Did BMW cut off my Google Send to Car feature?

I agree. I have the account set up but am not using the $200 subscription. I use google send frequently. Maybe it's only free for first year?

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Not true.

The car will always maintain cell connection for diagnostics, remote unlock, etc.

I still maintain this feature is free. At least in the us.

I have used it for several years without paying for any additions plans/services.

In the US, it is my understanding that as a part of the Ultimate Service, you get the basic functions of Assist during that period. Send to car is one of those basic services. The concierge services are in the premium plan.

Originally Posted by pkfinman

Still works fine for me and I don't pay for BMW assist

The BMW Assist Safety Plan is free for the duration of the new car warranty period in the USA. That plan is all that's required to get Google's Send to Car feature (as well as remote unlock, emergency notification of accident, etc.).

At the end of the 4 year warranty period it requires you to pay for it. If you let it expire you can restart it anywhere from 6 to 8 months after expiration by just calling BMW Assist. If you let it lapse longer than about 6 to 8 months then the cellular number assigned to your vehicle is re-provisioned and assigned somewhere else essentially "hard disabling" the car's SIM card and it then requires a visit to the dealer to reprogram the car to restart the service.

Mike

Originally Posted by Emilner

I have used it for several years without paying for any additions plans/services.

Ditto

As with everything, Canadians get screwed. First we pay ten percent more for the car and then get one year of services vs four in the US.... What a joke.

sent 3 google search to car last night, did not show immediately, like in past. called SOS, spoke with CA, and reviewed situation. Asked repeatedly if this service was discontinued, she could find no information to support, and verified it is an included service at no charge, and does not require the $200 fee. Offered to have complimentary concierge if needed, and would escalate to tech. 2 minutes later all 3 came over, probably less than 10 min from original send. Also tested remote app google search and that worked.

Yeah, but as Ziechen mentioned, you are probably receiving that service for the 4 year warranty period duration in the US. We only get it for 1 year. I will try again, but I am holding no hopes.

I like the features so I will pay for it. In Canada, as noted, it is included in BMW Assist.
In my case, I advised my insurance company about the 'Stolen Vehicle Recovery' feature and saved $100 so the cost of BMW Assist is really only $99 extra to me.
Check your insurance.

Originally Posted by Zeichen311

It is not free (but BMW pays the first four years).

haha, are you serious? Who do they pay it to? That's like saying I didn't get a discount on the purchase of my car, BMW paid it. FYI, 'free' and 'included' are valid synonyms....if you want to get into economic theory/nuance you're on the wrong forum.

Originally Posted by TGray5

haha, are you serious? Who do they pay it to? That's like saying I didn't get a discount on the purchase of my car, BMW paid it. FYI, 'free' and 'included' are valid synonyms....if you want to get into economic theory/nuance you're on the wrong forum.

Clearly, you have not read the thread. Look a few posts above. It has been well explained. Yes, they do pay it to someone else.

Originally Posted by yogi799

Clearly, you have not read the thread. Look a few posts above. It has been well explained. Yes, they do pay it to someone else.

I think you misunderstand...BMW assist is a product/service sold by BMW, not cell phone companies or google or anyone else. Yes, BMW certainly pays suppliers/vendors but that is no different from any other BMW vendor such as Michelin or Sachs and that has no bearing on the fact that it is an included service in the U.S. and BMW doesn't pay the BMW assist fee of $200 to anyone much less themselves...whatever that means.

Originally Posted by TGray5

haha, are you serious? Who do they pay it to? ... FYI, 'free' and 'included' are valid synonyms....if you want to get into economic theory/nuance you're on the wrong forum.

From the subscriber agreement:

BMW of North America will pay the subscription fee for the Safety Plan services ... for you for the first four years of this Agreement.... Thereafter, you will be responsible for all costs and charges ....

SAFETY PLAN: $199 per year; the first four years from this vehicle's in-service date will be paid by BMW. Subscriber payment information required if less than 1 year BMW-paid term remains.

Seems pretty clear. Has it occurred to you that BMW NA very likely contracts the entire BMW Assist support infrastructure--by which I mean call centers, servers, everything--to third parties? If that is so then they are paying someone on our behalf. Quibble over synonyms if you like but the agreement takes pains to avoid the use of "free" or "included." They're footing the bill.

I've had my car since June of 2011, and GoogleMaps > MyMessages is still going strong.

I also believe my car (in the U.S.) came w/ 4 years of BMW Assist for free?

Are there even roads in Canada? I just thought the huskies that you hook up to the front of your BMW instinctively know where they're going?

Originally Posted by TGray5

I think you misunderstand...BMW assist is a product/service sold by BMW, not cell phone companies or google or anyone else. Yes, BMW certainly pays suppliers/vendors but that is no different from any other BMW vendor such as Michelin or Sachs and that has no bearing on the fact that it is an included service in the U.S. and BMW doesn't pay the BMW assist fee of $200 to anyone much less themselves...whatever that means.

Zeichen has explained again, but what made me personally feel better is that it really makes sense - some sort of data connection is required for this to work (think of this as a simple SMS service to your car, JUST for google send to car alone). Since BMW does not own cell phone towers or satellites, they are, as he mentioned again, essentially paying someone else a few $ per month to keep the connection alive for you. It's like a built-in cell phone in your car. Made sense to me.

How could data flow to the car with no connection at all? Unless, as someone mentioned before: down the road, your OWN cell phone connection should be taking such things over.

Originally Posted by Zeichen311

From the subscriber agreement:
Seems pretty clear. Has it occurred to you that BMW NA very likely contracts the entire BMW Assist support infrastructure--by which I mean call centers, servers, everything--to third parties? If that is so then they are paying someone on our behalf. Quibble over synonyms if you like but the agreement takes pains to avoid the use of "free" or "included." They're footing the bill.

And they're also paying for my 'included' tires, but no one wastes the time to go around saying that I bought a car and BMW is paying for the included tires for me. Kind of ridiculous no?

Originally Posted by TGray5

And they're also paying for my 'included' tires, but no one wastes the time to go around saying that I bought a car and BMW is paying for the included tires for me. Kind of ridiculous no?

No. Ridiculous is going after someone on an Internet forum for quoting something nearly word for word from BMW.

It clearly states that BMW pays for the service for the first 4 years. I don't know what you are trying to argue....

Originally Posted by Emilner

No. Ridiculous is going after someone on an Internet forum for quoting something nearly word for word from BMW.

It clearly states that BMW pays for the service for the first 4 years. I don't know what you are trying to argue....

My point is the comment that it's not free that BMW pays it, is pretty silly and simply arguing over semantics. I'm sure BMWs lawyers had a reason to write the contract in that fashion, but it doesn't mean we have to argue over such silly semantics at Bimmerfest does it? The lawyer forum is that way -----------> Now where's the unsubscribe button, I'm done.