Updating the i3 communications/phone software via USB drive

Anyone ever try this?
Go to http://www.bmw.com/update and punch in your VIN and then get the BIN firmware file onto a USB drive. Plug into car, use menu to update the software...

This is what I get:

I would welcome this DIY approach, especially for minor software updates, for the time it'd save, although I'd be U.S. dealerships would push back hard if BMWNA offers it.

Appears your car is outside the build-date range? According to the vehicle ID in the picture, March 6, 2014 was this car's build date. http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

"This update is valid for vehicles with production date from July 2012 to February 2014." Stale update.

The only software you can update on your own in the BMW is stuff that is non-critical, like the audio/phone/maps. Maps requires an FSC code that you have to buy, but the data is free as are any other applicable stuff.

The only other thing is that the car is particular on the format in the USB drive. Other than that, if the downloaded info is newer, it should load.

Thanks websterize - that explains it.

websterize said:

I would welcome this DIY approach, especially for minor software updates, for the time it'd save, although I'd be U.S. dealerships would push back hard if BMWNA offers it.

Appears your car is outside the build-date range? According to the vehicle ID in the picture, March 6, 2014 was this car's build date. http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

"This update is valid for vehicles with production date from July 2012 to February 2014." Stale update.

Click to expand...

CompuMagic said:

Thanks websterize - that explains it.

Click to expand...

Or maybe not. My car was built about two months after yours, and I was able to update the media/telephone software tonight. I think Jim might be right and you have a USB drive that's giving the i3 an allergic reaction. As I recall, the car prefers flash drives formatted to FAT32.

After plugging in my VIN to the http://www.bmw.com/update site you mentioned, I saw two download options, including an UPD05062 (23.1 MB) file — "Update for vehicles with production date from March 2014 to present." I saw the same choice with the last seven of the VIN in your photo. Took about two minutes to update the car. On the iDrive screen, the telephone software changed from TN-002.045.001 to TN-002.255.062. I was hoping to see new a "Show notifications" slider in the iPhone 6's (iOS8) Bluetooth setting, to see text messages on the iDrive screen, but no dice. I think it'd be safer to read SMS messages on the iDrive screen when en route versus having to fish the phone out of a cupholder. With a long press of the talk button on the steering wheel, I can dictate a reply to the text with Siri. (The voice-to-text translation in iOS 8 has really improved.)

I see no other apparent changes with the update. All eight macros on the programmable buttons stayed intact, too.

Nice thing is that if the update does muck up something, you can restore to the previous software version.

Another update... It happened again... seemed to degrade actually over a few days and eventually I am at the point where the iPhone app (in reality the back end servers) are not longer communicating with the vehicle. However, just today, I was able to do the software update when you press the OPTIONS button while in the ConnectedDrive section, per the help of a BMW Genius. Even with that my account is still not working (server side is not sending/receiving with the vehicle for the iPhone app). My messages get sent to the server no problem from the iPhone but the server is not sending successfully to the vehicle. I had also tried the fuse reset. No go. And I think in fact it did not help last time either - as they had also reset my account on the back end servers back in Dec. as well. It takes them forever to do this. Bryce is the guy that handles this for me 855-236-1025, and it seems to take 3 days (it did last time and it is already 2 days this time and still waiting). I was told it is not as simple as just clicking a button. I suspect they have to do more like manipulate database records, etc.... this sucks. I use the app often... like warming up the car before I head out in 15 degree weather, and for checking my driving stats, battery SOC, etc.

CompuMagic said:

Another update... It happened again... seemed to degrade actually over a few days and eventually I am at the point where the iPhone app (in reality the back end servers) are not longer communicating with the vehicle. However, just today, I was able to do the software update when you press the OPTIONS button while in the ConnectedDrive section, per the help of a BMW Genius. Even with that my account is still not working (server side is not sending/receiving with the vehicle for the iPhone app). My messages get sent to the server no problem from the iPhone but the server is not sending successfully to the vehicle. I had also tried the fuse reset. No go. And I think in fact it did not help last time either - as they had also reset my account on the back end servers back in Dec. as well. It takes them forever to do this. Bryce is the guy that handles this for me 855-236-1025, and it seems to take 3 days (it did last time and it is already 2 days this time and still waiting). I was told it is not as simple as just clicking a button. I suspect they have to do more like manipulate database records, etc.... this sucks. I use the app often... like warming up the car before I head out in 15 degree weather, and for checking my driving stats, battery SOC, etc.

