[Quasimodem]

I got Assist with my 335 and when I picked it up I remember my SA told me to make a first SOS call to "activate" it.

Is this really necessary? or do they just try to promote their restaurant locator and telephone operator service?

I have had the car for a month and a half and not made that call yet. I really don't want to, not sure why.

[Sunstealer]

They get all your information, set a password, etc. I remember them asking if we wanted the upgraded service, but went right past that when we said no.

[Seminole]

Just do it. They need to verify your information and get some alternative contact info in case something happens to you. They do ask about if you want to sign up for the concierge service, but if you say no all they do is let you know that if you change your mind you can just call back and then move on to the next step.

[200Duece]

yes, necessary

[JDLM]

Originally Posted by 200Duece

yes, necessary

No don't the SA gets some money for you doing it ...




j/k

come on now

[Kiemyster]

Nike. Just Do It.

[yerffejleahcim]

Yup its required to activate BMW assist

[carrabassett786]

Its free for four years on 07+ and mine has actually been a good thing for me... They'll go above the standard a couple times to try to get you to preview concierge, I just use it when I'm stuck in traffic in GA.

[Quasimodem]

Thanks all, will do it right away.

Edit: mission accomplished, thx all.

[Weaselboy]

I usually wait until I get my license plates and call to give them the plate number.

[persian54]

I did right when I got the car

maybe I should call gain to give me plate info..

[Roowah]

Yep, it's necessary to set up the service.

Here's a question...If the BMW Assist has expired, is it just a matter of calling them up to reactivate? If it is expired, will anything happen if the button is pushed?

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Roowah

Here's a question...If the BMW Assist has expired, is it just a matter of calling them up to reactivate? If it is expired, will anything happen if the button is pushed?

Depends on how long ago it expired. If the phone number has been cancelled out of the system, a trip to the dealer may be necessary.

Re pushing the button, only one way to find out...

[John 070]

I've never used the Assist in 31 mos, but since it's free, why not set it up.....if that HPFP goes, just press the button. Or for any other reason. Also, when I set it up the 3rd day that I had my car, the guy did not try to sell me anything. He only activated the service.

[Roowah]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Depends on how long ago it expired. If the phone number has been cancelled out of the system, a trip to the dealer may be necessary.

Re pushing the button, only one way to find out...

I only had the 1 year free (2006 model), so it's been a little over 2 years since its expiration. Do you know if there is a reconnection fee, or will is the $199 fee take care of it?

[ORIGIN M.]

They completely suck for service. My understanding is they are now serviced by the same people who do GM's Onstar. If I could get Bluetooth w/out BMW Assist I would in a heartbeat. Horrible is an understatement. Lack of care, follow-up etc~!!!

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

They completely suck for service.

You say that because?

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

My understanding is they are now serviced by the same people who do GM's Onstar.

Not correct.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Roowah

I only had the 1 year free (2006 model), so it's been a little over 2 years since its expiration. Do you know if there is a reconnection fee, or will is the $199 fee take care of it?

I don't think there's a reconnection fee but I would recommend calling BMW Assist from the car and seeing IF it gets you to anything at all first (please come back and tell us).

If that doesn't get you anywhere, you may have to sign some papers so that may require a trip to the dealership. I don't think they will charge a fee, however, for this.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by JSpira

You say that because?


Not correct.

Maybe Onstar should service them then!!!

Because they failed me when I had an accident, and the med & fire crew did not know anything about me, and it was my car that dispatched them to the seen in the first place. Then they gave my number to the tow company, who called me trying to pickup the car for over a week, when it had been towed from the seen the day of. Then 1 week later, again the tow company was dispatched to the seen, and I had to tell the guy, besides the insult to me and my family, they were wasting his time. I personally made 3-4 calls from the BMW assist system after the fact, and they could care less.

Customer service is worthless, Customer loyalty is priceless!

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Because they failed me when I had an accident, and the med & fire crew did not know anything about me, and it was my car that dis-batched them to the seen in the first place.

Not sure why you are writing "dis-batched" but that notwithstanding, why should they have known about you besides the fact that you had an accident.

You had an accident, the car alerted BMW Assist, they sent assistance.

Incidentally, BMW just introduced a new feature for 2009 that (quoting from an article I wrote)

determines the potential of severe injuries by analyzing multiple factors including whether passengers were wearing seat belts, the direction and the severity of the impact, and whether or not airbags or side curtains were deployed.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Not sure why you are writing "dis-batched" but that notwithstanding, why should they have known about you besides the fact that you had an accident.

You had an accident, the car alerted BMW Assist, they sent assistance.

Incidentally, BMW just introduced a new feature for 2009 that (quoting from an article I wrote)

Dispatched. Sorry I'm a bit smashed, and I have no clue why I typed that, but I just did...

Regardless, my airbags and side curtain blew, and I was slightly injured, and then to add insult to injury, they gave the tow dispatch the wrong info, and ran them in circles for a week, insulting me, and my family in the process. Furthermore, they did not give a rats ass, and would not even call their customer back to understand where they went wrong, or to try to learn about how maybe they could improve themselves.


If you wouldn't mind, could you provide me a link to said article. I would love to read more of what you wrote about.

Thanks!

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

If you wouldn't mind, could you provide me a link to said article. I would love to read more of what you wrote about.

Thanks!

It was a short article so I am including it below

BMW ASSIST NOW ASSESSES RISK OF SEVERE INJURY
BUSINESS TRAVELER, MAY 2009

“This is Mr. Smith’s car calling. He’s been in an accident and he probably has internal bleeding.”

Sound a bit futuristic? Most 2009 and later BMWs now transmit data used to calculate the extent of injuries that passengers may have received in an accident. This information will then be relayed to emergency responders by the BMW Assist response center. In the first few minutes after an accident, especially if the occupants of a vehicle are not able to respond to questions, determining the extent of injuries can be daunting – and time critical.

Developed by BMW and the William Lehman Injury Research Center in Miami, the enhanced system determines the potential of severe injuries by synthesizing multiple factors including whether passengers were wearing seat belts, what the direction and the severity of the impact was, and whether or not airbags or side curtains were deployed. When emergency responders have access to this information, according to Dr. Jeffrey Augenstein, the center’s director, the chances for survival of injured occupants increase, possibly saving thousands of lives.