Bye-bye BMW Assist

[BarkingGhostar]

BMW Assist is like the Bavarian version of GM's OnStar service. With the impending lights-out of the 2G cellular network in the USA, so, too, will go a lot of 2G auto services such as BMW Assist. The options from BMW are a) get the hardware upgrade at no charge, but the continued yet out of warranty Assist is $200/year, b) get a $200 gift card, or c) get a $300 credit in their BMW accessories department.

I sill have to figure out why this needs to be a problem because I imagined in seconds after receiving the notification a better solution to the 2G lights out problem. Since my cell phone syncs via Bluetooth, why can't the automaker just create an app that allows the cell phone, when paired, to act as the telecommunication device during those Assist needs?

Seems like it is cheaper than $200/year and a need for a hardware upgrade. Maybe I am missing something like the navigation system or something, but even my 12 year long relationship with the same service adviser found it odd that BMW couldn't go the route I thought of.

So, now I wonder if someone might be able to get a car-sync'd cellular device to control typical features that Assist/OnStar would control and out-source the service as a virtualized solution.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If you don't get the hardware upgrade, will the person who buys your car some day be able to get it for free at that time? Otherwise it's a bit of a hit to the resale value.

Otherwise, basically, they're not a charity and they want ALL of your money.

I just wish all this proprietary bullshit didn't take up so much dash space.

Car companies have been scrambling around with these car computer systems for a while, and all seem to suffer from a bad case of "not invented here" syndrome. Having a dash that acted as a front end for a docked Android phone would be ideal for like 99% of users (and I say that as an iPhone partisan) but they probably can't make enough money off of that. So we get all these cobbled-together no-standards-found gobbletygook.

You can buy standalone units for OnStar. Or could as of a few years ago.

 

[NutBucket]

I'm really curious what percentage of owners actually pay for these services past the free trial period.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Infiniti is also losing its connect service because of the 2G shut down.
I forget the specifics in the letter I received, but it was over $200 a year to upgrade. And no gift card or merchandise offer. Sucks, but not a service I ever used.

 

[sontakke]

what does Tesla use? I know they use WiFi but surely they must use cellular network too. Hopefully they have designed it with ability to upgrade the transmission technology

 

[NutBucket]

I think Tesla is using the ATT network but don't quote me on that. I'm sure it has a 4G modem if it's downloading software updates over the air.

 

[Ichinisan]

My unlocked iPhone 7 Plus on AT&T would not work for this. AT&T disables tethering since I'm on a grandfathered unlimited data plan.

I could do this on a jail broken iPhone with the right JB tweak installed. I don't want to jailbreak for various reasons though.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'm really curious what percentage of owners actually pay for these services past the free trial period.

I'm kind of curious about that too. Seems like a total waste of money to me.

Mercedes tried selling us on their version of this but we declined. Pretty sure I'm not missing anything.

 

[NutBucket]

The only reason I paid for a year of Onstar was the remote unlocking and engine start. But I believe those two features are now free for the first few years? Not sure.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The only reason I paid for a year of Onstar was the remote unlocking and engine start. But I believe those two features are now free for the first few years? Not sure.

So, it allows you to unlock the doors from some other location? I'm not really sure this is a feature I would want quite frankly. I just walk up to my cars and, as long as I have the key with me, when I touch the door handle the car unlocks.

 

[NutBucket]

Well my 2012 Acadia had traditional keys...and once I somehow managed to lock the keys inside but had my cell phone on me. Problem solved. Remote start was nice because I could turn on the car on while I was walking out of a stadium or something and by the time I got to the car is was nice and cool. Obviously with "infinite" range you have more options. Traditional remote start only works well when you're at home and the car is parked in the driveway, etc.