Connecting Cars and People Through IT for Greater Safety, Convenience, and Comfort

BMW ConnectedDrive, utilizing 3G cellular networks, has been progressively integrated into vehicles since September. This service initially focused on enhancing safety, such as automatically transmitting information like location and circumstances in the event of an accident, or enabling prompt maintenance by connecting vehicle wear-and-tear status online to dealers.



The newly launched "BMW ConnectedDrive Plus" offers full-fledged telematics services utilizing this communication infrastructure.



The services are broadly divided into three categories. The first is "BMW Driver Support Desk." When a driver contacts the call center via hands-free calling while driving, an operator will handle navigation operations on behalf of the driver. Simply state the desired destination verbally, and the operator will search for the address, then transfer the result via the communication line to the car's navigation system for destination setup. Naturally, this service is available 24/7, 365 days a year.



The second is "BMW Remote Service," which connects the driver and the car. Through a dedicated smartphone application, drivers can lock and unlock the car doors remotely, display their parking location on a map within a 1.5 km radius, and activate the headlights to signal the car's position in large parking lots. It also allows for remote operation of the ventilation system, enabling the cabin to be pre-cooled for comfort on hot days.

Communicate with your car via smartphone to check air conditioning and parking location information.

Connect your smartphone to control social media from iDrive.

The third category is "BMW ConnectedDrive Services," which provides up-to-date information online. Services include news, weather forecasts, and searches for shops and restaurants. It also supports features such as transferring locations searched on a PC or smartphone to the navigation system as destinations, sending your current location to friends, and retrieving song titles and artist names from Gracenote, a CDDB service.



Furthermore, when a smartphone is connected to the vehicle, app screens can be displayed on the car's control display and operated via the iDrive controller. This allows for viewing social media like Twitter and Facebook, and schedules on the large screen. In conjunction with navigation, it also offers a function to guide the remaining walk to the final destination from where the car was parked, using a smartphone.

Additionally, when connected to a smartphone during BMW's fuel-efficient "ECO PRO" driving mode, the control display shows whether efficient acceleration, braking, and gear shifting are being performed, offering advice for more economical driving. It also allows for reviewing driving history through fuel efficiency rankings.



The entire "BMW ConnectedDrive Plus" package is an option priced at 59,000 yen (tax included) and is valid for three years. It can be renewed for continued use after the period expires. Current compatible models include the "7 Series", "6 Series", "5 Series", "4 Series", "3 Series", excluding standard models, the "1 Series", and "X5", and "X3".

The ECO PRO Analyzer displayed on the control display when connected to a smartphone during ECO PRO mode.

All of these have the advantage of being designed to align with domestic infrastructure from the development stage, and while similar features have been introduced by domestic manufacturers and high-end navigation systems, full-fledged telematics services have finally arrived for imported cars. Notably, for vehicles like the electric car "i3" and the hybrid sports car "i8" which offer sustainable lifestyles, the development of IT infrastructure and the services built upon it is crucial.



Additionally, at the "Tokyo Motor Show", a dedicated corner for "BMW ConnectedDrive" is planned, showcasing various services and functions.

BMW Customer Interaction Center

0120-269-437 (9:00-20:00, open daily)