Any sign of real "BMW Live" options for Z4

[ErikJ]

I decided at the beginning of the year to finally buy a Z4.
Just at that time the announcement was made on the face lift and as such started to study what all options where.
During this process my eye fall on the very attractive idea to integrate Internet based options with the car.
The Z4 commercials on the web let me believe that taking the "BMW Live" option was going to bring me various Google Services including Panoramia, street view, Weather, send to car etc.
I decided to order a brand new face lift Z4 E89 with Internet Options, BMW Live and Apps. In May we got the first Z4 E89 in Belgium.
Being very happy and proud with the car, the internet integration has been a disappointment.
While I got most of it to work (including new Apps like Deezer), none of the real "BMW Live" Google Integration options are there.
Apparently the I-drive version of the Z4 is not at all near the version in the 5 or 7 series.
The sales rep told me that there is a plan to update the i-drive version to a more up to date version, but that was not confirmed.
I see in the meantime on various different country specific BMW websites that the Google services are presented as they would be available today.

Are these working anywhere?
Does someone know if an i-drive upgrade that makes these available is going to happen one day?

[ManiacGT]

What services in particular?

[ErikJ]

- local weather
- street view
- POI
- send to car
- panoramio

[Putzo]

OP, is your Z4 model year 2013 or 2014?

As someone with a MY 2012, I am interested in hearing all about this - especially if an upgrade ever happens. Perhaps the iDrive hardware in my 2012 is different than in your newer model. I know of no internet-enabled apps for mine, whatsoever. Having had a MY 2008 335i previously, I was stoked just to be able to view e-mail and text messages from a Bluetooth paired BlackBerry on the iDrive of my new Z4.

[nicknaz]

I'm pretty sure the hardware is different and it will be costly to switch, since this is the case for all other models, such as F30 and F10.

"Send to Car" is particularly awesome.

[CeEl]

Originally Posted by ErikJ

- local weather
- street view
- POI
- send to car
- panoramio

Send to car as in send a destination from Google Maps to your nav? That works... I have a 2012 (US). I believe some of the services you list may require the upgrade to the base BMW Assist? Not sure, seems to be country specific.

[ManiacGT]

My car is a 2009, and BMW Online is available to me to show the options you mention such as news, weather, panoramio, POI, street view etc... TBH I hardly ever use them. Its contingent only on having Pro Nav and a working BMW Assist subscription.

[ErikJ]

Apologies but I have no idea wat an F30 or F10 is.
According to the registration document we have a LL31 variant, version 6A000
Does that makes sense?

[mbetoni]

BMW uses an in-house code to designate different models. This is still called an "E code" due to all beginning with the letter E until 2008, when they moved onto F having reached just under the number 100 with the E designation.

The E started as the beginning letter of the word "Entwicklung", or loosely 'development'.

For example, an E30 is the 3 series 1982-1991. E36 is 3 Series 1992-1998, and so on. Each E/F car has a 6-year life span nowadays.

Our Z4s are E89, the previous generation was E85/6, and the Z3 was E36/7 (the /6 or /7 indicates the coupe versions of those cars)

Hope that helps. You can find a full list of all E (and now F) codes using Uncle Google.

Those of us who talk BMWS often tend to use the E code instead of the model designation as BMW has had some models in production continuously for decades, the 5 series being the longest example. So, it makes more sense to simply say E34 to indicate the third-generation five series rather than saying, well, "the third generation 5 series". Same with E89 to mean our Z4s vs the E85 Z4.

[ErikJ]

Thanks a lot for that clarification!
One more question, how do I find out is i have a Z4 model year 2013 or 2014?
My E89 is the one with the Facelift as introduced at the Detroit and Brussels car show in January this year and got delivered early May.

At the end I still want to know if the i-drive will become upgradeable at some stage...

[Lurcher]

plug your vin into realoem.com to see the birthdate....

[mbetoni]

Originally Posted by ErikJ

Thanks a lot for that clarification!
One more question, how do I find out is i have a Z4 model year 2013 or 2014?
My E89 is the one with the Facelift as introduced at the Detroit and Brussels car show in January this year and got delivered early May.

