Having connectivity problems with your BMW?
- It's not your signal
- It's not your phone
- It's not a one-off that an update will fix
Your details are only used to group cases together and consider joint action. No cost. No obligation.
I bought my BMW at BMW Benigar Elche. Almost 2 years later I'm still stuck with the same problem, and I've taken it to BMW dealerships 5 times, in both Granollers and Elche. I've also been in direct contact with BMW Madrid. The brand's response: they can't fix it and they've completely washed their hands of it.
On top of the Bluetooth, I have an extra problem with calls: the other person hears a very annoying beep throughout the whole conversation. I don't notice it myself while talking, it's the person on the other end who tells me every time. Other users have reported this in forums too.
In my case too: sometimes the windshield wipers turn on by themselves, randomly, on sunny days, with no rain and without me touching anything.
At one dealership I was told the car has a modem installed that doesn't work as it should, that it was already a known problem, and that there was nothing they could do. They showed me a document that said so. I obviously asked for a copy, but they wouldn't give it to me. I suspect the dealership already knew about the problem before selling it to me: the car had previously been used and returned.
What's happening to you is not an isolated case, and the brand is aware of it. They will probably try to stall you until your warranty runs out.
You've probably already been to a BMW service center, told them what's going on, and had the module reformatted, but you're still stuck with the same problem, and even though they assure you it's a one-off, they know that's not true. You've tried both Android and iOS and nothing changes. This is a problem with the brand.
I know how frustrating it can be to drive a car where the GPS disconnects at toll booths, calls drop, the Bluetooth sometimes won't connect, and the music often can't be controlled properly from the steering wheel. It's happened to me too, and I've been stalled just like you.
I'm going to take legal action against the brand, but the more reported cases we have, the better. If you want to tell me your case or join in, get in touch.
What you're told vs. what owners report
What they tell you
- "It's a software update or compatibility issue with the version on your phone"
- "The problem must be your phone, not the car"
- "It's normal for Bluetooth to disconnect at toll booths, it's because of signal jammers"
- "There's no solution for that"
- "It's a problem with the modem module, BMW knows about it, and they'll release an update"
What some owners report
- I've tried both Android and iOS and it fails the same way
- At the dealership I was told it's a problem the brand knows about, related to the modem installed, but they refuse to put it in writing
- Formatting or resetting the system doesn't fix anything, and it's the only thing they do
- Many owners describe exactly the same symptoms
- Many cases agree that they try to stall you
The reality
- A signal jammer would affect every car at the toll booth, not just yours. If yours disconnects and the rest don't, the problem is with the car
- Formatting the system doesn't fix anything, even though the dealership repeats it every time
- When the same failure repeats across different owners, it stops being a coincidence and becomes a pattern known to the brand
- Without BMW taking responsibility and replacing the faulty part, this isn't going to get fixed
- None of this is acceptable in a car of this class. You're not paying that price for a car that simply works, you're paying for performance, and it doesn't work
Why timing matters
If your car is still under warranty, now is the time to document the problem, not later.
While the car is under warranty
The usual response tends to be a system format or reset, explanations pointing to external factors (signal, the user's phone), and delays, while the problem stays exactly the same.
Once the warranty expires
Maybe then they'll offer you an expensive fix that you'll have to pay for yourself. Or maybe you'll have gotten tired of complaining with no response, and you're just left driving a car that doesn't work the way it should.
Right now
The more documented cases there are, the stronger a joint claim becomes.
A real example
Almost 2 years and 5 visits to BMW dealerships (Granollers and Elche), plus direct contact with BMW Madrid, with no solution. The final answer: they can't fix it and they've washed their hands of it.