BMW Assist
- Thread starter Beemer Dreamer
- Start date
![[cheers]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_cheers.gif "Cheers [cheers]"){kind=icon}
BMWAssist isn't worth the money. They advertise it as an emergency roadside service, not a "Help me I'm lost" service. It can not be used for vehicle recovery if it is stolen.
It's way overpriced for what it does. OnStar is much better, but most people don't even use that after the first year of free service.
It's way overpriced for what it does. OnStar is much better, but most people don't even use that after the first year of free service.
I agree that Nav would be much better for finding directions. Try and convice my wife of that though. As far as she is concerned, all I need is a map - try using that in rush hour traffic when your not familiar with the area. If I could talk the wife into it, I would at least have a handheld gps (oem gps prefered).
I agree that BMWAssist isn't worth the money and that OnStar provides much better service offerings but they are very expensive.
BMWAssist should also assist you when you are lost through their concierge services. I read someone elses post somewhere that they had pushed the little wrench button to make sure that it was working and they had mentioned to him that he could use it anytime to order tickets, blah, blah, blah, or even if he needed directions somewhere. This is much closer to what OnStar provides, but the BMWAssist paperwork indicates that you have to call an 800 number for the concierge service which would make BMWassist even more worthless IMO.
I for one, will not be extending my service with them after my free year is up unless they can provide me with a service that I beleive is worth $250/yr. I don't think I would even pay $250/yr for OnStar's service.
I agree that BMWAssist isn't worth the money and that OnStar provides much better service offerings but they are very expensive.
BMWAssist should also assist you when you are lost through their concierge services. I read someone elses post somewhere that they had pushed the little wrench button to make sure that it was working and they had mentioned to him that he could use it anytime to order tickets, blah, blah, blah, or even if he needed directions somewhere. This is much closer to what OnStar provides, but the BMWAssist paperwork indicates that you have to call an 800 number for the concierge service which would make BMWassist even more worthless IMO.
I for one, will not be extending my service with them after my free year is up unless they can provide me with a service that I beleive is worth $250/yr. I don't think I would even pay $250/yr for OnStar's service.
I recently purchased a new 04 330xi (couple days ago) with BMW Assist. What the sales man told me about this was
1) Concierge service could be called for directions/tickets/gifts... etc via the Assist button in the car.
2) There is a renewal fee for the concierge service but the roadside service will always work and can be called for help at any time.
3) If the car is stolen then BMW can track its location to help recover the vehicle; however if the doors are locked, BMW cannot unlock them for you.
is this correct?
1) Concierge service could be called for directions/tickets/gifts... etc via the Assist button in the car.
2) There is a renewal fee for the concierge service but the roadside service will always work and can be called for help at any time.
3) If the car is stolen then BMW can track its location to help recover the vehicle; however if the doors are locked, BMW cannot unlock them for you.
is this correct?
1.] No... this isn't correct. I have BMW assist and tried to use it for Concierge services (by pressing the button under my integrated universal remote rear mirror). When I was connected, the person on the other end said the in-car push-button service was reserved for emergencies. If I wanted concierge services, I'd have to call a 1-800 number from my mobile phone (or the integrated cell-phone if my car was equipped). That sucks! Also, since I have the navigation system, I can't have BMW Assist and BlueTooth at the same time, so I'm thinking of just letting the assist feature expire at the end of my 12-month period.
The one good thing about the BMW Assist / Navigation combo is the fact that if you're in an accident and airbags (and/or the roll over protection system in the convertible) deploy, BMW Assist automatically dispatches help to your location since they have your longitude, latitude. This could come in handy if you're too shaken up to use the phone. But that's a LOT of "ifs". Not worth keeping the subscription in my opinion.
2.] Roadside assistance is part of the warranty package on the car. Once BMW Assist has expired, you cannot use the button inside the car to activate it. You'll have to call the Roadside Assistance hotline (number is affixed to the toolkit in the trunk).
3.] My dealer told me this feature will only work if you have BMW Assist _and_ the BMW Navigation system. I did get a discount on my insurance because I have the combination of BMW Assist and Navigation.
The one good thing about the BMW Assist / Navigation combo is the fact that if you're in an accident and airbags (and/or the roll over protection system in the convertible) deploy, BMW Assist automatically dispatches help to your location since they have your longitude, latitude. This could come in handy if you're too shaken up to use the phone. But that's a LOT of "ifs". Not worth keeping the subscription in my opinion.
2.] Roadside assistance is part of the warranty package on the car. Once BMW Assist has expired, you cannot use the button inside the car to activate it. You'll have to call the Roadside Assistance hotline (number is affixed to the toolkit in the trunk).
