[mylife98]

I seem to be missing the Internet Hotspot option from my Mobile Devices menu.

It only shows me ‘Apps via WiFi’, but all the BMW instructions and videos seem to show the Internet Hotspot under this menu.

Also seems like vehicle doesn’t have a data connection: it doesn’t push updated status data from the vehicle to the MyBMW app eg miles and fuel status.

Anyone have any ideas? How do I check if we have an active data connnection for BMW services? How do I get the Internet Hotspot to appear so I can join it and sign up for the AT&T service?

Thanks

[LogicalApex]

Some cars are missing the hotspot due to component shortages.

For me it is in Mobile Devices -> Settings there should be a WiFi internet option below the WiFi option.

[mylife98]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

Some cars are missing the hotspot due to component shortages.

For me it is in Mobile Devices -> Settings there should be a WiFi internet option below the WiFi option.

Ohhhhhh interesting…. I wonder how I find that out… I'll start with the dealer genius guy. I would have thought there was a 3digiit code in the order form that would tell me (like the decode of led lights), but maybe not…?

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by mylife98

Ohhhhhh interesting…. I wonder how I find that out… I'll start with the dealer genius guy. I would have thought there was a 3digiit code in the order form that would tell me (like the decode of led lights), but maybe not…?

I can't say how it is being noted on cars that are missing it. This is a wild time to be in the car market so I'm lucky I'm able to avoid it until the storm passes.

The screen I was talking about is well documented here on BMW website.

https://www.bmwusa.com/content/dam/b...iFiHotspot.pdf

If you're missing the "Internet Connection" option that will prevent it from working as that controls the hotspot. If that's the case BMW can sort it out as to why. Either confirming that you're missing the parts due to the deletions or that the part is at issue and you'll need a warranty swap.

[mylife98]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

I can't say how it is being noted on cars that are missing it. This is a wild time to be in the car market so I'm lucky I'm able to avoid it until the storm passes.

The screen I was talking about is well documented here on BMW website.

https://www.bmwusa.com/content/dam/b...iFiHotspot.pdf

If you're missing the "Internet Connection" option that will prevent it from working as that controls the hotspot. If that's the case BMW can sort it out as to why. Either confirming that you're missing the parts due to the deletions or that the part is at issue and you'll need a warranty swap.

Yep that's the same pdf (and a couple of other BMW documents) I found that finally made me realise it's missing… after I spent hours looking through the menus for it!

Will chat with BMW tomorrow.

Thanks for the input!

[Joe-BMW33]

I enabled my free 3GB hotspot, I honestly could not find a use for it. Maybe 10 years ago before unlimited cellular data and phones having hotspot functionality. I did not sign up after the 3GB were used. Unless I am missing something? Maybe it's more valuable outside the US. I can't find any value for it.

[mylife98]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I enabled my free 3GB hotspot, I honestly could not find a use for it. Maybe 10 years ago before unlimited cellular data and phones having hotspot functionality. I did not sign up after the 3GB were used. Unless I am missing something? Maybe it's more valuable outside the US. I can't find any value for it.

I'm fairly rural in the south west Colorado mountains and New Mexico high desert: the big help I get from a vehicle hotspot is the roof mounted aerial: the AT&T connection on my Ford Raptor will oft be able to get me 1-2 bars when none of our phones will get anything, so with iMessage and WiFi calling I can stay pretty connected.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by mylife98

I'm fairly rural in the south west Colorado mountains and New Mexico high desert: the big help I get from a vehicle hotspot is the roof mounted aerial: the AT&T connection on my Ford Raptor will oft be able to get me 1-2 bars when none of our phones will get anything, so with iMessage and WiFi calling I can stay pretty connected.

Thanks, I can understand that scenario for sure. I guess I am spoiled with strong 5G everywhere in my area. I am on AT$T as well. I also don't think the earlier models if any, support 5G. Pretty much all LTE, which is fine, but not 5G. Maybe the 2021/22 support 5G?

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Thanks, I can understand that scenario for sure. I guess I am spoiled with strong 5G everywhere in my area. I am on AT$T as well. I also don't think the earlier models if any, support 5G. Pretty much all LTE, which is fine, but not 5G. Maybe the 2021/22 support 5G?

MY2022+ is 5G via T-Systems (T-Mobile DE). Older cars are LTE via AT&T.

