SOS Call System Malfunction. You really want to read this update

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Oct 16, 2008 | 06:49 AM

porsche911targa

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Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 2,718

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From: Massachusetts, USA

My Ride: 2006 525XI, Jet black on Dakota beige. Premium and winter packages. I consider myself a purist and intend to keep my car absolutely stock and shiny. 2008 328I Convertible, Sapphire black on beige interior. Premium package, NAV, iPod adapter. Retired: 2002 325I, Titanium silver on black leather. Premium package. Absolutely stock and proud of it.

Just received a call from my SA. he said that the reason why the system occasionally shows this message is because I don't have "BMW Assist" and because the TCU can't find BMW Assist, it will occasionally let me know by displaying the message "SOS Call System Malfunction." He further said that if I want them to disable that part of the TCU, I would have to pay $125 because they would have to actually get to the TCU and disconnect some wires, and BMW does not pay for that. I asked him what BMW would do if the message came back all the time. He replied, "Nothing, because you don't have BMW Assist."

Wow!!! Does that sound right? I mean, I am an engineer, and if I design something that not all customers would be using, I disable that portion in hardware so that the customer who does not use that portion does not even know it's there. Has BMW really become that cost-conscious that they would risk losing a long-time customer over a mere $125? Wow!!! I wonder how many Lexus customers would be told the same thing......

Oct 16, 2008 | 07:14 AM

bruce_miranda

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Joined: Nov 2005

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From: London, UK

My Ride: BMW E60 520d SE Saloon M47 2.0dTitanium Grey II, Grey−Dakota Leather, Visibility Package, Media Package, Through Load System, Lumbar support − fr seats, Automatic Air Conditioning−Advanced, High beam assistant, Hi−Fi Loudspeak

Model Year: 2006