It certainly saves some hassle that way - after my unplanned software update I had to suffer having the car drive as though it were stuck in treacle until I could get it back to DMS. Luckily DMS are based just down the motorway from where I live - could have been awkward otherwise.

 

Tell them the CD runs on after you switch the engine off, that when you come back to it, it is on a different track, not always but occasionally.

This was fixed in a recent software released so should be good enough to get you an upgrade.

Be prepared to lose your car for a whole day at least though.

 

Just got my car back after getting the software updated, it now plays MP3 cds when it didn't before (the reason I wanted it updated) and the maps on the navigation screens look better as well.

Unfortunately they refused to do it under warranty as it needs an actual recall notice from BMW that matches the car's VIN number regardless of fault. :thumbsdown:

 

As the upgrade wasn't carried out under warranty were you charged for the work and, if so, how many hours were you billed for?
Like you, I wanted the mp3 playback feature enabled on my car but didn't realise that it would entail a full software upgrade (neither did the dealer at the time) so I got mine done for ?70 all in.

 

As the upgrade wasn't carried out under warranty were you charged for the work and, if so, how many hours were you billed for?
Like you, I wanted the mp3 playback feature enabled on my car but didn't realise that it would entail a full software upgrade (neither did the dealer at the time) so I got mine done for ?70 all in.

 

I paid ?140 for mine, which I got down from the ?230 quoted at another dealer, still double what you paid.

 

Probably because my dealer didn't realise that an mp3 retrofit would actually involve a full Progman update on my car - if they had I reckon I would have been charged ?140 as well! Sometimes it helps to use a small rural dealership instead of one of the larger more savvy city ones.

 

Just had a Dension Gateway fitted and need the MP3 activation - thought that had been done in the summer when I-Drive failed.

Sytner gave me the complete runaround on the phone, MP3 what? and even said I had invalidated the warranty putting the Gateway in.

Very helpful technician at Scotthall listened, checked it out and the car is booked in for a ?150 software upgrade which includes MP3 activation.

Fingers crossed because they never told me that radio reception on a 5 series is.................poor

 

I bought a 530D recently from Park Lane BMW and was told that a full software update to latest spec was part of the BMW Approved Used process. I didn't have to pay anything. Surprised the OP didn't get it done for free. Perhaps you could get a refund?
In fact, last week I had a "twitchy" rev counter and they did a full software update again (7 hours) to try and fix it for free. Didn't actually solve the problem though - needed new instrument cluster. Still, didn't cost me a penny so not too worried.

 

Hmm, interesting. My E61 still seems to have an older version of SW despite having been bought as an AUC less than 2 weeks ago. I have a copy of the pro-forma invoice for the work they did before sellling the car to me and there's no mention of the software update.

It's now in a constant iDrive reboot loop unless the nav DVD is removed. Booked in on 3 Dec for 2 days for a software upgrade and if that doesn't cure it some hardware bits will be replaced. I haven't said a word about warranty or cost so will be curious as to where things end up.