The latest Remote Software Upgrade, offered free of charge for vehicles with BMW Operating System 8, has been available since last week. Also, a Remote Software Upgrade for vehicles with BMW Operating System 7 will be available soon. As a result, improvements for a total of around 3.8 million vehicles will be available over-the-air (OTA). From 2019, the BMW Group will be able to remotely modify every line of programming code in the vehicle software. This makes the BMW Group one of the first manufacturers in the world to offer functionality far more complex than simple navigation map updates. The duration of the installation process is also a benchmark. Thanks to a software architecture that has been gradually improved over the last 15 years, BMW is able to install software on all control units in the vehicle network in around 20 minutes. The free upgrades include improvements on the one hand, but also extensions of functions related to information/entertainment, driving, powertrain and driver support systems, comfort and safety features on the other.
Summary of Remote Software Upgrade ( Remote Software Upgrade ) 07-22 (detailed description below):
- Extensive improvements to the charging – route (for BMW iX and i4 models built before July 2022).
- New skills and improved visualisation for the digital assistant BMW Intelligent Staff Assistant (for all models with BMW Operating System 8 built before July 2022).
- The integration of the Amazon Alexa is now enabled for BMW Operating System 8 (for all models with BMW Operating System 8 built before July 2022).
- News My Modes " Expressive " and " Relax " (for BMW iX and 2 Series Active Tourer models built before July 2022).
- Integration of the ConnectedDrive Store in the car, to add functions at a later date (for BMW iX and 2 Series Active Tourer Active Tourer models built before July 2022).
- Improvements in BMW ID and the My BMW App (for all models with BMW Operating System 8 manufactured before July 2022).
- Function Exit warning for increased safety when exiting the vehicle (for BMW iX and 2 Series Active Tourer Active Tourer models built before July 2022).
- Front Collision Warning (Forward Collision Warning) with brake intervention. Helps to avoid collisions (for BMW iX and 2 Series Active Tourer Active Tourer models built before July 2022).
- Time display QLOCKTWO for all models with BMW Operating System 8.
- Improvements for models with Operating System 7.
1. A relaxing, all-electric journey to your destination - with significant improvements in " charging route " of BMW Maps .
The Remote Software Upgrade brings extensive improvements to the "charging route" function of the cloud-based BMW Maps navigation system for all-electric models with BMW Operating System 8. Once the destination has been entered, an ideal charging route will be calculated, in case the current vehicle's range is not sufficient to reach the destination. Further improvements have been made both to the calculation algorithm used here and to the calculation speed for routes optimised for charging. Important additional information about charging stops has been added to the trip summary, such as the estimated charging state on arrival, the recommended charging time, and the target charging state for the next trip. Due to live data processing during the trip, new charging stations can be added automatically along the route if one of the stations originally included in the schedule for charging stops is no longer available. Alternative charging routes shall also be suggested to the driver, where available. By default, the system is set to ensure that the vehicle reaches both the final destination and the charging stops with a charge level of at least 10%. Customers can now adjust the size of this charging 'cushion' if required. BMW iX3 models with Operating System 7 also benefit from the improved algorithm for smarter planning and faster calculation of routes optimised for charging.
2. BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant by new skills at Models by BMW Operating System 8.
The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant now has an improved visual display. Following the Remote Software Upgrade, it can be transformed into around 20 different icons, resulting in a more animated and dynamic interaction with the voice assistant. Additionally, the Intelligent Personal Assistant can now take on a more 'expressive' appearance - having a pair of eyes - when desired, giving it even more liveliness. In this way, customers can now choose between a 'harmonious' and an 'expressive' form of visualization. The Intelligent Personal Assistant range of proactive suggestions now additionally includes Active Cruise Control and Parking Assistant (where available) for enhanced driving comfort. If these functions are used infrequently or not at all, the assistant recommends activating them in appropriate circumstances.
3. The integration of Amazon Alexa is now also possible with the Operating System 8.
After installing the latest Remote Software Upgrade, customers have the option to activate Amazon Alexa on BMW Operating System 8. The deep integration of Amazon Alexa, allows customers to use Amazon's voice assistant in their car, just like they do at home. This makes it even easier to edit shopping lists, access the latest news or play music. Users can also control compatible smart home devices from the car. Amazon Alexa can be installed in the car in just a few steps with the help of the My BMW app. This can be installed even more easily on the new BMW 7 Series by scanning a QR code, even without using the My BMW App.
4. News My Modes for the BMW iX and the Series 2 Active Tourer .
This upgrade adds two new My Modes - Relax and Expressive - to the already familiar Personal, Efficient and Sport modes in the BMW iX and 2 Series Active Tourer. Relax mode activates special settings for a relaxing driving experience, while the cabin takes on a much more emotional look in Expressive mode. The 2 Series Active Tourer must be equipped with active seats in Relax mode, and with one of the optional interior trim levels that offers additional ambient lighting for Expressive mode.