At the end I still want to know if the i-drive will become upgradeable at some stage...

This is actually a more interesting question than it seems. And, build date (whether gotten online or by looking at the tag inside your driver's door jamb) won't necessarily answer it.

For example, the build date on my car is 5/13. HOWEVER, my car is a model year 2014.

Likewise, my last E85 was a model year 2008, but build date was 11/07.

I know in the States that the LCI cars all are model year 2014+, I guess the real question is "Are the European cars the same?". Did BMW start delivering LCI cars in Europe for model year 2013? Anyone know?

[CeEl]

I know there were features available in Europe that only appeared on the next model year in the US ... e.g. roof opening/closing while driving was available on European models on cars built around 04/2012, but not available in the US until the 2013 model year (around July?).

[Giffen]

ErikJ did you get the BMW Live to work?

I have the same problem and the Steller has no idea on how to fix it, please advise.

[Constant.S]

Even if it doesnt get available officialy by BMW, you can retrofit the new combox your self

[ManiacGT]

Originally Posted by Constant.S

Even if it doesnt get available officialy by BMW, you can retrofit the new combox your self

BUT if you retrofit combox you lose bmw online/assist as it's registered to the combox at time of build from what I've read from the combox retrofitters.

[Constant.S]

Hmmm, that is true. I will look into it.

[BelgiumsterlingZ4]

You have a model year 2014 z4.
I order my third z car the last week of february and pick my car up by the bmw dealer on the 28th May.My friend has also probleems wit bmw live and apps seems it does not work very well in Belgium.

[Giffen]

Yes, I also have an LCI Z4, and we get our (BMW) cars via the Belgium importer so they are probably as similar as it gets.
My Apps and Internet are working fine, only the BMW Live is not available. So I thought you had a solution, as the dealer does not yet. They were told from Munich to make a SW update that could be the solution.

I have bought an ENET cable to enable it myself, but I think BMW should do it as I have paid them for it!

[jts1981]

Originally Posted by CeEl

I know there were features available in Europe that only appeared on the next model year in the US ... e.g. roof opening/closing while driving was available on European models on cars built around 04/2012, but not available in the US until the 2013 model year (around July?).

My 2013 (Jan) had the open / close roof feature while driving, as well as send to car.

My 2014 navigation was just rebooted this weekend. I'll pick it up later tonight. I believe the txt/ email functions are only available when the phone is USB plugged in, and updated when parked. This is what I was told when I picked up my 2014 in Oct.

In regards to street view, etc I'll check when I pick up.

I did notice that some vehicles had the 3D map view, is this what you mean by street view, or the actual Google maps street view?

[jts1981]

I just got my car back, and no luck with the streetview. Maybe this a euro only feature like BMW Route. I found a video on YouTube, but it was taken in overseas.

[ErikJ]

Hi there,

After 5 months going back and forward the dealer managed to get BMW Live enabled. Google Search, Weather and Streetview work.
I am however disapointed that SendtoCar can not function as the idrive had changed apperantly to a new model just after mine was build. Connected Drive Services.
Even the fact that this was advertised when the Belgium 2013 Carshow happend, with the launch of the LC-I.
So I have appereantly a Z4 LC-I with all look and feel of an LC-I but the idrive of standard E89???
I find this situation very odd (like buying an Iphone 5 with the electronics of an Iphone 4 for the first month of delivery.)
BMW Live is just pretty very weak if you can not start the experience with Send To Car...
Also ths issue seem to be country specific as we had no BMW Assist while most of our neighbour countries had?
As an examples I understood that all Z4's delivered in the Netherlands since March can be upgraded to Connected Drive Services while ours can't?
Other then the disapointing missing ability of "send to car" I am concerned that this idrive model will not be able at a certain point to benefit from newer compatible Apps, that would really be a disapontment for a tech geek like me.

I hope that an upgrade to Connected drive services will be possible one day. Does anyone heared anything like this?