What info are our cars sending back to BMW?

ex-poster · 12-01-2013, 02:17 PM

(Did a quick search, but really couldn't think of appropriate search terms -> no results, so pardon me if this has been answered elsewhere.)

(No, I'm not paranoid LOL)

As most of us know, there's a data connection between your car and BMW, much like OnStar.

Recent events have led me to believe that my car is notifying BMW when service indicator lights go on. For example, when the "oil change soon" notification came on, I got 3 postcards from BMW dealers saying they'd be happy to service my car.

I changed the oil, but didn't reset the indicator right away. It went red, then I got another slew of postcards a few days later.

Does anyone know exactly what data is sent back to BMW and under what conditions? I suspect that given the stringent EU privacy regulations that what they collect in Germany isn't the same as what they collect in the US.

Bottom line, I'd like to know what my car is narc'ing on me for, and if I could remove that "functionality."

BMWUltimateDriv3r · 12-01-2013, 02:26 PM

I don't believe there is such a communication. Rather, when you take your car in, they take your key and send all the info to Germany from there.

floydarogers · 12-01-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithrh

.
Recent events have led me to believe that my car is notifying BMW when service indicator lights go on....

Does anyone know exactly what data is sent back to BMW and under what conditions? I suspect that given the stringent EU privacy regulations that what they collect in Germany isn't the same as what they collect in the US.

Bottom line, I'd like to know what my car is narc'ing on me for, and if I could remove that "functionality."

I'm not certain of what info is going back; certainly there's something but I suspect it's not very detailed. I know of no easy way to defeat it at the car. It's easy to defeat it at the dealer - insist that they delete your email address. You might have to call BMWNA or the BMW Assist people, too. One thing you could do is to remove the antenna wire from the telematics box under your trunk floor to the antenna; of course that de-activates Assist, too.

Note that all cars with Assist also have a GPS receiver built-in regardless of the presence of the Navigation option. This is needed for Assist, not sure if it goes to the dealer with the messages to the service dept.

This has been talked about; perhaps GPS, BMW Assist might be appropriate terms.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWUltimateDriv3r

I don't believe there is such a communication. Rather, when you take your car in, they take your key and send all the info to Germany from there.

You're wrong, unless you don't have BMW Assist.

paddy335 · 12-01-2013, 02:45 PM

It all goes to Area 51 for the martians to analyse. Didn't you know that BMW is a US government front for mind-control experiments?

Miller335 · 12-01-2013, 03:02 PM

Wrap the car up in tinfoil, just to be sure.

dsb335 · 12-01-2013, 04:41 PM

I get a call the next morning from my dealer as well as an email.

hardtothepaint · 12-01-2013, 04:47 PM

Its over... they are on too us. Get the tin foil.

ex-poster · 12-01-2013, 05:06 PM

One excellent reply, 4 trash ones.

About par for the course!

Thanks Floyd - I'll give those search terms a whirl...

only1harry · 12-01-2013, 07:18 PM

Is "BMW TeleServices" the same as "BMW Assist"? That's what my E92 has. In addition the options say TeleService Control, and TeleService Activation. I have no clue what these are.. I am picking the car up in 2 days.

Thanks,
Harry

floydarogers · 12-01-2013, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithrh

Thanks Floyd - I'll give those search terms a whirl...

Found it, but it was in a different forum: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=537115

Not much other info there, although it appears that the dealers know it needs service but not much else.

BTW, the Event Data Recorder issue isn't much of a problem for E9x, but F3x...
http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/e...x-data-dilemma
http://www.rimkus.com/uploads/pdfs/E...a_Recorder.pdf

Although the IEEE article mentions it, I don't know if BMW has implemented any upload capability for EDR data.

paddy335 · 12-01-2013, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithrh

One excellent reply, 4 trash ones.

About par for the course!

