Notes on a 2012 E92 M3 with BMW Apps, BMW Live, Internet, Sirius and DVD in Motion

[Technic]

Customer (me) specifically custom-ordered an Individual 2012 E92 M3 without BMW Apps, or Sat Radio just because I was going to get anyways a coding package from BimmerTech (BMW Apps, iPod Out, BMW Live, Internet, Sat Radio, DVD In Motion). Then BMW decided to make BMW Apps activated by BMW-only supplied enabling codes just after my car delivery.

No longer BimmerTech was able to code BMW Apps. Or so it seems.

Today BimmerTech has done it again: the first FSC-enabled BMW Apps retrofit.

Remote coding:


BMW Apps:


Web Radio:


Pandora:




Facebook:


iPod Out and Video:





BMW Live:




Google Search:


Panoramio:


Internet:




Sirius Radio:


Notes:

- this coding was performed remotely using the regular/eBay OBDII coding cable by BimmerTech. No special cable or OPS head required.
- BMW Live is not currently available in the USA, it is an Euro feature. However, it can be used and it is fully functional in the USA if it is setup for England (UK) as its country -go figure.
- BMW Live and BMW Internet requires a Bluetooth-tethering-capable (Hotspot) smartphone to connect to the Internet.
- BMW Assist remains functional with BMW Live via the roof console button; the iDrive display Assist functions are no longer functional. Therefore MyInfo (Google Send-To-Car) will no longer be functional if BMW Live is enabled as the "Messages" function will disappear once BMW Live is coded.
- Sirius FSC includes one year of service
- integrated iPod Out eliminates the need of a baseplate and iPhone cradles for videos. iPhone 5 is not supported (no iPod Out).

With this coding package (30 minutes or so of labor) the iDrive becomes a much better and comprehensive in-car entertainment and Navigation system. Just BMW Apps (Web Radio and Pandora) makes Sirius radio virtually obsolete, both in selection of stations and absolutely in sound quality (up to 128kps AAC encoding in Web Radio vs 48kps in some Sirius stations).

Please contact BimmerTech for the exact details for your car if interested in a package like this.

[skypx]

Great info Technic, I 've been thinking about getting this done, is this the correct url for BimmerTech? Thanks.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by skypx

Great info Technic, I 've been thinking about getting this done, is this the correct url for BimmerTech? Thanks.

See above, please...

[skypx]

Thanks, missed the hyper link.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by skypx

Thanks, missed the hyper link.

I added it now, just for you.

[skypx]

Its more expensive than I thought. I am assuming this is a one time fee?

[dirtyfreebooter]

Man, I would love to have BMW Apps for Pandora and Web radio, but the cost is like 4 years worth of satellite radio alone.

Plus I emailed BimmerTech like 2 weeks ago and they said, "You need one of our installers to help you since the car software has to be updated to the specific version in order to enable the 6NR. The list of our installers is on our website under the Dealers tab", meaning I would have to drive 20hrs+ to get to California the nearest dealer.

I have a November 2010 build with Combobox, bluetooth, usb, smart phone integration. Is there any possibility of getting this done remotely with my car?

BTW, Technic, nice individual interior. Rust brown and piano black trim. Wow, that is nice.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by skypx

Its more expensive than I thought. I am assuming this is a one time fee?

The best cost comparison is against the total factory price of each option plus dealer labor costs - and only if the dealer can actually install these options.

The only way to erase all this coding is by a car software update, and only if the option is outside your production date range. For example, BMW Apps is a 03/11-on option so if it is coded in a car within that production date then it will a permanent part of that car -dealer updates actually will support that option and even update it as well if there is an update available for it from factory.

If the car is outside that production date then dealer updates will erase that option -the car software cannot support what was not there to begin with.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by robackja

Man, I would love to have BMW Apps for Pandora and Web radio, but the cost is like 4 years worth of satellite radio alone.

Plus I emailed BimmerTech like 2 weeks ago and they said, "You need one of our installers to help you since the car software has to be updated to the specific version in order to enable the 6NR. The list of our installers is on our website under the Dealers tab", meaning I would have to drive 20hrs+ to get to California the nearest dealer.

