Global Software Update - Thoughts on Throttle Delay and more

FYI- the global update works for N63 (550) cars as well! I just had it done and have the same results as mentioned in this thread. I started a new thread referencing it since it has been said a few times in this thread that it does not apply to 550's.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

It is hard to describe the transformation this makes on driving the car. I am so thrilled with it.

Add to it the updated steering, the fact that the lights now work, and it's just like they're eliminating all my little quibbles with the car one by one.

Pull to the right? Gone
Difficult to modulate throttle? Gone
Rough idle on warm startup? Banished.
Steering effort? Returning.
Mini info display blank upon startup? No more.
Auto headlights have stupid logic? No more
Nav doesn't display arrows until you are on top of the intersection? Not any more.
Shifter won't go into D/S mode. Fixed


If they fix the damn nav routing, I might actually fall in love with the car!

Man, I have had problems with this car!

I think you guys deserve an award!! When owning a German car, one has to have a different mindset than were it an Asian or American build. These broad, intrinsic issues don't seem to discourage people away.

Is the steering really different, more connected to the road? If so, then all cars should need the update?

I haven't noticed a difference in the steering in my car. Perhaps it's a slight improvement. My loaner was a 335i and the steering was like my old E39 so compared to that anything feels solf.

Where can I find the PDF so when I go to the dealer i can go armed with a full magazine? I'm not very savvy on using this forum. Have tried doing a search and came up empty. If someone could send it email or direct me to it, would be a great help. My 528 needs it badly.

My car is going in on Tuesday for the update, plus a new windshield. I got a rock hit last Thursday, which was repaired by Safelite this Thursday. One day later, yesterday, I took another rock which made an 8 inch crack on the drivers corner...oh well....the repair didn't even have a chance to set.

I am hoping the software DOES address the pull to the right, because if not, I think I will have a fight on my hands to get them to fix it. But that's a story for another thread.
Oh and my guy mentioned it to me--so I will have no problem having them update the software--I had been complaining about the idle fluctuation multiple times as well.

I'll let you all know how it works......

The pdfs are in this thread. I believe on the first page.

I'm noticing several differences in the car. The mpgs in the trip information read out averages out differently and the miles to go before the next fill up seems more realistic. Before the update the mpgs on the trip information screen always seemed to be overstated.

Originally Posted by Art234

My car is going in on Tuesday for the update, plus a new windshield. I got a rock hit last Thursday, which was repaired by Safelite this Thursday. One day later, yesterday, I took another rock which made an 8 inch crack on the drivers corner...oh well....the repair didn't even have a chance to set.

I am hoping the software DOES address the pull to the right, because if not, I think I will have a fight on my hands to get them to fix it. But that's a story for another thread.
Oh and my guy mentioned it to me--so I will have no problem having them update the software--I had been complaining about the idle fluctuation multiple times as well.

I'll let you all know how it works......

Does your car have HUD? If so, did your car require a special windscreen?

Originally Posted by Ace535i

Does your car have HUD? If so, did your car require a special windscreen?

No HUD but I want BMW to do the shield because of the electronics in the mirror and they know how to apply the rain sensor membrane. Plus I'd only want OEM glass which is actually cheaper than going outside.

Originally Posted by Art234

No HUD but I want BMW to do the shield because of the electronics in the mirror and they know how to apply the rain sensor membrane. Plus I'd only want OEM glass which is actually cheaper than going outside.

Rain sensor membrane? Thought that the need for swiping was determined by a camera in the mirror that is focused on the windscreen's surface.

My service advisor told me there is some sort of coating on the windshield as well. Not sure if that is the case, but with all the electronics in the mirror housing, including cameras for lane departure warning and rain, why take a chance on the outside? This way warranty remains intact, and they accepted whatever the insurance company offered. That was the good part. The bad part was getting hit twice in a week.

FWIW, also, the Safelite repairs are not that great in my opinion. Again that is a story for another thread.

That said, I do hope the steering/pulling issue is corrected by this update-otherwise I fear I have a hard fight on my hands.

having mine updated this week! Will post results/thoughts.

Originally Posted by MSgtMel

Rain sensor membrane? Thought that the need for swiping was determined by a camera in the mirror that is focused on the windscreen's surface.

Close, it's a light sensor..

http://www.bosch.com.ph/content/lang...l/715_5768.htm

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Close, it's a light sensor..

http://www.bosch.com.ph/content/lang...l/715_5768.htm

Thanks, Needsdecaf, hate it when I can't find the source for a statement made. But that's OK, as my original source was one of the pieces of propaganda from BMW not the manufacturer of OE. I'll take OE info over marketing any day. That also explains the the hole in the IR coating on the OEM windshield in the mirror area, recollections had this mentioned when the brochure was talking about garage door openers etc. Hmm, wonder what the life of a windshield (coating effectiveness) without stone cracks is? Know that the coatings aren't the most durable. Guess life expectancy depends on which surface has been coated (hopefully the interior).