Click to expand...

Sorry to be slow, but could you clarify the sequence of events? You updated the comm sw and the app quit working?

Boatguy said:

CompuMagic said:

Another update... It happened again... seemed to degrade actually over a few days and eventually I am at the point where the iPhone app (in reality the back end servers) are not longer communicating with the vehicle. However, just today, I was able to do the software update when you press the OPTIONS button while in the ConnectedDrive section, per the help of a BMW Genius. Even with that my account is still not working (server side is not sending/receiving with the vehicle for the iPhone app). My messages get sent to the server no problem from the iPhone but the server is not sending successfully to the vehicle. I had also tried the fuse reset. No go. And I think in fact it did not help last time either - as they had also reset my account on the back end servers back in Dec. as well. It takes them forever to do this. Bryce is the guy that handles this for me 855-236-1025, and it seems to take 3 days (it did last time and it is already 2 days this time and still waiting). I was told it is not as simple as just clicking a button. I suspect they have to do more like manipulate database records, etc.... this sucks. I use the app often... like warming up the car before I head out in 15 degree weather, and for checking my driving stats, battery SOC, etc.

Click to expand...

Sorry to be slow, but could you clarify the sequence of events? You updated the comm sw and the app quit working?

Click to expand...

August 2014 - software update applied by dealer to fix check engine light issue

December 3, 2014 - A new software update applied by dealer to fix check engine light issue which had resurfaced

December 7 and beyond 2014 - CEL issue came back after only one day. I also noticed the charge time was now taking twice as long. At the same time, the vehicle stopped talking to the back end server for the iPhone app, and that issue was only fixed after BMW (Bryce) reset my account on their server. So at this time I found the article mentioned above about the charger issue and scheduled the vehicle to have the charging issue fixed, and the CEL at the same time.

January (early) 2015 - A different dealer this time took the car and fixed the charger (replaced the unit be removing the entire back end of the vehicle) and they fixed the CEL issue as well. Vehicle was still working with iPhone after I got it back and the charging issue was fixed good.

January (later as in a few days ago) 2015 - The iPhone app stopped working again (I could log in fine but the server again stopped talking to the vehicle). I was told to attempt to update the software, using the Options button. That update worked. I also updated software from the USB plug, as downloaded from http://www.bmw.com/com/en/owners/connected_drive_services/mobile_devices/bluetooth_software_update.html and that seemed to apply as well. None of these user applied (and legit) updates solved the iPhone app/server communications issue. So I await Bryce at BMW to reset my account, which is apparently a tedious process for them. I am not sure if my USB update and the ConnectedDrive "Options" update was one and the same firmware update, but I don't care, I just want the damn app to work!

Is it possible that you have lousy cell coverage where the car is normally parked? IOW, does it work elsewhere? I'm not sure what network the onboard SIM card works on, but even if you have coverage with one, you may not have it with another. Where I normally park mine, the coverage is spotty. The difference of a foot or two can make all the difference in the world.

jadnashuanh said:

Is it possible that you have lousy cell coverage where the car is normally parked? IOW, does it work elsewhere? I'm not sure what network the onboard SIM card works on, but even if you have coverage with one, you may not have it with another. Where I normally park mine, the coverage is spotty. The difference of a foot or two can make all the difference in the world.

Click to expand...

I thought of that as a possibility too. But the car gets parked at the same spot since I've got it in May. And that's in my garage! It has always worked in there. But yes I tried it in other locations where I have good cell coverage. I was told by BMW it uses satellite too, which I really was surprised to hear or else they were mistaken. I have two windows in garage where car is parked. I have also tried resetting the onboard computer that maintains the connection by pulling the fuse and that did not help. I'm pretty sure it's a server side issue.