3.] My dealer told me this feature will only work if you have BMW Assist _and_ the BMW Navigation system. I did get a discount on my insurance because I have the combination of BMW Assist and Navigation.
TheBry,
You do not have to have the nav system for them to know where you are - just the assist. Assist contains a GPS system so that if you are in an accident, BMW Assist will know where to send emergency services regardless of whether or not you have the nav system. You just can't tell what your location is since there is no interface in the car for you to use. When you activate the system, they confirm with you the last known location that your car is located.
Also, you can't have bluetooth and assist together because they use the same wiring - it has nothing to do with the fact that you have the nav system.
You do not have to have the nav system for them to know where you are - just the assist. Assist contains a GPS system so that if you are in an accident, BMW Assist will know where to send emergency services regardless of whether or not you have the nav system. You just can't tell what your location is since there is no interface in the car for you to use. When you activate the system, they confirm with you the last known location that your car is located.
Also, you can't have bluetooth and assist together because they use the same wiring - it has nothing to do with the fact that you have the nav system.
I just received an advertisement from BMW Assist a couple of days ago introducing a new service where you can receive
[li]Directions to a location
[li]Traffic updates
[li]Weather
All for the LOW cost of ONLY $4.95 a call by pressing your SOS button.
O.K., O.K., I don't remeber the wording exactly.
One more thing that I will never use.
[li]Directions to a location
[li]Traffic updates
[li]Weather
All for the LOW cost of ONLY $4.95 a call by pressing your SOS button.
O.K., O.K., I don't remeber the wording exactly.
One more thing that I will never use.
I used the concierge 800 number a couple times this weekend to test it out.
1) can you tell me where a mexican resteraunt around cleveland downtown is?
-- took forever for them to locate, then gave me a couple addresses.... one was to a chi-chi's that closed and other one could not be found at the address and was in an unsafe neighborhood 15 min from the city.
2) I am lost and need help for directions. told me that was best to use the assist button in my car but when i told them i was not in my car at the moment they took a bit of time but then used mapquest to give me directions.
3) Had a resteraunt name and time, can you make a reservation for 4. They said no problem and called back in a few minutes to confirm.
I agree that the 4.95 is steep, but if you have the 800 number concierge service it can come in handy some time.
1) can you tell me where a mexican resteraunt around cleveland downtown is?
-- took forever for them to locate, then gave me a couple addresses.... one was to a chi-chi's that closed and other one could not be found at the address and was in an unsafe neighborhood 15 min from the city.
2) I am lost and need help for directions. told me that was best to use the assist button in my car but when i told them i was not in my car at the moment they took a bit of time but then used mapquest to give me directions.
3) Had a resteraunt name and time, can you make a reservation for 4. They said no problem and called back in a few minutes to confirm.
I agree that the 4.95 is steep, but if you have the 800 number concierge service it can come in handy some time.
BMW Assist-I have used the concierge service once so far. I was out of town & needed a hotel for one nite (wasn't even in my car at the time). I called & told them how much I wanted to spend & they gave me a few options-all from travelocity or hotels.com. They called & got me a room for the night. Useful...yes. Worth $250/year? If I used it a few more times each month, then...maybe.
I also used it when my engine went haywire & I experienced the dreaded rough idle/no power to call in for a towtruck. It didn't dawn on me to try 'restarting' the car to see if the problem clears-before cancelling the tow (like getting the blue screen of death & then shutting down & restarting the computer). And then, again when my car was hit & I needed a tow.
However, the 'if I'm in an accident & the airbags go off & there is no one to call for help' scenario is a very good tool. Will this be worth $250? If I'm in that situation-definitely! I'd hate to think that my daughter would be attending my funeral because I was $250/year cheap...
Will I renew mine? Not sure.
P.S. I thought the $4.95/call fee was for directions, weather and other info, not for the reservations/hotels etc.? I'll have to check the pamphlet again.
I also used it when my engine went haywire & I experienced the dreaded rough idle/no power to call in for a towtruck. It didn't dawn on me to try 'restarting' the car to see if the problem clears-before cancelling the tow (like getting the blue screen of death & then shutting down & restarting the computer). And then, again when my car was hit & I needed a tow.
However, the 'if I'm in an accident & the airbags go off & there is no one to call for help' scenario is a very good tool. Will this be worth $250? If I'm in that situation-definitely! I'd hate to think that my daughter would be attending my funeral because I was $250/year cheap...
Will I renew mine? Not sure.
P.S. I thought the $4.95/call fee was for directions, weather and other info, not for the reservations/hotels etc.? I'll have to check the pamphlet again.