I have a November 2010 build with Combobox, bluetooth, usb, smart phone integration. Is there any possibility of getting this done remotely with my car?

Your local dealer should be able to retrofit BMW Apps soon into your car. Sirius can be retrofitted right now at your local dealer. The rest only can be coded by BimmerTech or by yourself if you get the proper coding tools and software updates and you know how to use all.

BTW, Technic, nice individual interior. Rust brown and piano black trim. Wow, that is nice.

Thanks...

[skypx]

Thanks for the info Technic.

[THE TECH]

Is BMW Live part of the upgraded service from Assist?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

Is BMW Live part of the upgraded service from Assist?

BMW Live is not available in the USA.

BMW Search uses the exact same GUI as BMW Live with several different features (stocks, Yelp, gas prices) and it is available with the Assist Convenience Plan in the USA.

[THE TECH]

So is all the Google stuff and the internet part of Live only?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

So is all the Google stuff and the internet part of Live only?

BMW Live/Online and BMW Internet are separate features. BMW Search in the USA does not support BMW Internet.

Google features in BMW Search are limited to Google Search. There's no Google Panoramio or Street View as in BMW Live.

[THE TECH]

So yet again, the USA version is somewhat worthless compared to the European one.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

So yet again, the USA version is somewhat worthless compared to the European one.

All depends what is important/of value to you:

BMW Search
- the GUI is exactly the same -it used to have some Atari-quality in the graphics before the major upgrade just a couple of weeks ago
- you get very accurate local gas prices in BMW Search with direct navigation to the gas station
- stock prices
- CNN news with text-to-speech
- now you get Yelp
- you can send your location via email to anybody

BMW Live
- Google Panoramio and Street View
- RSS feeds with text-to-speech of whatever you want (up to 10). Only the headline is shown and played via text-to-speech; the full article selected can be sent via email
- Wiki Local
- Qype (the Euro version of Yelp somewhat; it works quite good)

Price-wise, BMW Live is more expensive than BMW Search as BMW Live uses BT tethering from your phone and that costs about $20/month or $240 a year. BMW Search is $199 a year and also includes the Concierge service and other Assist features.

[THE TECH]

I wish Search had a trial period just so I could check it out first.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

I wish Search had a trial period just so I could check it out first.

What Assist can definitely do is activate it for you and prorate your use daily = you pay for what you "use" by the day. That was done more than a year ago when I tried it.

Call them up and ask for a trial. It is also known that they have done it automatically without anybody asking for it, just to hook people up.

[THE TECH]

Originally Posted by Technic

What Assist can definitely do is activate it for you and prorate your use daily = you pay for what you "use" by the day. That was done more than a year ago when I tried it.

Call them up and ask for a trial. It is also known that they have done it automatically without anybody asking for it, just to hook people up.

Will do. Thank you sir.

[tlp]

Originally Posted by Technic

All depends what is important/of value to you:

BMW Search
- the GUI is exactly the same -it used to have some Atari-quality in the graphics before the major upgrade just a couple of weeks ago
- you get very accurate local gas prices in BMW Search with direct navigation to the gas station
- stock prices
- CNN news with text-to-speech
- now you get Yelp
- you can send your location via email to anybody

BMW Live
- Google Panoramio and Street View
- RSS feeds with text-to-speech of whatever you want (up to 10). Only the headline is shown and played via text-to-speech; the full article selected can be sent via email
- Wiki Local
- Qype (the Euro version of Yelp somewhat; it works quite good)

Price-wise, BMW Live is more expensive than BMW Search as BMW Live uses BT tethering from your phone and that costs about $20/month or $240 a year. BMW Search is $199 a year and also includes the Concierge service and other Assist features.

If only some of the "BMW Search" tools were part of BMW Apps it would solve everything. I hate subscription services in general but am not opposed to a one time fee.

[geneatals]

so MY2011.5 (6NF/combox equipped) e90 m3 will only require coding to enable 6NR/connect apps, no hardware retrofit needed?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by geneatals

so MY2011.5 (6NF/combox equipped) e90 m3 will only require enabling codes and coding to enable 6NR/connect apps, no hardware retrofit needed?

Fixed. Yes.