CompuMagic said:

jadnashuanh said:

Is it possible that you have lousy cell coverage where the car is normally parked? IOW, does it work elsewhere? I'm not sure what network the onboard SIM card works on, but even if you have coverage with one, you may not have it with another. Where I normally park mine, the coverage is spotty. The difference of a foot or two can make all the difference in the world.

Click to expand...

I thought of that as a possibility too. But the car gets parked at the same spot since I've got it in May. And that's in my garage! It has always worked in there. But yes I tried it in other locations where I have good cell coverage. I was told by BMW it uses satellite too, which I really was surprised to hear or else they were mistaken. I have two windows in garage where car is parked. I have also tried resetting the onboard computer that maintains the connection by pulling the fuse and that did not help. I'm pretty sure it's a server side issue.

Click to expand...

It's cellular, not satellite. My car is parked under 2' of concrete with no view of the sky. Satellite radio doesn't work in my garage, but I can connect to the car anytime.

UPDATE: Anne and team from i3 concierge service guided me through that update of BMW Assist and after it downloaded and got applied, I have found since then I lost menu items under ConnectedDrive... in fact the vehicle no longer has "BMW Online" menu nor does it have the ability to do any of the ConnectedDrive features... including Features that were tested and demonstrated to me when I bought the car. Anne then had a technician get on the line with us and he promptly told me "you don't have online features in this vehicle"... Really? I paid for the fully loaded vehicle dude... Back to the dealer it goes, which is all Anne could suggest I do, after a week of trying to help me get the iPhone app to talk to the vehicle. Not fun.

CompuMagic said:

UPDATE: Anne and team from i3 concierge service guided me through that update of BMW Assist and after it downloaded and got applied, I have found since then I lost menu items under ConnectedDrive... in fact the vehicle no longer has "BMW Online" menu nor does it have the ability to do any of the ConnectedDrive features... including Features that were tested and demonstrated to me when I bought the car. Anne then had a technician get on the line with us and he promptly told me "you don't have online features in this vehicle"... Really? I paid for the fully loaded vehicle dude... Back to the dealer it goes, which is all Anne could suggest I do, after a week of trying to help me get the iPhone app to talk to the vehicle. Not fun.

Click to expand...

I've never been impressed by the Concierge group. BMW hasn't put as much effort into support as they have in PR. This is a guy who claimed to have some position of authority in the support organization, maybe he can help.

John Tarpy 614-210-8550

Keep us posted. There but for fortune go any of us.

CompuMagic said:

… I have found since then I lost menu items under ConnectedDrive... in fact the vehicle no longer has "BMW Online" menu nor does it have the ability to do any of the ConnectedDrive features ... .

Click to expand...

Same here with the professional Navigation. Real-time traffic data wasn't importing, and now BMW Assist will not update. I saw a message about the SIM card in the car transferring to Bluetooth yadayada.

It might be a problem with BMW servers. I'm gonna give a day or two to clear. If not, I might have a sick Telematics Communication Box. I might try pulling the fuse.

This is a helpful checklist by guru Mary Demarest-Paraan over on the Facebook group:

"Troubleshooting iRemote issues (USA)
From least severe to most severe: At your own risk!

Note: Do not go to bmw-connecteddrive.com as there is no USA access.

1. Force quit and reopen the app.
2. Delete the app and reinstall it on your phone.
3. Press the SoS button on the overhead console and ask the rep to unlock your account. They might reset your password. They might tell you that it takes 15 mins but just tell them to wait while you try it.
4. Press SoS button and ensure your account is properly set up.
5. Press SoS button and ask representative to edit your account to ensure there is only ONE name and ONE email associated with your account. Have them remove all others.
6. Ensure the GPS check box is enabled in the iDrive.
7. Go into iDrive menu in car > Connected Drive > BMW Assist > Option Button (next to round idrive knob) > Update Service.
8. Go to dealer and ask for them to reset the TCB (Telematics Communication Box) located under the rear seat cushion.
9. Pull fuse #115 for a few minutes to reset the TCB yourself. Instructions for locating fuse box is in owner's manual, page 191. Verify that the car is off and not plugged in before pulling the fuse."

