One of the features that I'm using a lot on my 2010 550i is the Google maps function, which allows you to send a destination to your car from your computer through Google maps. I find this feature incredibly useful.

I'm curious whether anyone knows how this data is transmitted to the car. I park my car in an underground garage that gets no cellphone coverage (and obviously no satellite coverage), but it's able to receive destination information from Google maps.

Any ideas?

 

it probably stores ur latest position and angle of wheels being driven and distance

 

The same way your cellphone uses google latitude.

 

I believe the system is using a CDMA network for Telematics that probably has a better penetration into buildings than your cell phone service, especially if it's a GSM based service. The destination information is also quite a small piece of information so it's not as bandwidth intensive as a voice call so even a poor signal quality could be enough to update your navigation system.

 

Thanks - that makes sense!

 

I love the Google feature as well. I planned an entire weekend break by finding all the areas I wanted to visit in Google Maps and then sending them to the car. The one problem with the feature is that there is straightforward way to click on a specific area on Google Maps to send that to the car, it only allows you to send specific Points of Interest (POI). The easiest workaround I've found is by right clicking on the map and then selecting What's Here?. This will list all the POI near where you've clicked which can then be sent to the car.

 

Interesting -- I've never tried that before. Will give it a go next time!

 

So jealous - such a great feature (would be particularly useful on the old idrive interface (so I wouldn't have to actually USE it....