[MauroKTM]

The latest version of I-Drive includes new features mounting a new component: the Combox.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=362709

But anybody knows if existing I-drive2 will be upgradable?

Thnx
M.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by MauroKTM

The latest version of I-Drive includes new features mounting a new component: the Combox.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=362709

But anybody knows if existing I-drive2 will be upgradable?

Thnx
M.

Welcome to last March... no OEM upgrade is possible. Aftermarket vendors are working on a custom solution, though.

[MauroKTM]

It's amazing...

Is it possible that BMW develops something that after two years is old and not upgradeable?

It's a Car!
Not something like a cell phone that you can change every month!

[bmw-art]

Function will be accessible only through combox. It will not be necessary to activate any services. Will work with a mobile phone through bluetooth. On F series it is already activated

[vinzer]

combox retrofit on to older E series is absolutelly possible....
its just a question of $$$

[bmw-art]

Speech not about installation combox. I about the activated Internet. That it is possible to put that in any car and so it is clear

[MauroKTM]

Originally Posted by vinzer

combox retrofit on to older E series is absolutelly possible....
its just a question of $$$

Ok... Of course. If I have mony I buy a new car...

But What I mean is that's incredible there no any politics from BMW to satisfy customers who bought the car one or two years ago....
I choosen an expensive optional that now is... "old" because not upgradable.

When you buy an electronics device such as a cell phone, often the manufacturer offer software upgrade (free or not this is not the problem now) to improove functions an fix the bugs.

BMW doesn't care this kind of customare satisfaction.

M.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by MauroKTM

Ok... Of course. If I have mony I buy a new car...

But What I mean is that's incredible there no any politics from BMW to satisfy customers who bought the car one or two years ago....
I choosen an expensive optional that now is... "old" because not upgradable.

When you buy an electronics device such as a cell phone, often the manufacturer offer software upgrade (free or not this is not the problem now) to improove functions an fix the bugs.

BMW doesn't care this kind of customare satisfaction.

M.

BMW wants you to buy a new car, it is not that complicated.

[KevinO]

Originally Posted by Technic

BMW wants you to buy a new car, it is not that complicated.

BMW also aren't idiots, and therefore know that most people will not buy a new car a year or two after buying a new car. Which is also not that complicated.

That said, BMW has never been good at monetizing upgrades of any kind. Which is too bad, because there is more money to be made there.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by KevinO

BMW also aren't idiots, and therefore know that most people will not buy a new car a year or two after buying a new car. Which is also not that complicated.

That said, BMW has never been good at monetizing upgrades of any kind in the USA. Which is too bad, because there is more money to be made there.

Fixed.

Actually, outside the USA BMW has a very extensive catalog of accessories and retrofits available. In 1995 I bought a full OEM Bicolor (Black with light grey center) Leather interior kit from BMW in Germany, to install in a 1993 318i with cloth seats. That kit was never offered in the USA.

At the end of the day, BMW may have determined that the USA market for retrofits is not that great of a business anyways, and they have ways of determine that very easily. For years they offered as standard equipment pre-wiring for both phone and the alarm system and suddenly they eliminated both -pre-wiring that was optional outside the USA. Most probably they realized that the cost of equipping each and every single USA vehicle with standard retrofit equipment was more than their profit from the retrofits themselves sold by dealers.

Regardless, the Combox is not easy to retrofit be here in the USA or in Europe.

[Imperator]

Technic,

Can you pass along any information on the Combox media version that vendors in Europe are working with? That's likely the only route we have for adding portions of the BMW ConnectedDrive feature set to 2009-2010 CiC-equipped cars.

I understand the Combox media version replaces the MULF-Hi module in Europe, leaving the TCU in place. This upgrade path might not be a mature solution yet but I'd love to monitor the progress of what's going on in Europe, especially if it may later trickle down to us.

[MEN@BimmerTech]

my E92+CIC+COMBOX = INTERNET

[rezi]

hey men - very nice!

how did you do it?
have the combox telematik inside?
what have you done with the can bus?
everything else working?
changes of the connectors (bluetooth, telefon and back up antenna)

please let us know.
regards steven

[claykin]

Not sure what I'm missing but I can't see trying to browse the net using the iDrive controller or voice command. All that money spent modding the car when an iPhone/iPad will do the same and much more. Plus you get to take it with you....

Am I missing something?