[doughboy]

3 years old already, MOT passed, but now it's renewal time for the BMW assist system.

They want £120 a year FFS!!!!

This provides the emergency assist button, vehicle telemetry, BMW assist in-car help service, Google searches, 'send to car' from google maps and internet services etc (basically anything that uses the built in phone receiver and SIM)

What do you guys think? reasonable or rip off?

[chris330D]

Tough one, on the one hand it is only £10 per month but still it's £120. Hard to put a price on it but does it give you peace of mind? If yes then pay it, don't think I would. Can you get the dealer to discount it ?

[rich1068]

It is steep and even though I barely use that stuff (apart from send to car) I think it would really get on my tits having a system that is partially disabled because I didn't put my hand in my pocket. If you know what I mean.

[Arch Stanton]

i'm in the same boat, mine's just expired but i only mainly use it for sending addresses to the car. £120 is a bit steep. Has anyone managed to blag a discount on this?

[Sir_Pigley]

Originally Posted by doughboy

3 years old already, MOT passed, but now it's renewal time for the BMW assist system.

They want £120 a year FFS!!!!

This provides the emergency assist button, vehicle telemetry, BMW assist in-car help service, Google searches, 'send to car' from google maps and internet services etc (basically anything that uses the built in phone receiver and SIM)

What do you guys think? reasonable or rip off?

I would only normally use the send to the car function from Google maps. I think it is very difficult to justify the full cost of an aftermarket satnav just for this facility, so basically I think it is a ripoff.

For that money on my phone with Three I get 300 minutes, 300 texts and unlimited data. That also makes the BMW fee look pretty silly.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by rich1068

it would really get on my tits having a system that is partially disabled because I didn't put my hand in my pocket. If you know what I mean.

My thoughts exactly, a bit like putting 95RON in a 335i!! It would bug me not having full functionality, being as I paid for it with the new car.

The assist thing is a hidden cost that you never reall consider when buying.

I do use the operator assist quite a bit, where a nice lady answers and they find your destination for you and send it to the car, much easier than faffing with the partial postcode system via I drive and nearly crashing.

Looks like a renewal could be on the cards.....

[Bomber]

I'm abit confused with my car, it was 3 years old in December and all the assist features still work??

[idnan]

Originally Posted by Bomber

I'm abit confused with my car, it was 3 years old in December and all the assist features still work??

It's free from the first three years of the service being registered IIRC. Mine still works but that's because it stopped working and they extended it free of charge.

[225_AB]

Mine ran out in January, haven't renewed it and don't really miss it. Can you renew from a later date if you change your mind?

[scottishpete]

Give me £80 and you can call me up and i will tell you where the nearest kebab shop is lol

waste of money IMHO

[flyfs6]

Did you know it works in Europe too? Proved valuable asking for locations on the continent. Probably not worth it unless you connected drive it in depth considerably and don't like writing address down/inputting them.

Yes a waste of money. Would I renew it, yes probably because my logic come renewal is well I have already blown a whole amount on servicing, warranty, mot and road tax, another £120 it is.

[225_AB]

The other reason not to renew it is my wife is having my car when my new 640 comes in June and she will never use it (as she wont be able to work out how to!)

[Soootylad]

Hmm, turns out I have this until July so the previous owner must have extended it

TBH, considering it includes full european breakdown cover I reckon its quite cheap? AA charge £89 just for the national version...

Theres quite a lot included actually: http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/connecteddrive/?siteID=1312

(Whats the difference between ConnectedDrive and Assist?)

[AlwynMike]

Originally Posted by doughboy

My thoughts exactly, a bit like putting 95RON in a 335i!! It would bug me not having full functionality, being as I paid for it with the new car.

The assist thing is a hidden cost that you never reall consider when buying.

I do use the operator assist quite a bit, where a nice lady answers and they find your destination for you and send it to the car, much easier than faffing with the partial postcode system via I drive and nearly crashing.

Looks like a renewal could be on the cards.....

If they fitted a half decent Sat Nav system we wouldn't have to phone the nice lady who tells us where to go!!

[baz57]

Originally Posted by AlwynMike

If they fitted a half decent Sat Nav system we wouldn't have to phone the nice lady who tells us where to go!!

+1

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by AlwynMike

If they fitted a half decent Sat Nav system we wouldn't have to phone the nice lady who tells us where to go!!

I have a latest tom tom Go Live 1005 in my van and its still a death trap trying to setup a destination while driving, worse than the I-drive TBH.

And the tom tom is SOOOOO slow, press the screen.......wait.......wait.....wait...yawn....wa it....., oh don't touch it again else it saves 3 or 4 presses for when it finally works, oh too many presses, doh wrong menu, oh hit a bump, pressed delete......arrggggh lamp post!

I-drive is like a supercomputer compared to other stick-on navs, just a pity ot doesn't have 7 digit post code and is still only TMC!

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by scottishpete

Give me £80 and you can call me up and i will tell you where the nearest kebab shop is lol

waste of money IMHO

Get your point, but I still can't get away from the missing functionality issue.

Its like having the latest smart phone but then skimping on the contract and having a voice only line, you might as well have an old Nokia 2110.

Talking myself into it

[chris330D]

LOL you've got the answer to your own question. Renew it as you want the functionality

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by doughboy

I do use the operator assist quite a bit, where a nice lady answers and they find your destination for you and send it to the car,

much easier than faffing with the partial postcode system via I drive and nearly crashing.

Taking the piss aren't they?

Design a half arsed shit system than cannot rival a TomTom, and then make it bearable by bolting on human intervention for £120 a year extra.

Tell them to take a hike!

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by doughboy

I have a latest tom tom Go Live 1005 in my van and its still a death trap trying to setup a destination while driving, worse than the I-drive TBH.

And the tom tom is SOOOOO slow, press the screen.......wait.......wait.....wait...yawn....wa it....., oh don't touch it again else it saves 3 or 4 presses for when it finally works, oh too many presses, doh wrong menu, oh hit a bump, pressed delete......arrggggh lamp post!

I-drive is like a supercomputer compared to other stick-on navs, just a pity ot doesn't have 7 digit post code and is still only TMC!

Something wrong there.

I have the 'earlier' Live XL and there is absolutely NO lag whatsoever.

[BanziBarn]

I'll have to make this choice soon. I've only use the send to car thing too. Maybe I should ring the nice lady for a chat before it runs out - never talked to her before.

I understand you can ask her anything you want? Such as "what is the population of Russia" or what ever... is that true?

[rich1068]

Originally Posted by m1bjr

Design a half arsed shit system than cannot rival a TomTom, and then make it bearable by bolting on human intervention for £120 a year extra.

I don't know what version you have but I'd take my iDrive set up over any aftermarket nav all day long.