[Sublime00]

So, I don't understand the point of the vehicle location in the BMW app besides knowing where the car is if YOU gave someone permission to drive it.

If someone steals the car, or car-jacks you, then they can just turn the tracking system off through the I drive menu. Isn't this basically pointless ? Also it seems to update the location when the car gets parked, so it's not even real time tracking fir the owner.

I think GM has a new system where it requires a passcode to unlock settings from within the car like an iPhone and it makes a lot more sense. I'd think BMW would implement a better tracking system especially with the uptick in car thefts. This doesn't seem that difficult to do and I would assume an update would resolve the issue or at least make it more useful.

[tracer bullet]

Maybe it's useful if you're so drunk you forget where you parked?

I'm kidding of course. Mostly.

[Sublime00]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

Maybe it's useful if you're so drunk you forget where you parked?

I'm kidding of course. Mostly.

Honestly, that might be its most useful situation.

Or if you're in a Seinfeld episode.

[Germanauto]

It's one of those silly features that would come into handy once in a blue moon. Another example, I've yet to see anybody use the feature where the car will move forward/backward on its own. Gesture control is something else I don't feel anybody uses.

This is just par for the course in the auto industry now. We are beyond the stage of just the right amount of useful technology. Now there's just mostly useless features being crammed into these cars for the sake of it.

[Sublime00]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

It's one of those silly features that would come into handy once in a blue moon. Another example, I've yet to see anybody use the feature where the car will move forward/backward on its own. Gesture control is something else I don't feel anybody uses.

This is just par for the course in the auto industry now. We are beyond the stage of just the right amount of useful technology. Now there's just mostly useless features being crammed into these cars for the sake of it.

Agreed on the gesture control.

But the tracking feature could be useful if it were better implemented with a pin code locking feature.

[srbs73]

I use gesture control for muting and setting the sat nav to the home address. There isn't a faster way of doing so

[Psychotic Mouse]

I’ve used vehicle tracking quite often.

When I used to use it when I traveled a lot to check that it was still in long term parking. Peace of mind I suppose.

[Mach550]

Originally Posted by Psychotic Mouse

I’ve used vehicle tracking quite often.

When I used to use it when I traveled a lot to check that it was still in long term parking. Peace of mind I suppose.

I don't think anyone is saying it's a useless option but it could be more secure for situations like what the OP said. Only time I've used it was to see how far along a service was.

[SteveChester]

Also my car (2014) has a restriction where you can only track it if your car is less than 1.5km away.

Which is useful if someone steals it....

Understand this feature was removed in later versions of the car.

Hopefully a really local thief takes mines.

[srbs73]

Originally Posted by SteveChester

Also my car (2014) has a restriction where you can only track it if your car is less than 1.5km away.

Which is useful if someone steals it....

Understand this feature was removed in later versions of the car.

Hopefully a really local thief takes mines.

You might be able to use Remote 3D view to see the inside of the shipping container

[celsdogg]

lots of things on modern cars dont make sense.

ive used this feature to see if a shop ive left it at decided to take the car home for the evening. if they turn it off, you at least will get a negative response.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by srbs73

I use gesture control for muting and setting the sat nav to the home address. There isn't a faster way of doing so

How about: press microphone button on steering wheel, then say "go home"?

[srbs73]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

How about: press microphone button on steering wheel, then say "go home"?

No

Try it - Palm fist palm takes less than a second.

[David70]

I think a lot of the new features have gone from developing technology to solve a problem or make things significantly easier to having technology and trying to find another use for it.

I permanently turned off the lane departure warning in my car, every time I cross the lane it is because I needed to go around something in the road (most common is delivery vehicles and people parallel parking). I think if I didn't pay attention to what I was doing it would be a lot more useful. Maybe if I was constantly texting people it would be a lifesaver.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by Sublime00

So, I don't understand the point of the vehicle location in the BMW app besides knowing where the car is if YOU gave someone permission to drive it.

