[Moondog]

Just received a letter from BMW NA notifying me that my complimentary 12 months on the BMW Assist Safety Plan will expire in December. My options are to renew the “basic” coverage at $199.99 annually or bump up to the “Convenience Plan” totaling $398.00 a year. I’m guessing many of you have received this letter as well. What are your feelings on this service... are you renewing your subscriptions? (Why or why not?) The GPS tracking seems nice if the car is stolen but other then that, I am not sure how useful this feature is.

[nyc3r]

haven't used the GPS tracking but they do tow your car if you get stuck somewhere. The service is similar to AAA, in fact, they out sourced the support to AAA in most area. Just compare the cost of BMW assist vs. AAA and decide from there

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by nyc3r

haven't used the GPS tracking but they do tow your car if you get stuck somewhere. The service is similar to AAA, in fact, they out sourced the support to AAA in most area. Just compare the cost of BMW assist vs. AAA and decide from there

Not correct. The BMW Assist service has nothing to do with AAA-like services.

[GregL]

I'll probably extend when the time comes. I like the fact that they can find my car without having to explain where I am.

[bud001]

BMW assist keeps track of my car. But for AAA type stuff, Roadside assistance is already included independent of BMW assist.

[LEDZEP]

I renewed both cars. For some reason the E91 was cheaper ($199) than the sedan was ($240).

[sblument]

I just got my renewal notice for my car (took delivery 3/06). they want $199 for safety plan only, or $398 for safety and convenience plan.

Anybody doing this? Any ideas how to get this discounted? Seems a bit stiff.

[scottwww]

I think the first four years are included for the '07 models. I still need to test it out with a call to ask what services I receive with BMW Assist.

[sblument]

the service serves as my "navigation system" since I didn't get iDrive.

[Moondog]

Originally Posted by sblument

I just got my renewal notice for my car (took delivery 3/06). they want $199 for safety plan only, or $398 for safety and convenience plan.

Anybody doing this? Any ideas how to get this discounted? Seems a bit stiff.

I agree that the charges are a bit "stiff" and decided not to renew. I can think of 398 better ways to spend the money (but won't list them ;- )

[DLJJ3399]

Originally Posted by sblument

I just got my renewal notice for my car (took delivery 3/06). they want $199 for safety plan only, or $398 for safety and convenience plan.

Anybody doing this? Any ideas how to get this discounted? Seems a bit stiff.

I have non i-Drive so I like using the system for restaurant reservations driving directions, weather etc. You can also order concert, show or movie tickets, flowers or just about anything you might need. This is very useful when you're in a non familiar city or town.

I also like the security features the BMW provides.

Once you start to use it on a regular basis, you'll soon begin to appreciate having it. IMO...

[bavarian19]

I did not use it once on my E90, and so I declined to renew.



I doubt I will be using it much at all with the E92 either...

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

I did not use it once on my E90, and so I declined to renew.



I doubt I will be using it much at all with the E92 either...

Ja but the most important feature - ACN - is one you really do NOT want to use.

[GregL]

Sorry, ACN??

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by GregL

Sorry, ACN??

Automatic Collision Notification

[zamboni]

I will renew mine when it expires.

[joebaggg]

i sue it for the free tow, AAA is much cheeper tho. can bmw locate your car if its stolen without the assist option?

[NPinUK]

Originally Posted by bud001

BMW assist keeps track of my car. But for AAA type stuff, Roadside assistance is already included independent of BMW assist.

What do you mean by it keeps track of my car. You saying that if your car is stolen they will be able to recover it?

[shadowcoder]

Originally Posted by NPinUK

What do you mean by it keeps track of my car. You saying that if your car is stolen they will be abale to recover it?

Yes at least in the US they will. You file the police report and call them up,
and they will track your car. Also the "hope i never need" ACN feature is
good. Not to mention that my wife also drives the car and has our baby
daughter with her so I am definitely renewing the assist for $199. Small
price to pay for a very big peace of mind.

[NPinUK]

Originally Posted by shadowcoder

Yes at least in the US they will. You file the police report and call them up,
and they will track your car. Also the "hope i never need" ACN feature is
good. Not to mention that my wife also drives the car and has our baby
daughter with her so I am definitely renewing the assist for $199. Small
price to pay for a very big peace of mind.

Ok now am confused. I didn't renew my assist here in the U.K. becuase of the very opposite reason. They said assist cannot track my car because its not connected all the time. It only connects when you have a crash, SOS button is pressed or you connect manually i.e for info. They said if my car was stolen my only hope is that who ever stole it decides to activate BMW assist or has a accident (not much hope here) then they will be able to get a vehichle position but soon as its deactivated then this info is lost. So can you explain why it is different in U.S. and do you have extra eqipment in your car for this to function.

[bakdraft]

Originally Posted by NPinUK

Ok now am confused. I didn't renew my assist here in the U.K. becuase of the very opposite reason. They said assist cannot track my car because its not connected all the time. It only connects when you have a crash, SOS button is pressed or you connect manually i.e for info. They said if my car was stolen my only hope is that who ever stole it decides to activate BMW assist or has a accident (not much hope here) then they will be able to get a vehichle position but soon as its deactivated then this info is lost. So can you explain why it is different in U.S. and do you have extra eqipment in your car for this to function.

This was my understanding too.

I have just got off the phone to BMW UK Customers services and they described the functions as follows:

The E90 has an inbuilt sim card to allow communication:

This is a two part system:

1. The SOS button in the roof - Pressing this will make a direct call to 999 ( US 911) emergency services - you can then communicate with them directly
2. In a crash where airbags are triggered - The system will call BMW emergency services, and they will attempt to speak to you - if the cannot, they will call 999 (US 911) and report your co-ordinates

.
They clearly stated it is not possible to track the vehicle unless the car has had a crash as NpinUK described.

It will be interesting to see how this differs in the US and other countries...

[edspilot]

As I understand and as it was explained to me in July, here in the U.S. it is like bakdraft stated. Only when Assist receives a call (you push the button or the auto activate/crash sensor) can your position be captured.

This is the reason I purchased Lojack with Early Warning Notification for my owned 2006 330i. I have a small Lojack Fob that I keep with my key ring, if the car is moved/jacked/started without the Lojack sensor picking up the Lojack Fob then I'm called in this order:

1) cell phone
2) home phone
3) e-mail

This notification all happens within 5 minutes of the Lojack NOT-detecting the Lojack Fob with car movement. Lojack actually tracks the car continously & then I can advise them to call the police in the area they see the car.

I like the fact that if I am away from the car for all day, I find out there is something wrong well before the end of the day when I would have returned to the car and found it missing.

This is the way I reasoned it.

Dean