Thanks Floyd - I'll give those search terms a whirl...

it was just too hard to resist

_Sinister_ · 12-02-2013, 08:43 AM

This should block those prying bmw eyes

bender rodriguez · 12-02-2013, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by only1harry

Is "BMW TeleServices" the same as "BMW Assist"? That's what my E92 has. In addition the options say TeleService Control, and TeleService Activation. I have no clue what these are.. I am picking the car up in 2 days.

Thanks,
Harry

Pretty sure it is.

ex-poster · 12-12-2013, 11:40 AM

Well - this is either disappointing, cool or infuriating, depending on your viewpoint:

http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/strat...006177.article

Considering making a new thread for this...

Note that this is in MarketingWeek.

12-01-2013, 02:17 PM	#1
ex-poster Lieutenant 19 Rep 482 Posts Drives: 2000 328, 2006 330 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (0)	What info are our cars sending back to BMW? (Did a quick search, but really couldn't think of appropriate search terms -> no results, so pardon me if this has been answered elsewhere.) (No, I'm not paranoid LOL) As most of us know, there's a data connection between your car and BMW, much like OnStar. Recent events have led me to believe that my car is notifying BMW when service indicator lights go on. For example, when the "oil change soon" notification came on, I got 3 postcards from BMW dealers saying they'd be happy to service my car. I changed the oil, but didn't reset the indicator right away. It went red, then I got another slew of postcards a few days later. Does anyone know exactly what data is sent back to BMW and under what conditions? I suspect that given the stringent EU privacy regulations that what they collect in Germany isn't the same as what they collect in the US. Bottom line, I'd like to know what my car is narc'ing on me for, and if I could remove that "functionality."
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12-01-2013, 02:26 PM	#2
BMWUltimateDriv3r First Lieutenant 82 Rep 324 Posts Drives: '08 328xi Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	I don't believe there is such a communication. Rather, when you take your car in, they take your key and send all the info to Germany from there.
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12-01-2013, 02:45 PM	#4
paddy335 Major 66 Rep 1,131 Posts Drives: M140i;X5 40d Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New Zealand iTrader: (0)	It all goes to Area 51 for the martians to analyse. Didn't you know that BMW is a US government front for mind-control experiments?
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12-01-2013, 03:02 PM	#5
Miller335 Colonel 291 Rep 2,189 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	Wrap the car up in tinfoil, just to be sure.
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12-01-2013, 04:41 PM	#6
dsb335 Private First Class 8 Rep 158 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Sedan Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 335i [0.00]	I get a call the next morning from my dealer as well as an email.
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12-01-2013, 04:47 PM	#7
hardtothepaint Second Lieutenant 22 Rep 261 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 328xi Join Date: May 2013 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Its over... they are on too us. Get the tin foil.
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12-01-2013, 05:06 PM	#8
ex-poster Lieutenant 19 Rep 482 Posts Drives: 2000 328, 2006 330 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (0)	One excellent reply, 4 trash ones. About par for the course! Thanks Floyd - I'll give those search terms a whirl...
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12-01-2013, 07:18 PM	#9
only1harry Second Lieutenant 37 Rep 257 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 335i xDrive Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Is "BMW TeleServices" the same as "BMW Assist"? That's what my E92 has. In addition the options say TeleService Control, and TeleService Activation. I have no clue what these are.. I am picking the car up in 2 days. Thanks, Harry
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12-02-2013, 08:43 AM	#12
_Sinister_ Major 72 Rep 1,181 Posts Drives: Very Slow Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: The High State iTrader: (0)	This should block those prying bmw eyes Attached Images __________________ _Sinister_
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12-12-2013, 11:40 AM	#14
ex-poster Lieutenant 19 Rep 482 Posts Drives: 2000 328, 2006 330 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (0)	BMW captures enough to have to put up a building to store it all Well - this is either disappointing, cool or infuriating, depending on your viewpoint: http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/strat...006177.article Considering making a new thread for this... Note that this is in MarketingWeek.
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