 4 EVO setup, factually, it can be upgraded to a revise telematics system and continue to use ConnectDrive.

Believe it, don't believe it, it really doesn't matter to me 🤷🏻

It was merely some friendly advice that you can easily verify yourself, instead of wasting your time to hurling baseless accusations..


BMW Customer Service #:
1 (800) 831-1117

[Mr. F22]

Originally Posted by Poochie

The dealers are feeding you some misinformation; if your vehicle has at least an iDrive 4 EVO setup, factually, it can be upgraded to a revise telematics system and continue to use ConnectDrive.

Believe it, don't believe it, it really doesn't matter to me 🤷🏻

It was merely some friendly advice that you can easily verify yourself, instead of wasting your time to hurling baseless accusations..


BMW Customer Service #:
1 (800) 831-1117

Thanks for the quick reply. I knew NBT Evo was the minimum hardware requirement to be eligible for the hardware telematics retrofit, but after the dealerships response to me, I was starting to question if my ID4 was the issue - so thanks for confirming.

Besides the service bulletin itself, are there any other resources you can point me to, to "easily verify" as you say, so that I can arm myself with information to go back to the dealership with? I raised an escalation ticket with BMW Customer Relations right before I posted here. I spoke to them last week and they agreed with me regarding the discrepancy and advised that I go into the dealer...

Separately, the '3g discontinuation' email that I received said "there is not a technology upgrade available" for my vehicle. Adds to the confusion, but I believe this is because my iStep has never been updated.

[sspade]

Originally Posted by im_an_alien

To muddy the waters a bit more I got the free upgrade with ID4. MY 2016, 10/15 build.

What... no way, thanks for sharing. Just when I thought I had it figured out!

[sspade]

Poochie I have NBT Evo ID4... and received the letter from BMW stating I am not eligible for upgrade. Are you suggesting if I call them and push harder, it is possible? That would mean BMW is sending out lies on company letterhead.

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by sspade

Poochie I have NBT Evo ID4... and received the letter from BMW stating I am not eligible for upgrade. Are you suggesting if I call them and push harder, it is possible? That would mean BMW is sending out lies on company letterhead.

Originally Posted by Mr. F22

Thanks for the quick reply. I knew NBT Evo was the minimum hardware requirement to be eligible for the hardware telematics retrofit, but after the dealerships response to me, I was starting to question if my ID4 was the issue - so thanks for confirming.

Besides the service bulletin itself, are there any other resources you can point me to, to "easily verify" as you say, so that I can arm myself with information to go back to the dealership with? I raised an escalation ticket with BMW Customer Relations right before I posted here. I spoke to them last week and they agreed with me regarding the discrepancy and advised that I go into the dealer...

Separately, the '3g discontinuation' email that I received said "there is not a technology upgrade available" for my vehicle. Adds to the confusion, but I believe this is because my iStep has never been updated.

Maybe you misunderstood the details of the letter but the "3G discontinuation" has nothing to do with the iDrive 4 EVO revision BMW is offering, since this system already runs on a 4G network, it just doesn't support VoIP (Voice Over IP), which AT&T (BMW's NA carrier) is morphing solely into come 02/2022 for their standard voice calling. This is coincidently but independently from them also shutting down their 3G network.

What this upgrade is offering is a revision of your obsolete 4G telematics hardware (and software), to support VoIP, so you won't lose your ability to utilize the in-vehicle emergency calling, when AT&T moves away from an analog calling option, which the older 4G system runs on but this is not an actual migration from 3G to 4G, which is virtually impossible.

I am certain that if your vehicle already has an iDrive 4 EVO setup, this hardware upgrade specifically applies to your model year only (2016). BMW NA customer service can run your VIN to confirm this.

The 2017 model year only requires a software update to provision AT&T 4G VoIP calling, as the hardware itself is already compatible for this changeover.


.