In your case your signal wouldn’t improve at all from the hotspot, but I also subscribe to it for when I’m doing long drives away from T-Mobile coverage I get WiFi calling and etc to fill the gap. That being said, this is changing a LOT and I’m finding I have a T-Mobile signal pretty much everywhere. 5G is just plain amazing too. So I’m likely to cancel the car service. 50Mbps down in the car or 700Mbps down via 5G on my iPhone 13 Pro w/ 40GB of tethering included? Really a no-brainer.

You’ll benefit from the car’s stronger antenna to improve your cell phone range as well. As long as your phone is in the wireless charger (if equipped) as it has a signal booster.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

MY2022+ is 5G via T-Systems (T-Mobile DE). Older cars are LTE via AT&T.

In your case your signal wouldn't improve at all from the hotspot, but I also subscribe to it for when I'm doing long drives away from T-Mobile coverage I get WiFi calling and etc to fill the gap. That being said, this is changing a LOT and I'm finding I have a T-Mobile signal pretty much everywhere. 5G is just plain amazing too. So I'm likely to cancel the car service. 50Mbps down in the car or 700Mbps down via 5G on my iPhone 13 Pro w/ 40GB of tethering included? Really a no-brainer.

You'll benefit from the car's stronger antenna to improve your cell phone range as well. As long as your phone is in the wireless charger (if equipped) as it has a signal booster.

5G is amazing. I'm in the fiber optic business. We designed most of the 5G network in the Northeast for the top telecom.

I have the wireless tray and most likely the booster. The issue is the size of the 13 Pro Max. I know it will fit without the case or even a few of the slim paper thin cars that do nothing, but it's a hassle getting it in and out.

No issues with phone calls, but then again I don't talk on the phone while driving much.

[mylife98]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

5G is amazing. I'm in the fiber optic business. We designed most of the 5G network in the Northeast for the top telecom.

I have the wireless tray and most likely the booster. The issue is the size of the 13 Pro Max. I know it will fit without the case or even a few of the slim paper thin cars that do nothing, but it's a hassle getting it in and out.

No issues with phone calls, but then again I don't talk on the phone while driving much.

Wireless charger (which I don't have) has built in signal boost from the vehicle antenna? Darn…. That could be the perfect solution….

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by mylife98

Wireless charger (which I don't have) has built in signal boost from the vehicle antenna? Darn…. That could be the perfect solution….

Yeah if only the wireless charger worked and didn't overheat!

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by mylife98

Wireless charger (which I don't have) has built in signal boost from the vehicle antenna? Darn…. That could be the perfect solution….

Yeah it does. It activates when the phone is detected by the NFC connection so it won’t work without the optional wireless charger.

[Cofveve12]

After taking delivery of a 2022 M550ix in September and extensive research, many BMW models assembled after July 2022 do not have but in WiFi. If your build code does not include 6WD WiFi Hotspot with complimentary 3-
month or 3GB trial, you're SOL. Appears only the high end models are getting it if the chips are available. Using my iPhone hot spot and the cars Bluetooth to accomplish the same function.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Cofveve12

After taking delivery of a 2022 M550ix in September and extensive research, many BMW models assembled after July 2022 do not have but in WiFi. If your build code does not include 6WD WiFi Hotspot with complimentary 3-
month or 3GB trial, you're SOL. Appears only the high end models are getting it if the chips are available. Using my iPhone hot spot and the cars Bluetooth to accomplish the same function.

Yep, this is one of many luxuries that are unavailable on the G30 at the moment. I would personally wait it out. What is going to stink is when these 2022s are CPOs they are going to be lacking as well. I wouldn't buy a BMW I couldn't get soft close doors on.

[mylife98]

Yep looks like this is the problem. BMW Genius just confirmed "I took a look at the build sheet for your M550i and unfortunately your car is not equipped with the wifi hotspot". I thought Internet Hotspot was standard as part of the Connected package. My bad?

What really grips me though is I thought BMW were legally required to list any missing parts on the Monterey sticker? Surely Internet Hotspot is not a option you have to add? Therefore it's a missing part that must be listed?

So I knew my car wouldn't have the Hands Free Tail Gate, and the Digital Key, and you can see them deleted on the attached sticker. Should there not have been a delete for the Internet Hotpost listed too? See pic.

And is there any hope of retro fitting this? With no wireless charger and no Internet Hotspot, the vehicle aerial shark tail is.... basically useless? I can't use it to get better cell coverage in any way?

