jonno_

Just looking at the BMW UK site, I can see some basic details of this option.
They tell me it's available as a retro-fit to my '54 335d, not sure if its s/w only or new hardware.
BMW customer services say approx "fitting" cost (dealer rates depending) is about ?120, then an on-going ?120 p.a. subscription.

Please can anyone who has/uses it comment on features, user-friendlyness (is that a word?), and vfm?

BMW UK - ConnectedDrive

Thanks

Bart sMartWeed

I thought this was something they were working on for the future. I don't think it will be very usefull now because noone has it so nowhere to connect to ...

JSpira

Quite easy to use, has lots of useful information, I would get it.

Russ1974

Got it on my car, gimmick that I never use... You can use it to check the local news/weather and can also send directions to your car from your PC. But for news/weather it only works when stationary, and it's REALLY slow (56k gsm modem I assume). I guess if you are stuck in your car and are really bored it's handy to have a look at, but found it too slow to be useful. I've never bothered sending directions from my PC, I just use the nav from within the car.

It came as part of the media pack on my car. On a future car if it is an option I could deselect to save ?120, I would untick that box. Same goes for the ?95 I spent on "headlight assist" ... completely useless and disabled it after one day of using it, never to be enabled again!!

JSpira

What year is your car? I found the BMW Online quite fast all things considered (moving vehicle and such). I was also able to use it while in motion. This was in the 2008 535d.

Russ1974

1 month old 535d (see signature). I'm in the UK - I get a stupid disclaimer saying "for safety reasons, cannot use in motion" or words to that effect. Our GSM networks in the UK are rubbish for data...

JSpira

sorry to hear - my use was in Germany and Austria. It was decent enough. I wouldn't trade my broadband connection for it but the weather and news came up quickly enough.

jonno_

Thanks - I've already got pro-nav etc. so it sounds like I'd not be gaining much - other than a larger display for my wap browser on the phone already.
That doesn't represent great value to me for ?250ish in y1, followed by ?120 p.a

Russ1974

Just noticed you're from Oxfordshire, whereabouts? I was brought up initially in Banbury then Lower Heyford (where my parents and brother still live), and went to school in Bicester. I visit regularly - was there just two weekends ago.