If someone steals the car, or car-jacks you, then they can just turn the tracking system off through the I drive menu. Isn't this basically pointless ? Also it seems to update the location when the car gets parked, so it's not even real time tracking fir the owner.

I think GM has a new system where it requires a passcode to unlock settings from within the car like an iPhone and it makes a lot more sense. I'd think BMW would implement a better tracking system especially with the uptick in car thefts. This doesn't seem that difficult to do and I would assume an update would resolve the issue or at least make it more useful.

Are we sure disabling it in iDrive would also disable it from being tracked if stolen? I would imagine these are two separate settings. With only the one in the ConnectedDrive portal potentially turning that off. Which a their couldn’t access without your account details.

For my car the updates do occur while driving and while parked. But I only use it occasionally.

Originally Posted by David70

I think a lot of the new features have gone from developing technology to solve a problem or make things significantly easier to having technology and trying to find another use for it.

I permanently turned off the lane departure warning in my car, every time I cross the lane it is because I needed to go around something in the road (most common is delivery vehicles and people parallel parking). I think if I didn't pay attention to what I was doing it would be a lot more useful. Maybe if I was constantly texting people it would be a lifesaver.

On my car you don’t get lane departure warning below 40MPH. It has never activated for me in the scenarios you describe as a result.

[paquet]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

Are we sure disabling it in iDrive would also disable it from being tracked if stolen? I would imagine these are two separate settings. With only the one in the ConnectedDrive portal potentially turning that off. Which a their couldn’t access without your account details.

For my car the updates do occur while driving and while parked. But I only use it occasionally.

Can confirm when the function is turned off through idrive, the app doesn't show it. had this happen at the dealer when doing a software update - it got turned off and the app stopped showing the location. re-checking the box made it start working again. (they didn't have access to my connected drive account)

[lilstevie]

I find it useful in the rare situation (used it once or twice) where I can’t remember exactly which row I parked in

[6oclockshadow]

Originally Posted by Sublime00

So, I don't understand the point of the vehicle location in the BMW app besides knowing where the car is if YOU gave someone permission to drive it.

If someone steals the car, or car-jacks you, then they can just turn the tracking system off through the I drive menu. Isn't this basically pointless ? Also it seems to update the location when the car gets parked, so it's not even real time tracking fir the owner.

I think GM has a new system where it requires a passcode to unlock settings from within the car like an iPhone and it makes a lot more sense. I'd think BMW would implement a better tracking system especially with the uptick in car thefts. This doesn't seem that difficult to do and I would assume an update would resolve the issue or at least make it more useful.

Doesn't the user have to enable or disable that feature with a PIN?

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by packet

Can confirm when the function is turned off through idrive, the app doesn't show it. had this happen at the dealer when doing a software update - it got turned off and the app stopped showing the location. re-checking the box made it start working again. (they didn't have access to my connected drive account)

Wouldn’t you have to contact ConnectedDrive to confirm this?

IDrive setting disabling this would be confusing. What happens if Driver 1 disables it and Driver 2 enables? Etc.

It being disabled in the App makes sense as the app is account and profile specific. But only the primary account holder can disable remote services in the portal. I am sure this is the only way to disable stolen vehicle location services. But would require logging into your web portal.

[chowser51]

It came in handy. I forgot where I parked at a mall. lol

I can see where my F33 is right now. It's still sitting at an Alfa dealership. Every morning I send the unlock command to it. They're probably wondering what's going on.

I actually drove past today and saw a sales lady taking pictures so I stopped. Someone in CT is buying it so I left my email address in it so I can give them the history of the car.

[OSee]

Originally Posted by lilstevie

I find it useful in the rare situation (used it once or twice) where I can’t remember exactly which row I parked in

This.

Southern California is one gigantic homogenous parking lot. I can't even count the amount of times that I parked, walked into somewhere while on my phone, and completely forgot which row I parked in.

The app has saved me after many of happy hours (responsibly drinking, course).

[yousefnjr]

My, uh, friend uses it to see how much time he has to do things before the wife gets home