I'm just going to go sit in the corner and cry for a moment over my new $100k car that.... can't talk to the world

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by mylife98

Yep looks like this is the problem. BMW Genius just confirmed "I took a look at the build sheet for your M550i and unfortunately your car is not equipped with the wifi hotspot". I thought Internet Hotspot was standard as part of the Connected package. My bad?

What really grips me though is I thought BMW were legally required to list any missing parts on the Monterey sticker? Surely Internet Hotspot is not a option you have to add? Therefore it's a missing part that must be listed?

So I knew my car wouldn't have the Hands Free Tail Gate, and the Digital Key, and you can see them deleted on the attached sticker. Should there not have been a delete for the Internet Hotpost listed too? See pic.

And is there any hope of retro fitting this? With no wireless charger and no Internet Hotspot, the vehicle aerial shark tail is.... basically useless? I can't use it to get better cell coverage in any way?

I'm just going to go sit in the corner and cry for a moment over my new $100k car that.... can't talk to the world

Don't even get me started on BMW and their Monroney sticker not having clear notation of "missing" stuff... I'm quite pissed about it with regards to iDrive 7 missing features on MY2020...

If you argue with them they'll probably tell you that you should have known since the Monroney sticker doesn't list it like it did on MY2020. Which is a bunch of BS. They really don't do a good job of being honest IMHO. Really one thing that sours me still on the brand (my car is my first BMW).

It sounds silly, but that's what they told me when I complained about iDrive 7 on my MY2020. All of their documentation when I took delivery said I would have Remote Software Update support if I had "Live Cockpit Pro (6U3)" on my car. After I complained questioning their documentation and my missing feature they noted that it didn't list "Remote Software Upgrade Capable" as it does on yours under "Connectivity" despite that differing from all of their marketing videos, support matrixes, and etc...

I no longer trust anything BMW says as they will say one thing and deliver another.




What confuses me a lot though is what else is impacted by stuff like this? The WiFi hotspot used to be a requirement for CarPlay support (since CarPlay uses WiFi in BMW cars) and you'd get the WiFi antenna that extended the range of CarPlay. The "hotspot" feature seemed like one of those "extras" they through in to make a few extra dollars for AT&T or something. But the car still has a cellular connection for BWM services and it still has CarPlay support. So I can't exactly understand why the feature is removed since the hardware is all there. But since there are obvious parts I'm missing in this equation do you have other issues? Like reduced range for CarPlay due to lacking the WiFi antenna or something else?

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by mylife98

Yep looks like this is the problem. BMW Genius just confirmed "I took a look at the build sheet for your M550i and unfortunately your car is not equipped with the wifi hotspot". I thought Internet Hotspot was standard as part of the Connected package. My bad?

What really grips me though is I thought BMW were legally required to list any missing parts on the Monterey sticker? Surely Internet Hotspot is not a option you have to add? Therefore it's a missing part that must be listed?

So I knew my car wouldn't have the Hands Free Tail Gate, and the Digital Key, and you can see them deleted on the attached sticker. Should there not have been a delete for the Internet Hotpost listed too? See pic.

And is there any hope of retro fitting this? With no wireless charger and no Internet Hotspot, the vehicle aerial shark tail is.... basically useless? I can't use it to get better cell coverage in any way?

I'm just going to go sit in the corner and cry for a moment over my new $100k car that.... can't talk to the world

Looks like a nice build though. I love how they credit you $80 for a digital key that would cost you $600-$1000 to replace if you lost it. Similar for the $100 credit for the power tailgate.

I'd don't see any credit for soft close doors? Are they building with those again?

I hope they retrofit someday for people like you for the same price they credited you for.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Looks like a nice build though. I love how they credit you $80 for a digital key that would cost you $600-$1000 to replace if you lost it. Similar for the $100 credit for the power tailgate.

I'd don't see any credit for soft close doors? Are they building with those again?

I hope they retrofit someday for people like you for the same price they credited you for.

I think they compensated for Soft Close Doors and others by deleting them from the package and making the package cheaper. I think that's why his Executive Package was $1900 compared to mine at $3800 a year earlier

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

I think they compensated for Soft Close Doors and others by deleting them from the package and making the package cheaper. I think that's why his Executive Package was $1900 compared to mine at $3800 a year earlier

Ah, yes I see that now.

[mylife98]

So does anyone know what the missing 6WD part(s) are? Is this a simple module I can find on eBay and plug in in the boot? 🤞