CompuMagic, I pressed the SOS button in the roof and described the problem — no real-time traffic info on map; no BMW Connect in menu; and a slash through the globe icon upon boot-up — and he didn't know how to fix. But he sent me a message with a phone number for a Genius. When I opened that message, everything with Connect came back online.

Appears I needed only a refresh to the mothership. Not a hardware issue.

An interesting thing happened today.... After having sent a stern email to the BMW i Concierge team about my situation... I got into the car and was driving to destination and decided to check the menu... boom! Everything was back to normal, BMW Online menus all back under the ConnectedDrive menu! Without me doing anything. I checked my email and found this:

-----------------
Thank you for responding to BMW i Concierge regarding your BMW Online Services.

After the various conversations we have had with BMW Assist, I reached out to the BMW Center you purchased your i3 from to get some more information. After speaking to your client advisor, we determined that, based upon your original paperwork, you are supposed to have access to BMW Online Services. I know you have a service appointment scheduled for next week, and encourage you to bring up these issues to the service team.

I apologize for the miscommunication with BMW Assist. It is possible the system errors affecting the vehicle currently have also caused the system to show that you don’t have active services. If you have further questions regarding the original agreement, I would encourage you to reach out to your client advisor.

If you have any further questions or comments, the BMW i Concierge team is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., ET. You can reach us at 1-855-236-1025 or via email.

----------- and then the following after telling them it was back to normal ----------

Thank you for contacting BMW i Concierge regarding your BMW Online Services.

I’m happy to hear that everything is working again. I checked with Assist, and their systems now also show you having access to BMW Online. It is probable that the reset that Jose performed last night is the reason everything has been fixed. Sometimes the resets take a little bit of time to fully communicate with a vehicle.

If you have any further questions or comments, the BMW i Concierge team is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., ET. You can reach us at 1-855-236-1025 or via email.

BMW i. FUELED BY INNOVATION.

Sincerely,

Anne
BMW i Concierge Specialist

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Case closed... for now. Oh and more more thing, the iPhone app is now communicating with the vehicle again!!!! (in reality the app communicates with a back end server and that never was an issue, the issue was that the server could not talk to the vehicle due to issues IN the vehicle!) which is what the original issue was!

In response to the original question, my car has a build date of August 2014 and last weekend I updated the audio/tele software with the most recent version pulled from the BMW web site (file named UPD05062.bin). I took a few minutes from a USB stick and improved the UI when playing audio from my iPhone via Bluetooth. It's still kind of glitchy with getting the audio started when playing from third party apps rather than the iPhone music app. Better than before, but still not as smooth as my 4yr old Mercedes.

There may be other benefits, but I'm not pushing the tele interface too hard. There didn't seem to be any downside to installing the update.

Boatguy said:

In response to the original question, my car has a build date of August 2014 and last weekend I updated the audio/tele software with the most recent version pulled from the BMW web site (file named UPD05062.bin). I took a few minutes from a USB stick and improved the UI when playing audio from my iPhone via Bluetooth. It's still kind of glitchy with getting the audio started when playing from third party apps rather than the iPhone music app. Better than before, but still not as smooth as my 4yr old Mercedes.

There may be other benefits, but I'm not pushing the tele interface too hard. There didn't seem to be any downside to installing the update.

Click to expand...

Good to know. I also installed that from usb along with the BMW assist update (the later being what I think caused issues)

Oh this is nice timing:

BMW patches flaw that could let hackers unlock car doors

http://www.zdnet.com/article/bmw-patches-flaw-that-could-let-hackers-unlock-car-doors/?tag=nl.e539&s_cid=e539&ttag=e539&ftag=TRE17cfd61