BMW Connected drive 3G to 4G?

[panamamike]

Anyone know if any version of the i3 comes with a 4G cell radio? I recently learned that 3g is being sunsetted in Dec. 2021, meaning no more 3g service. My understanding is the i3 uses 3g. When the change occurs, will it be possible to upgrade to 4g?

[vreihen]

When the 2G sunset left BMW owners with no connectivity in the USA, they gave everyone a choice between a $200 gift card or updating them to 3G hardware:

https://www.bmwcca.org/news/2g-based-bm ... s-december

I'm not pulling the trigger on a $2,000 Bimmer-Tech NBT EVO upgrade until I see if BMW will be doing it for free as part of the 3G sunset.....

[panamamike]

When the 2G sunset left BMW owners with no connectivity in the USA, they gave everyone a choice between a $200 gift card or updating them to 3G hardware:
https://www.bmwcca.org/news/2g-based-bm ... s-december

Thx, good to know.

[richs]

What was the first i3 model year that included LTE/4G? Wondering if my car will lose access to BMW Connected in Feb. 2022.

I'm about 90% sure that my 2017 i3 has 3G cellular, so I'll just ask. What hardware (at a minimum) will need to be changed out in a 2017 model to enable LTE connectivity? I've gotten spoiled with the ability to precondition the AC and check the charge status remotely, but these features are definitely not worth spending $2000 on a new infotainment system, as the previous posts in this thread suggest. Is there a way to just change out the cellular hardware for a newer LTE version and leave the infotainment system alone?

[BL5]

AT&T is notifying cellular users about the change as of today.

https://www.slashgear.com/att-update-ne ... -22630223/

This week AT&T started sending out emails about how users will need a new smartphone if they want to continue “receiving service.” AT&T’s message does not suggest that users will lose service instantly – but they DO suggest that some users will NEED to upgrade to a new phone if they plan on continuing to get phone calls by the time the countdown is done.

An update email from AT&T suggested that they’re upgrading their network “to use the latest technologies.” AT&T continues, saying “these updates are to serve you better and bring faster speeds and greater reliability.”

BMW still has a ton of old vehicles on the road with 3G. Curious what their plans are.

[robthebold]

Should I be seeing anything in the quotes above? Looks like back-to-back open/close quotes, but maybe something's blocked on my end that you'd included . . .

[BL5]

Question for 2018-2020 i3 (LTE) owners. Does your ConnectedDrive app send commands to the car quicker than 2014-2017 (3G)?

My Tesla processes commands in seconds, of course it’s on AT&T LTE.

Today my MY 15/17 can take up to 90 seconds to respond to commands, hoping LTE is an improvement?

I also read AT&T is transitioning away from 3G in Feb 2022. Let’s hope BMW has a plan, as they’ve promised ConnectedDrive access for 10 years after purchase.

[alohart]

Question for 2018-2020 i3 (LTE) owners. Does your ConnectedDrive app send commands to the car quicker than 2014-2017 (3G)?

I would be very surprised if remote command execution is faster under 4G. The amount of data being transmitted wouldn't need to be great, so data speed shouldn't make a big difference.

I'm guessing that remote command execution is slow due to BMW's servers that must relay remote commands in both directions: BMW Connected app -> Internet -> BMW server -> mobile data network -> telematics module -> command execution -> telematics module -> mobile data network -> BMW server -> Internet -> BMW Connected app. Delays could occur at any point along this chain. Tesla's servers might be faster.

[Deutsch100]

Wasn't it not confirmed on this Forum by a great member, that even showed the part number & diagram that 2018-2020 i3 already has 4G (I asked this question too)?

Btw, sending commands via the BMW connected app on my 2020 i3 is as slow as on my 2019 i3 Tesla has the app pretty perfected. Jaguar, Mercedes, BMW and even the Porsche connected apps are very slow and glitchy!

[Deutsch100]

Great forum member alohart sent me this:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=84_1272