BMW assist/My BMW remote app

[MSPORTBMW]

Hi guys......so today I got my password etc for my bmw assist. I got things working in the car. X5 Registered March 09.
So I rang bmw assist to see if the "my BMW remote android app will work with my car"  After giving the lady on the phone my details she told me that it won't work with my car!!!

Now I've just read on cooperbmw.co.uk and it said you need these things for it to work.....

A BMW built after 2008
An Android or iPhone
BMW Assist contract

I have all these things.....so why is she telling me that the " my BMW remote" ( for what it's worth)  won't work on my car??

Any ideas?  Anyone else got a 2008/09 x5 with the bmw assist subscription that have got the remote app to work with their cars?

Regards

[X5Sport]

When first launched it was an IDevice only system.  It ought to work if you have the ConnectedDrive options on the car too.  What options do you have on the car?

It can also take 24-48 hours to get activated.

Richard

[eniacs]

So, what does it do?

I have the assist/connected drive/internet etc options on the car, but have never really used them. Internet I tried onscreen and it checked bbc and google news, but that was about it.
When I looked at it last about 6 months ago, I couldnt find an app for android to connect to the car. What does it actually do when i do connect to the car anyway?

My contract will be up in 6 months time when the car is 3 years old so would be best to find out now whilst its still free!

[X5Sport]

I don't use Android, by I thought the app was 'My BMW Remote' as it is for IOS?

What it does depends upon the year of manufacture and options fitted.  For mine it just allows me to lock the car remotely - if I forget - and find the car within a 1km area - such as when the wife parks it after dropping me off for something and I then need to find it (and her) because her phone is on silent or has a flat battery!

You can also send addresses to the car for the Satnav.

Later versions add various functions which no doubt someone with a 2012 or newer car will tell you.

[touring]

I can flash my lights also - clearly a major step forward in development since 2012

[X5Sport]

Wow......what will they think of next.... )

[MSPORTBMW]

[quote="eniacs"]
So, what does it do?

I have the assist/connected drive/internet etc options on the car, but have never really used them. Internet I tried onscreen and it checked bbc and google news, but that was about it.
When I looked at it last about 6 months ago, I couldnt find an app for android to connect to the car. What does it actually do when i do connect to the car anyway?

My contract will be up in 6 months time when the car is 3 years old so would be best to find out now whilst its still free!
[/quote]

Ok so mine is a 2009 so very limited as I found out with the help of Richard.
Basically all I can do with my BMW remote(android) is send maps/messages to car.
My next problem is how to set up my gmail messages to appear on idrive. Also where will the emails appear? As my idrive does not have office.
Has anyone got gmail to work on a 2008/09 idrive....if so could you explain please.

Thanks

[X5Sport]

The only mail system supported back in 2009 was Blackberry.  Nothing else worked.

Richard

[MSPORTBMW]

[quote="X5Sport"]
The only mail system supported back in 2009 was Blackberry.  Nothing else worked.

Richard
[/quote]
Oh bugger......£120 pretty much wasted then
Not too much I can do except send nav directions to the car. Unless I wanna check news/ weather on the very slow edge sim installed.
Annoyed !!!

[X5Sport]

BMW has some kind of tie up with both Apple and Blackberry only at the time.  Even my 2011 X6 with the later CIC iDrive still has no support for emails other than Blackberry, and I have never owned/used one!

It took BMW too long to introduce 3G to their fleet but I believe that was to do with the contracts they could get with UK mobile phone networks as much as the patchy coverage in some parts.  You need a later version of the COMBOX Controller (2013) - factory option code SA6VC which came as standard from late 2010 - fitted to get any improvements.  Early Comboxes were still EDGE - no 3G SIM.

As has been revealed by the latest security hole that BMW are patching, the industry is often years behind the times and just does not understand all of the tech.  So you get the cheapest bits of it, rather than the really useful parts of it.

Richard