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Mike Bantick25 Oct 2014
NEWS

BMW Connected Drive

BMW's in-car connectivity system enters phase two, but what's the point?

BMW has always been on the forefront of in-car technology, being one of the first marques to introduce some of the more enduring technologies we see in vehicles today.

In 1980, for example, BMW drivers were the first to know exactly – via their on-board computer – just how cold it was outside.  Furthermore, in 1994, BMW vehicles were the first to feature an integrated satellite-navigation system.

The ConnectedDrive system found in Beemers is part of the Germen manufacturer's continued push to provide plenty of tech to explore. As of this year ConnectedDrive enters phase two of its feature set based around an integrated 3G SIM card.

Secured in a crash-proof housing, the SIM is responsible for connecting the vehicle to a range of new services and safety features. Combining the SIM with a suite of in-car sensors creates a wealth of mobile data that can be utilised in a variety of ways.

The TeleServices component of this next-generation version of ConnectedDrive includes a Battery Guard option to automatically send an email or SMS to let you know there is a potential issue with drain on the battery.

ConnectedDrive can phone your preferred BMW dealer 3000km out from a scheduled service and feed in information from the Condition Based Service (CBS) sensors, allowing the service centre to order parts that may be required ahead of time.

In the event of a breakdown, the GPS location of the vehicle and CBS data pinpointing the health of the car will be sent to the BMW call centre and on-forwarded to the roadside assistance service.

In the event of a serious accident, the Intelligent Emergency Call component kicks in. The system will automatically detect the position of the vehicle, even understanding that the car may be on its roof, how many airbags have been deployed and other damage that may have been sustained.

Using a special algorithm, the ConnectedDrive Intelligent Emergency Call system will make an assumption as to how incapacitated the occupants may be. Again, all this data is fed back to BMW and immediately to emergency services to aid in early assessment of a potentially dangerous situation.   
 
If need be, hidden under a pop-out hood near the roof headlining light, looking like a missile launch button from a Bond film, is a manual emergency call button. The aim is to provide a quick, easy solution for drivers to call for assistance for themselves or perhaps others in need. During our demonstration of the system, it is clear there are a couple of kinks to iron out, but once connected the service is responsive and efficient in process.

BMW has rolled out ConnectedDrive TeleServices and Intelligent Emergency Calls as standard equipment across the range, apart from the yet to be refreshed X1, X6 and Z4 models.

For owners of a new 6, 7 or i-series BMW, standard equipment also includes BMW ConnectedDrive Services and Apps, which can be added as an optional extra on other models.

Services and Apps utilise the buil- in SIM card to deliver data such as locational weather (either local to the car, or selectively such as at the sat-nav destination) including a seven-day forecast.

News data can be downloaded and, if the car is in motion, these stories can be read out to the driver by the built-in speech synthesizer, sometimes to hilarious effect.

The BMW Online system is highly dependent on Google integration including Point Of Interest (POI) location-based searching that automatically utilises the sat-nav where needed. This system also allows for easy searching of facilities beyond the car parks and petrol stations available to normal navigation systems. With BMW Online vehicle apps cafes, ATMs and Wiki Local info is all available.

One of the niftiest features is navigation based Google Street View. Presented on the eight-inch screen, the driver can dial up a 360-degree photograph view of the POI or destination.

A Concierge Services call can be made to the BMW call centre. Our BMW demonstrator asked the operator about Italian restaurants in the area. After a short time, the operator 'beamed' the information to the car's system.  Info can arrive as a message and then be read and sent to the navigation system as a destination.  

Owners can register their new BMW for services such as BMW Online Office to turn their vehicle into a mobile desk. Read and answer emails or check calendar updates. Personally, I would like to get away from my desk while behind the wheel of my new Beemer.

Having a vehicle hooked up to the net has other advantages, Real Time Traffic information can be fed into the navigation system and can, drawing from more sources – such as municipal works – than comparable systems.  

Unfortunately, being a 3G system, the in-car browser feels clunky and slow. The bottom line is, nobody is ever going to use the iDrive spindle to enter a search string of any length, or to control the on-screen mouse. Not when a smartphone or tablet is likely nearby and much more efficient. The only good news is that data usage is unlimited as part of the $200 annual internet option.    

A BMW spokesperson also hinted at a 4G option to come, however, the company line on this at the moment is only that “positive indications are that this is a direction”.

Using the free Remote Services app on your smartphone, you can lock or unlock your vehicle, precool the car by remotely activating the fan, transfer a Google local search result into the navigation system or, if you are within 1500 metres of your car in a gigantic car park for instance, find it.

Speaking of smartphones, the new ConnectedDrive system further integrates commonly used apps such as Pandora, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, Audible, Facebook and Twitter -- all of which utilise the owner's own smartphone data plan, but with an interface controlled by the iDrive system.

For those models not featuring it as standard equipment, BMW Australia has broken down ConnectedDrive into two packages.

For $690, the ConnectedDrive Lifestyle pack includes ConnectedDrive Services (three-year subscription) and Remote Services (lifetime transferable subscription), while if you stump up $1200 you can install the ConnectedDrive Freedom package, which adds Real Time Traffic Information (three-year subscription) and Concierge Services (three-year subscription).

The Real Time Traffic info can also be added as a stand-alone option for $250 for a three-year subscription.

In 2015 BMW Australia will make the ConnectedDrive Store available online. Here customers will be able to login and manage their registered vehicle(s). Booking services and managing vehicle costs are seen as the most likely use for the store.

The Store will be available 24/7 and accessible by computer or from within an in-car option.

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Written byMike Bantick
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