BMW and M Power Owners

[MissChief]

Great... Thanks for the info. How come you are getting it done?

BMW will tell you it's sealed for life. According to ZF though it is not and should be serviced at around 6 years or 60,000 miles. Mine is a 2015 on nearly 46k and I don't believe it's ever been done so decided to get it done this year. Trying to look after it as best I can, especially if I plan to keep it for another 2-3 years.

 

[Draeger]

Short overnight break at a local hotel near Edinburgh. Car is dirty - thunderstorms on the drive down but the next day was bright so grabbed a few photos in the car park

 

[[TW]Fox]

I'll avoid asking what you've done to that poor car and instead ask if you're enjoying it as much as I've enjoyed mine since buying it - they really are fantastic cars I think

 

[piggin]

I do love a Dravit grey BMW
Also love the look of those 4 pipes on the exhaust. Unfortunately my car has the false oblong pipes

 

[jpaul]

USA jdk 2023 view on android automotive so BMW's change probably judicious - bm still ranking well against traditional competitors
These are some of the key findings of the 2023 study:

• Android Automotive Operating System (AAOS) issues: A 21.5 PP100 gap exists between vehicles that have an Android Automotive OS without Google Automotive Services (51.1 PP100) and those vehicles that don’t have this system (29.6 PP100). This is only for the operating system for in-vehicle infotainment, not for the smartphone mirroring systems of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
• ...........
• Spoiler: rest

  • Vehicle basics—door handles—are increasingly problematic: Opening a door was once a non-discussion point—an aspect of a vehicle that had been examined, engineered, and mastered. The basic touch point of door handles is now a percolating problem area as manufacturers attempt to redesign them. Owners are having issues with high-tech approaches to this basic function; seven of the 10 most problematic models in this area are battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
  • Safety systems causing problems: More than three-fourths (80 percent) of owners say their new vehicle includes all four of the primary driver assistance features—forward collision warning; lane-keeping assistance; lane departure warning; and blind spot warning. However, problems owners encounter in the driver assistance category have increased by 1.8 PP100 year over year. The most problematic areas are lane departure warning/lane keeping assistance (7.2 PP100) and forward collision warning/automatic emergency braking (5.0 PP100) for those that have these features.
  • Infotainment systems continue to be most problematic: The infotainment category continues to be the most problematic with an average of 49.9 PP100—almost twice as many problems as the next-highest category, which is exterior. Six of the top 10 problem areas in the study are infotainment-related, including built-in voice recognition (7.2 PP100); Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity (5.5 PP100); built-in Bluetooth system connectivity (4.0 PP100); touchscreen/display screen difficult to use (4.0 PP100); not enough power plugs/USB ports (3.8 PP100); and navigation system inaccurate/outdated map (3.3 PP100). “IQS and VDS data are telling us that if the Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity trend continues, this area could take over the least-coveted top spot for problems in long-term durability,” Hanley said.

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hands free phone quality improvement upcoming on android -> 4GHDvoice - making in car as good as speaking directly on phone.

In short, this will expand the range of frequencies reproduced through hands-free devices. The standard in use on the Android OS side dates from HDP v1.6 and is known in the telephony industry as Wideband. It is specified to cover frequencies from 50Hz to 7KHz and is also commercially termed as HD Voice. Delivery happens through a special, HFP-dedicated version of the SBC codec called mSBC.

In making the step from HFP v1.8 to v1.9 — which is still in the drafting stage — Android will upgrade to Super Wideband (50Hz-14kHz) and use the relatively new LC3 codec to make that happen. That's just short of Fullband reproduction (20Hz-20kHz), which most consumer Bluetooth audio gear is capable of.

 

[Housey]

So my 530D is becoming annoying....

I got a faulty tyre pressure monitor message the other day. Not at the individual wheel level, but level above that collects the data and puts it into the display. All 4 wheels showing nothing. That went after 2 hours and the pressures came back.

Saturday I got an emissions light come up, one of those "take it to a dealer to have emissions checked". Decided to not bother with a warranty on this one, first time in decades and this happens.

Finally I have had a bad vibration under breaking which I think is down to discs shot (I can take the responsibility for that one I suppose )

Annoying

 

[MacRS4]

I noticed recently that one particular dealer group has prices that are considerably higher than all the others, regardless of where they are in the country. I think this is probably the dealer you've selected...

Sytner always seem to quote huge prices for me, then I have to ring and they price match.

My M2C is due the Oil/Plugs service...Sytner pricing GBP1420.64. Fairfield BMW GBP932.60. Ridiculous. They've now price matched it - which they seem to always do. Hugely irritating.

 

[nlel1975]

hands free phone quality improvement upcoming on android -> 4GHDvoice - making in car as good as speaking directly on phone.

I called my answering machine from my car running Android Auto and the voice quality wasn’t great but it was audible. I can see why they want to improve it.

 

[Diagro]

Sytner always seem to quote huge prices for me, then I have to ring and they price match.

My M2C is due the Oil/Plugs service...Sytner pricing GBP1420.64. Fairfield BMW GBP932.60. Ridiculous. They've now price matched it - which they seem to always do. Hugely irritating.

Sytner Leicester charges 1/3 more than rybrook warwick.

