[M1903a3]

I have a 2022 M550i and am a bit confused about its WiFi and/or Hotspot capability.

While I was waiting for it to be built I understood that it likely would not have the Wireless charging pad or Hotspot. However, when it arrived it did indeed have the charging pad, which I find very convenient. My iPhone is a good fit and charges without getting any hotter than it does when plugged into a regular charging cord at home.

I just recently was curious about the Hotspot after a long trip with my daughter in her vehicle where she has a portable 5G Hotspot. Following the instructions in the owner's manual I set up a WiFi link, which successfully connected to the car's WiFi when I scanned the QR code that came uo on the car's screen.

Now, when I enter the car the phone automatically connects to the car's WiFi.

However, the manual says I need to connect to my personal data plan. I cannot find anyway to see an eSIMM and the BMW iPhone APP says my M550i is incompatible with eSIMM. So, two questions:

1. If my car is incompatible with an eSIMM, what WiFi does my iPhone connect to? It says it's BMW.

2. If that isn't the actual WiFi support, is it possible to retrofit an eSIMM into the car post production?

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by M1903a3

I have a 2022 M550i and am a bit confused about its WiFi and/or Hotspot capability.

While I was waiting for it to be built I understood that it likely would not have the Wireless charging pad or Hotspot. However, when it arrived it did indeed have the charging pad, which I find very convenient. My iPhone is a good fit and charges without getting any hotter than it does when plugged into a regular charging cord at home.

I just recently was curious about the Hotspot after a long trip with my daughter in her vehicle where she has a portable 5G Hotspot. Following the instructions in the owner's manual I set up a WiFi link, which successfully connected to the car's WiFi when I scanned the QR code that came uo on the car's screen.

Now, when I enter the car the phone automatically connects to the car's WiFi.

However, I cannot find anyway to see an eSIMM and the BMW iPhone APP says my M550i is incompatible with eSIMM. So, two questions:

1. If my car is incompatible with an eSIMM, what WiFi does my iPhone connect to? It says it's BMW.

2. If that isn't the actual WiFi support, is it possible to retrofit an eSIMM into the car post production?

Me thinks it’s only compatible with Verizon
Or sprint.

[M1903a3]

Originally Posted by Mandingo9

Me thinks it’s only compatible with Verizon
Or sprint.

I think you missed the point. I don't get the opportunity to select a plan at all.
The MyBMW APP says the car in incompatible, yet it connects to a WiFi in the car. So if I don't have a plan, what is it connecting to?

As it happens, my phone is on Verizon here in the States. It's a dual SIMM phone and I have a German plan for when I'm in Germany.

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by M1903a3

I think you missed the point. I don't get the opportunity to select a plan at all.
The MyBMW APP says the car in incompatible, yet it connects to a WiFi in the car. So if I don't have a plan, what is it connecting to?

As it happens, my phone is on Verizon here in the States. It's a dual SIMM phone and I have a German plan for when I'm in Germany.

I really just half assed trying to understand the problem and then again on my response. Am I in too deep to bow out?

[mffarrell]

I think your car’s hot spot has to be connected to a service provider like ATT , Verizon and etc. when I received my 2020 M550i it came with a free 3 month trial from ATT, but only 3G.

Unless, you are traveling a lot with passengers, I think this service is not useful, unless maybe if it is 5G. You can always have a hot spot on your iPhone, so no need for a WAN in your car.

[jcal65]

Originally Posted by M1903a3

I have a 2022 M550i and am a bit confused about its WiFi and/or Hotspot capability.

While I was waiting for it to be built I understood that it likely would not have the Wireless charging pad or Hotspot. However, when it arrived it did indeed have the charging pad, which I find very convenient. My iPhone is a good fit and charges without getting any hotter than it does when plugged into a regular charging cord at home.

I just recently was curious about the Hotspot after a long trip with my daughter in her vehicle where she has a portable 5G Hotspot. Following the instructions in the owner's manual I set up a WiFi link, which successfully connected to the car's WiFi when I scanned the QR code that came uo on the car's screen.