Originally Posted by MSgtMel

Thanks, Needsdecaf, hate it when I can't find the source for a statement made. But that's OK, as my original source was one of the pieces of propaganda from BMW not the manufacturer of OE. I'll take OE info over marketing any day. That also explains the the hole in the IR coating on the OEM windshield in the mirror area, recollections had this mentioned when the brochure was talking about garage door openers etc. Hmm, wonder what the life of a windshield (coating effectiveness) without stone cracks is? Know that the coatings aren't the most durable. Guess life expectancy depends on which surface has been coated (hopefully the interior).

I was only going by what my service advisor told me guys. It didn't make much sense, but I knew enough to only let BMW do the windshield replacement.

Originally Posted by Emilner

FYI- the global update works for N63 (550) cars as well! I just had it done and have the same results as mentioned in this thread. I started a new thread referencing it since it has been said a few times in this thread that it does not apply to 550's.

I just returned from a nine-day 4100 mile motorcycle trip and drove my 550 for the first time in a week and a half today. I was reminded how irritating it is. Thanks for offering hope. I'll be discussing with my dealer

Took the car in this morning, for the windshield and the software update. Service Advisor emailed me around 3PM that the programming is a very long process and that it will run overnight. I should have the car by lunch time tomorrow. I'll let everyone know if it also addressed the pull to the right as some people said it might.

Hi Everyone,

thanks for the info on the SB. I took my car in yesterday, did a test drive with the tech and they saw the lag in the take off so agreed to update the software. Got the car today. Things I noticed:

1) Car is a bit smoother. But I still need to drive it a bit to get a good feel for the change.
2) Timezone set to UTC -1.
3) Radio presets and Bluetooth pair with phone was not affected. Car paired with my phone and imported phone book ...no issues.
4) MPG meter red and blue lines have a white line on top
5) MPG fell back to 10..it was slowly increasing as I was putting on some miles. Earlier it was averaging around 27.
6) I was told to drive the car normally for a couple of hundred miles so the car can "re-learn" my driving style.

Will update if I notice anything else.

Got the car back around noon today-only drove 15 miles, but here are initial impressions:

Throttle noticeably more responsive.
Light line atop the fuel economy scale, white numbers (red at night).
Steering feels different, perhaps more connected (less isolating).
Pull to the right appears to still be there , but in initial driving appears better. I need to drive for a few days before I make a final decision on this.

All settings remained-seats, presets, garage door links. Only things which reset were fuel economy and trip odometers.

Stay tuned...

I took my car in this morning and it should ready by tomorrow sometime... I hope the throttle is much better the rest I am not too worried about.

They gave me a loaner 335i and holy mother of everything that is holy this thing is fast lol.

After five days of driving the improvements are still noticeable. I'm very pleased with how the car drives. More of what I expect from a BMW. It makes you wonder what the engineers were thinking with the prior software. I also had the same experience as Art234 and 11F10 as far as presets, trip info, mpgs, etc., except I haven't noticed a change in the steering and I've never had a pull to the right.

Even I posted here before that I fixed the problem by my driving style per SA's feedback, but I still got my update today.

well, I can tell you it does NOT improve in compare to the condition I was at before the update. I read couple post here that F10 somehow adjusted to your driving style = you better not change drives :P

My F10 memory got reset one time for no reason and it took me another week to have the car back to the original state.....this is another approve that F10 does do something to remember how you drive.

Now, I have to restart everything to have my car remember me again.....ha

By the way, I have to admit it fixed the steering feel. I now feel more connected to the car and road.....that is great........finally

Also, the color also change in the dash board as described here.

in summary, a good update so far, but it does not fix the problem, in my opinion.....you still need to try hard to let your F10 adjust to your driving style and remember it.

Originally Posted by ccgp

in summary, a good update so far, but it does not fix the problem, in my opinion.....you still need to try hard to let your F10 adjust to your driving style and remember it.

My experience totally the opposite. It fixed the issue immediately, out of the box, and has remained for about 2 weeks.

Originally Posted by Art234

Pull to the right appears to still be there , but in initial driving appears better. I need to drive for a few days before I make a final decision on this..

The real fix for this is the rotating of the struts. If you haven't had this done, you will still have the issue.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

The real fix for this is the rotating of the struts. If you haven't had this done, you will still have the issue.

They claim to have done this at least twice. Still not fixed.
Thanks for the thought though.

Originally Posted by Art234

They claim to have done this at least twice. Still not fixed.
Thanks for the thought though.

Keep elevating. I had mine "fixed" twice before I got pissy and threatened buyback...which meant the SM of TWO dealerships literally fighting for me to bring the car to them and the "head of front chassis and brakes in the US" driving down from Woodcliff Lake to personally oversee the repairs to my car.

End result: no more pull to the right. EVER.

It CAN be fixed. The problem, the one that you are likely running into, is that the dealerships just don't want to admit there is a problem.