[niam]

I just checked with BMW - they left out the eSIM on my car.

it seems that eSim option is only done by SW. Maybe you can buy that option via Connected Drive. At the moment it is only available in USA, Germany Japan an China. You cannot even configure it when you buy your car…..
It might be available as an option 🤞

 

[niam]

Follow up question. Is it something I need to set-up with my mobile phone provider, O2?

You can set up the eSim through your myBMW app (should come up near Alexa), if your provider has this service. In Germany only Deutsch Telekom and Vodafone have it. The service with Vodafone is called OneNumber Car. I do not know the situation with O2 in GB…

 

[niam]

Good point! I was wondering how it managed all the remote services. Yes please, let me know what your contact says. It would be interesting to know.

For all connections between your car and services from and to BMW, the car uses a real embedded Sim. Nothing to do with the virtual eSim , which by the way allows you to phone from your car even if you do not have the phone with you. Furthermore it allows persons in your car to connect via WIFI to your eSim, and use it as a HotSpot. With eSim the communication is more stable, since it uses the car antenna.

 

[niam]

This is what I see on the BMW connected drive screen...

It states the online connection for my vehicle is deactivated, but I can access the car remotely through the app, so it must be activated, right?!!

View attachment 19129

Unfortunately this screen is not correct, i also get it. Try one other step:
First log in to you BMW ID, then look at your Connected Drive offers. They are tailored to the car:
either you see that the service is already activated or you you see the service and you can book it.
If the service you are looking for is not listed, means that very probable that the HW is missing.
You have to report that to Connected Drive, call them they are very friendly.
There are three possibilities:
Either you do not have the necessary HW installed, or
the actual SW level of your car doesn’t support it, which i doubt.
You already have this service activated….

 

[niam]

I just checked with BMW - they left out the eSIM on my car.

Can you still buy this feature, have you asked them if such an option will be offered?

 

[niam]

The girl I spoke to didn't seem to know much about it, so I didn't probe further. I've got the car booked in for dashcams to be fitted next week, I'll speak to the techs at the dealership. It's certainly not available in the ConnectedDrive store at the moment, not even under the "all options" screen that I see if I don't log in.

Thanks for informing....

 

[niam]

The eSIM requires hardware (although small). I suspect it cannot be retrofitted by software since I suspect they don't install the additional eSIM hardware.

Will let you know. Will be in Munich next week...

 

[niam]

The girl I spoke to didn't seem to know much about it, so I didn't probe further. I've got the car booked in for dashcams to be fitted next week, I'll speak to the techs at the dealership. It's certainly not available in the ConnectedDrive store at the moment, not even under the "all options" screen that I see if I don't log in.

That’s for sure, if there is no carriers who offers eSim service, you cannot find it Connected Drive.

 

[niam]

What really annoys me is why I need eSim to purchase the Active Cruise Control in the first place? I'm actually not bothered about having eSim, I just want to have ACC!

The car has the features built-in for ACC, as far as I am aware. When I try to activate ACC by pressing the buttons on the steering wheel, I receive a message on the display stating the option is acquirable within the connected drive. However, as @niam states, when I log in to Connected Drive that option does not appear. It only appears when I have added that option to my shopping basket prior to logging in. However, if the car has the hardware for ACC built-in, I don't see why I need to have eSim to purchase it.

I'm only assuming the ACC hardware is built-in as I notice the car to automatically slow down if I get close to a car in front, so I'm presuming all the sensors and processing is there to control the ACC, especially as the buttons are on the steering wheel!

BMW are making this far more complicated than it needs to be!

Hello @Mellow Yellow, Maybe i confused you but you certainly do not need to buy an eSim to connect yourself to connected Drive. You can do it from the car , from a computer at home and any mobile device. When you log in and you do not see the options available for your car it means that the related HW has not been factory installed. Maybe you didn’t order it. Otherwise you would see it listed as options you can activate. You can ask your sealer if they can fit the missing peace’s in and activate the service.
In any case in your BMW there is a Sim card installed which connects the car to BMW and allows all services, eg. Spotify to receive streaming etc…

 

[niam]

Follow up question. Is it something I need to set-up with my mobile phone provider, O2?

You have to see which operator is offering the eSim option for your car. In Germany Deutsch Telecom is offering it, in Italy Vodafone with One number Car and Telecom Italy will offer it in January. Cost will be 5€/month

 

[niam]

Thank you, Marvellous. I will look into this

Is this a portable eSim ?, or do you still need an active device for eSim (6PA) in the car?