Now, when I enter the car the phone automatically connects to the car's WiFi.

However, the manual says I need to connect to my personal data plan. I cannot find anyway to see an eSIMM and the BMW iPhone APP says my M550i is incompatible with eSIMM. So, two questions:

1. If my car is incompatible with an eSIMM, what WiFi does my iPhone connect to? It says it's BMW.

2. If that isn't the actual WiFi support, is it possible to retrofit an eSIMM into the car post production?

I believe when decoding your VIN it should have the 6WD Wi-Fi hotspot option listed. My car does not have it and I believe most, if not all 2022’s were missing this option due to chip shortages. When I go to the MyBMW app for ESIM activation, mine reads incompatible.

[M1903a3]

Originally Posted by jcal65

I believe when decoding your VIN it should have the 6WD Wi-Fi hotspot option listed. My car does not have it and I believe most, if not all 2022’s were missing this option due to chip shortages. When I go to the MyBMW app for ESIM activation, mine reads incompatible.

OK, Thank you, that's useful information. My car has 6NW - Telephony With Wireless Charging, but not 6WD.
So, no hotspot. I suppose it's not something that can be retrofitted either.

But, that still leaves the question: When my iPhone is in the car it now automatically connects to the cars WiFi network. If it's not a hotspot, what is it?

[jcal65]

Originally Posted by M1903a3

OK, Thank you, that's useful information. My car has 6NW - Telephony With Wireless Charging, but not 6WD.
So, no hotspot. I suppose it's not something that can be retrofitted either.

But, that still leaves the question: When my iPhone is in the car it now automatically connects to the cars WiFi network. If it's not a hotspot, what is it?

Unfortunately, it’s not a hotspot. It is a little confusing when this is supposed to be standard feature in our M550s.

The iPhone connects to the cars Wi-Fi only to allow Apple Carplay or BMW Apps to work only, whichever one you choose in setup.

For other devices to connect to data in your car, you would have to allow connection from your iPhone’s hotspot (if you have a hotspot with your phone data plan) or have a separate built-in hotspot 6WD/sim/monthly data plan, which we do not have in our cars.

In my experience, the hotspot data plan is just a monthly fee you don’t need. I activated it on my last vehicle for $25/mo. It got used once and I called to cancel it after a few months. They reduced the plan to $10/mo. and I still never used it. You aren’t missing much by not having it unless perhaps you are being chauffeured around in a 7 series all day.

[AddyDaddy]

It’s an option I got used to. I work sometimes in my car with laptop and have daughters with iPads. So having a Wi-Fi spot was nice. My 2023 doesn’t have charging tray or Wi-Fi. Also BMW went to tMobile from AT&T also creating some confusion.
Yeah you have hot spots on your phones but if you have 2 iPads tethering to your phone you’ll probabaly have dropped calls, and slow texts. That’s my experience. I use my 2nd phone as hot spot for their iPads but it means bringing another phone and being sure it’s charged. No biggie just not as easy as paying $20/month to have it easily accessible

[M1903a3]

Originally Posted by jcal65

Unfortunately, it’s not a hotspot. It is a little confusing when this is supposed to be standard feature in our M550s.

The iPhone connects to the cars Wi-Fi only to allow Apple Carplay or BMW Apps to work only, whichever one you choose in setup.

For other devices to connect to data in your car, you would have to allow connection from your iPhone’s hotspot (if you have a hotspot with your phone data plan) or have a separate built-in hotspot 6WD/sim/monthly data plan, which we do not have in our cars.

In my experience, the hotspot data plan is just a monthly fee you don’t need. I activated it on my last vehicle for $25/mo. It got used once and I called to cancel it after a few months. They reduced the plan to $10/mo. and I still never used it. You aren’t missing much by not having it unless perhaps you are being chauffeured around in a 7 series all day.

Ah. Thanks. There is nothing I could find in either the physical or online Owner's Manual that explains that.

The LCI M550i is an amazing vehicle that I dearly love, but it is stuffed to the gills with technology, much of which isn't well documented. I'm slowly but surely figuring it out, one feature at a time.