Through the My BMW App, you can also do a remote software upgrade. The My BMW App is an application that connects your Apple or Android smartphone with your vehicle and is a part of the BMW Connected Drive package. You may preset locations before getting into your car, adjust the heat, unlock your doors, and even download a Remote Software update via Wi-Fi.
The My BMW App software upgrading instructions are as follows:
- The Remote Software Upgrade menu can be found by opening the app.
- Select the “Wi-Fi only” download option under Remote Software Upgrade options.
- Click “Start download” to begin.
- After the download is finished, pair your phone with your car via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
- Verify your connections under the ‘Mobile devices’ option of your iDrive settings.
- Select “new device” to set up a Wi-Fi connection.
- Choose “Internet, applications.”
- Use your phone to scan the QR code.
- A Wi-Fi token will be sent to you, which you must accept in order to create the connection.
- While you’re traveling, the software update will be uploaded once the Wi-Fi connection is established.
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BMW Software Update: Please download the update and use a USB stick to transfer it to your BMW.
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According to the mobile devices, there may be a wide range of compatibility between mobile devices and your BMW’s vehicle interfaces (Bluetooth(r), USB, or WiFi). Your smartphone or tablet’s hardware and software components will determine compatibility.
Industry-wide communications standards serve as the foundation for all BMW features. Lack of support for a standard by your mobile device could result in functional limitations. It might not always be possible to use your smartphone or tablet through the in-car interface. There may be periodic disturbances in exceptional circumstances. The size of the phone book, the SIM card being used, the individual network operator, different rules, or the mobile device’s operating mode are all potential contributing factors.
Please be aware that each country may have a different level of function availability. BMW is unable to bear responsibility for your mobile device’s unrestricted compatibility and functionality with car interfaces.
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BMW demonstrates how to get software for iDrive 8 via OTA update.
With the 2001 release of the E65 generation 7 Series Sedan, BMW introduced the original iDrive, widely recognized as the forerunner of what we now refer to as an entertainment system. After 20 years and seven iterations, Operating System 8 was released in March of this year and is presently supported by the iX, i4, and 2 Series Active Tourer models.
It only seems fitting that the German luxury brand has now published a video instruction specifically for its most recent infotainment, as more and more new BMWs are moving to the newest hardware and software. In essence, it is a tutorial that shows you step-by-step how to download new software from an over-the-air update. It will soon be unnecessary to visit your local dealership to stay current on the newest apps thanks to the deployment of OTA modifications.
The process begins on your smartphone, as the business will send a push notice to the My BMW app notifying owners of vehicles with the iDrive 8 system about the recently released software. The method for the iX electric SUV is demonstrated here, but it will essentially be the same for other current and upcoming cars with the newest infotainment. The speed of your phone’s Internet connection and the size of the package will determine how long the download takes.
After the download is finished, you can pair your smartphone with the vehicle using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to transfer the software to the infotainment system. The transfer will be immediately uploaded to the vehicle while you’re driving once the connection has been made. Since the transfer to the iDrive 8 will automatically pause and then begin the instant the smartphone is connected to your BMW once more, losing the connection won’t be a problem. The procedure can potentially be stopped.
The driver will then receive notification once the entire software package has been transferred about when it is able to successfully install the upgrade. According to BMW, this can only be accomplished when the vehicle is “not in ready-to-drive mode.”
Which models will be the next to receive the iDrive 8? Similar to the 3 Series LCI and the production model of the XM plug-in hybrid SUV, the brand-new 7 Series (G70) will also have it. With the facelifted 3er likely receiving it, the first-ever M3 Touring production model probably will as well. They are all expected to arrive in 2022.
How do I update the firmware on my BMW iDrive?
Download any updates that are accessible on a USB drive. Place the USB drive into a USB port on your car. Select “Settings” from the menu on your iDrive device. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen after clicking “Software Update.”
My iDrive 7 needs to be updated.
Installing the software update is no more difficult than updating your navigation’s map, whether you acquire it straight from BMW or us. Simply load the file onto a USB memory stick or other thumb drive, insert it into the armrest USB port, and access iDrive’s Settings menu. Find the Software Update option in the menu, then adhere to the on-screen directions.