5. Access from the car to the BMW ConnectedDrive Store for easy addition of functions.
Remote Software Upgrade offers in-car access to the ConnectedDrive Store in the BMW iX and the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. Here, customers will find a summary of all available services and functions for their vehicle as well as those they have already added. Functions on Demand offers BMW customers even more convenience and flexibility when buying a car, as it allows them to select further functions even after the order has been finalised. They can select and test a function free of charge and then purchase it for a certain period of time. In this case they will only be charged for the period of time they have chosen. If a function such as seat heating is purchased from the factory when the vehicle is ordered, it will be made available permanently without further charge. Access to an up-to-date list of various Functions on Demand can be obtained via the BMW ConnectedDrive Store or the My BMW App. The availability of products and functions varies from market to market and depends on the technical capabilities of the vehicles and their equipment.
6. Improvements for adding/removing vehicles in the Application My BMW .
The latest update makes it easier to add a vehicle with BMW Operating System 8 to My BMW App. The first time customers register a vehicle with their BMW ID, the vehicle is automatically added to the My BMW App on their smartphone, making it possible to use extensive Remote Services. This also applies to BMW IDs that were registered before the upgrade was installed on the vehicle. In addition, the number of users who can add the same vehicle to the My BMW App has been increased. This means that several members of the same family, for example, can enjoy the benefit of personalised vehicle settings by using their own BMW ID together with Remote Services via the My BMW App. BMW Operating System 8 now allows either up to three users (one master and two co-users) or seven (one master, and six co-users) depending on the vehicle model. The first user to add a vehicle to the My BMW App is automatically designated as the primary user, with all other users considered co-users. The main user has special rights compared to co-users, including the ability to create and share the BMW Digital Key, user management rights (e.g. deleting BMW IDs in the vehicle) and assigning the role of main user to a different BMW ID. Terminating the connection is also much easier: when customers delete a vehicle from the My BMW App, their BMW ID will also be deleted from the vehicle. Deleting a BMW ID from the vehicle also means that the model will automatically be removed from the My BMW App as well. Therefore, that BMW ID will no longer have any access to any of the remote functions in the My BMW App. Customers can view the BMW IDs associated with a BMW at any time by going to the vehicle's BMW ID settings. The primary user can delete both their own BMW ID from the vehicle and that of all other users. If the primary user deletes his/her own ID, all co-users will be deleted at the same time and the vehicle will be removed from each user's My BMW App.
7. The function Exit warning increases safety when exiting the vehicle.
Flashing ambient lighting has been added to the exit warning function in the BMW iX and 2 Series Active Tourer models - provided the latter, if built before July 2022, has the optional Driving Assistant. As a result, interior ambient lighting is also used to draw customers' attention to the exit warning when necessary.
The exit warning function warns passengers that vehicles are approaching when they leave the car, and helps avoid collisions. However, users remain responsible for assessing road visibility and correctly assessing the traffic situation.
8. Front Collision Warning with brake intervention, helps to avoid collisions.
The latest Remote Software Upgrade extends Front Collision Warning with brake intervention to BMW iX and 2 Series Active Tourer models built before July 2022. The system can now also react to oncoming vehicles, e.g. when turning, and recognise the end of a queue of vehicles. This function helps to avoid collisions. The system can detect both oncoming traffic and the end of a queue of vehicles, and is able to either prevent a collision completely or significantly reduce the collision speed in a critical situation. However, users remain responsible for assessing road visibility and correctly assessing the traffic situation. Drivers must observe what is happening on the road around them and take the necessary action.
9. Time update - the award-winning for its design QLOCKTWO , now available on all models BMW by Operating System 8.
QLOCKTWO is a time indicator that has won multiple awards for its outstanding design. It indicates the time using a matrix of words that changes every five minutes. Softly illuminated dots of light at the corners of the matrix indicate the intervening minutes. Like BMW, the QLOCKTWO manages to combine high-quality design with luxurious craftsmanship. The latest Remote Software Upgrade makes QLOCKTWO available in a total of 16 languages for all BMW models with Operating System 8. The widget automatically uses the language selected in the BMW Operating System 8 settings. Drivers can add the new widget by simply swiping all the way to the left on the existing tiles in the main menu, then selecting "Add widget".
10. Improvements of Lane Keeping Assistant at Models by BMW Operating System 7.
A warning signal is emitted if Lane Keeping Assistant has to intervene repeatedly in the steering system. If the system makes three more steering interventions within the next three minutes, the warning signal will sound for an additional ten seconds with each subsequent steering intervention. With the upgrade, the warning signal reverts to its original duration in response to driver activity (available only for models with Lane Keeping Assistant from the factory). Lane Keeping Assistant's intervention in the steering system when the car moves out of its lane also becomes smoother, as both the duration of the steering intervention and the force exerted are better adapted to the specific driving situation. The slower the vehicle moves away from the lane, the more smoothly it steers back into it.
In order to ensure that the vehicle returns to the optimum position on the road more quickly, its course is now corrected when it is close to the lane markings rather than after it has crossed them, as was the case before.
General information about Remote Software Upgrades.
Remote Software Upgrade is currently available for more than 30 BMW models with BMW Operating System 7 and 8. Customers can view their software version and check for available upgrades in their vehicle's settings menu under Remote Software Upgrade. Only the next possible upgrade is available for installation, so the user can never install the wrong version.
The availability and content of Remote Software Upgrades depends on the country, model, equipment and installed software version. The country-specific BMW websites provide information with the relevant content and conditions for the Remote Software Upgrade applicable in each country. Instructions and tips for Remote Software Upgrade can be found on the respective BMW how-to video.