They wanted £2400 for the MPPSK at Sytner! £1800 at Rybrook.

 

[MacRS4]

It's an annoying strategy isn't it?

My M2C is 3.5 years in now and only has 20k on it. I've been toying with replacing it, but I just can't think with what. Thought about the new M2 - if it were AWD I'd be all over it. M3 Touring? Another 45K + my M2C doesn't seem worth it.

Even my man maths is failing me, perhaps time for a Cayman aha.

 

[ShivP]

Sytner always seem to quote huge prices for me, then I have to ring and they price match.

My M2C is due the Oil/Plugs service...Sytner pricing GBP1420.64. Fairfield BMW GBP932.60. Ridiculous. They've now price matched it - which they seem to always do. Hugely irritating.

This is good to know as my local dealer is sytner.

 

[piggin]

In South Wales all the dealers are all Sytner.
Does anyone know if the myBMW app is accurate on pricing when you change location?

 

[[TW]Fox]

Does anyone know if the myBMW app is accurate on pricing when you change location?

Yes, it shows the pricing for the place you've selected as your service centre.

 

[piggin]

Yes, it shows the pricing for the place you've selected as your service centre.

Thanks for the comformation. I have put in the price for all the dealers in south wales and they are the same (as I expected) but the price is also the same on lots of other dealers as well. I remember with my f32 booking in via a web page a number of years ago that gave a good deal but it cant find that anywhere now

 

[Demon]

A bit crazy and left field.. but all this talk of M340i's had me looking on the Used Approved website and found this late this afternoon:

BMW 3 Series M340i xDrive Touring 3.0 5dr

Introducing the BMW M340i xDrive Touring, where performance meets versatility in the most captivating way. This ultimate driving machine combines exhilarating power with ample space, making it the perfect companion for both thrilling drives and practical everyday use. With its stunning Dravit...

usedcars.bmw.co.uk

Seems high spec, (Comfort pack, visibility pack and technology pack). Decoding the VIN to get the decoded build list:

Spoiler: build list

S610 Head-Up Display
S654 DAB Tuner
S688 Harman/Kardon Surround Sound System
S6AE Teleservices
S6AF Statutory Emergency Call
S6AK Connected Drive Services
S6C4 Connected Package Professional
S6NW Telephony With Wireless Charging
S6U3 BMW Live Operating Area Professional
S6U8 BMW Gesture Control
S6WD WLAN Hotspot

Driver Assistance And Lightning
S534 Automatic Air Conditioning
S544 Cruise Control With Brake Function
S5AC High-Beam Assistant
S5AQ Active Guard Plus
S5AZ BMW Laserlicht
S5DA Passenger Airbag Deactivation
S5DC Rear-Seat Headrests, Folding
S5DM Parking Assistance System


Wheels And Drive
S230 Extra Package, EU-Speciifc
S248 Steering Wheel Heater
S258 Tyres With Runflat Properties
S2NH M Sport Brake
S2PA Locking Wheel Bolt
S2T4 M Sport Differential
S2TB Sport Automatic Gearbox
S2VB Tyre Pressure Display
S2VF Adaptive M Chassis
S2VL Variable Sport Steering

Environment And Safety
S302 Alarm System
S322 Comfort Access
S3KA Acoustic Comfort Glazing
S3MC Indiv.Roofrailing,Mirror-Fin.Shadow Line
S812 National Version England / Ireland
S850 Dummy-SALAPA
S853 Language Version, English
S880 On-Board Literature, English
S8KA Oil Service Interval 24 Mths / 30,000 Km
S8R9 Refrigerant R1234yf
S8S2 Coding, Alarm Signal
S8S3 Automatic Locking During Starting
S8SM Car Ident. Number Visible From Outside
S8TF Active Pedestrian Protection
S8TG Thiefproofing Device

Individual Equipment
S760 High Gloss Shadow Line
S775 Headlining Anthracite

Other Equipment
S1CB CO2 Equipment
S1DE Exhaust Emission Standards EU6 RDE
S1PW 19" Light-All.Wheel Dbl.Spk.792M Em.Op.
SA090 90 Ah AGM Battery

I prefer higher spec/slightly older, a Jan 2020 registered with 21K miles for £40.5k in Dravit seems OK? Or is LCI that much better?

 

[piggin]

The laser headlights are very nice to have and I would have them again on the next car

 

[Demon]

The laser headlights are very nice to have and I would have them again on the next car

Just sounds cool..
I loved the Icon Adaptive LED in the X3 we had, so presume lasers take it up a notch!

I've got fed up looking at 4 seater convertibles, 440i/M4, Merc E350 etc.. they just aren't exciting me after the E46, so the more I look at the 340i touring, the more I wonder if it's worth just getting something different for a while and don't mind Dravit grey, mind you, would have to get up to Teeside to view it/buy it.. quite a way from Cheltenham!

 

[ChrisD.]

@Demon I might be selling my individual F80 Comp if you wanted a look at it? I'm not far from you.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Or is LCI that much better?

I avoided it - I don't like the new screen and I don't like the styling as much.

 

[piggin]

I have a M440 in Dravit, its one of the most unusual colours I have ever seen on a car. I know someone with a 3 in skyscraper grey and I would pick my car all day long especially with the black pack on it