Simple to understand. One more concern remains, though: what if you use a BimmerTech upgrade kit to install a Combox or NBT Navigation and BMW later releases a crucial main software update? Not to worry. Simply take out the Combox/NBT before bringing your BMW in for an upgrade. When you receive it back, install it again. Contact our IT staff if it has to be recoded, as it occasionally does, and we’ll have it working again in no time.
If they choose to retrofit NBT EVO with ID5/ID6 into their BMW, Apple aficionados will also be thrilled by the ability to install Retrofit Carplay in an older BMW.
What iDrive version do I have on my BMW?
The iDrive system’s navigation is a crucial component that makes getting from A to B simple. But since roads and sites of interest constantly change, it’s critical to maintain your BMW’s GPS maps updated if you want to get the most out of your iDrive.
Many of the most recent BMW models include over-the-air (OTA) map updates, which use the vehicle’s integrated SIM card to automatically download the most recent map data. The procedure in these automobiles is comparable to updating your smartphone to the most recent iOS or Android version; all you have to do is restart your car after your iDrive has downloaded the data.
For vehicles that do not allow OTA updates, a manual upgrade is necessary. Previously, updating BMW navigation maps required changing a DVD holding the map data. More newer vehicles include built-in hard drives that hold the data, allowing you to update your map by overwriting the hard drive’s contents. You can accomplish this with BMW by connecting a USB stick with the updated map data to the USB port in your vehicle.
It’s a good idea to determine which map version you need, which relies on your iDrive system, before purchasing a new BMW map. Use the settings menu when your iDrive navigation is open to navigate to “Navigation system version,” where you can see the region, version, and year of your current GPS data.
What version of BMW iDrive is currently in use?
16 December 2021, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey BMW customers are already receiving the most recent technological advancements with iDrive 7. Updates to the BMW News app featuring podcast-based news, the most recent Remote Software Upgrade (version 21-07), and the addition of SiriusXM’s Pandora channels are among them.
What applications are offered for the BMW iDrive 7?
Owners of Android phones have been waiting patiently for the iDrive system to support Android Auto, and now that moment has come. You can add Android Auto to your BMW with a simple over-the-air update and use it both wirelessly and through cable thanks to BMW iDrive 7.0.
However, you’ll need a Samsung, Nexus, or Pixel smartphone running Android 8.0 or higher in order to use a wireless version. Once you’ve associated your Android device with the iDrive system, you can use the infotainment display to access all of your favorite Android apps, including Google Maps, Spotify, Waze, and Audible, and operate them with the iDrive controller or Google Assistant. Additionally, you may view many apps simultaneously thanks to the split widescreen display. Your app drawer is located on the left, the main app is in the center, and minor widgets, like the clock or your current playlist, are located on the right.
Of terms of smartphone integration, the LED instrument panel and head-up display in the BMW Live Cockpit are also fully functional. They show you the route information and navigation from Google Maps, much like the central display, so you can keep your eyes on the road. Check it out yourself!
Do you own a BMW made in 2008 or later? With Android Auto retrofit, you may also upgrade it!
How can I tell if the software in my BMW is current?
How will I be informed when an upgrade is ready? Similar to when other new software is made available to your phone, any newly available update packages will be instantly announced as a notification on your BMW control display or on your smartphone via the BMW app.
Please upgrade iDrive 6 to 7.
Theoretically, an iDrive 6 vehicle may be changed to an iDrive 7 vehicle aftermarket because the MY2020 vehicles are essentially iDrive 6 vehicles with the iDrive 7 head unit, but the iDrive 7 vehicles are too recent to serve as harvestable donor vehicles.
How can I get free map updates for my BMW navigation system?
Several times a year, changes to the maps are released. They are offered in the BMW Shop as a one- or two-year subscription. If you have a current subscription, you can use the BMW Update Manager to obtain the most recent refresh from the BMW Connected Drive portal and update your map data. You’ll need a 64GB FAT-32 formatted USB drive and the methods below to accomplish this.
- First, use the icon in the site top to connect into your My BMW Account. Go to “My Vehicles” by navigating.
- Choose the vehicle for which a map update is desired.
- Go to the “Map update” section. If a new map version is available, a notification will appear.
How do I figure out which BMW Istep I own?
Now go to the.mpd file, right-click on it, choose “More options,” and then choose “Notepad” to open it. 6. Your Istep version is indicated in the text below in the highlighted section.