[Franko666]

I thought i would give my impressions of driving the 330i since new over the last 6 months.

Mechaniclly is it one of the best cars i have driven, having owed a Jaguar XR-R Sport previously.
Drive is smooth, engine is fantastic, gearbox is excellent and HK sound system superb.

But oh dear, the overall impression is ruined by the connected drive software. Some times it works, some times it dosent. BMW connected drive advisers have no idea. BMW dealers have no idea either. The app is even worse. Got a meassage from connected app saying that my drive home will take 427 minutes, when it actually took 30

The one thing Jaguar beats the BMW hands down was the app. There was never an issue and you were able to remote start from the house in the cold morning and defrost the windows.

Come on BMW get the connected drive sorted!!

[Vossy]

Originally Posted by Franko666

I thought i would give my impressions of driving the 330i since new over the last 6 months.

Mechaniclly is it one of the best cars i have driven, having owed a Jaguar XR-R Sport previously.
Drive is smooth, engine is fantastic, gearbox is excellent and HK sound system superb.

But oh dear, the overall impression is ruined by the connected drive software. Some times it works, some times it dosent. BMW connected drive advisers have no idea. BMW dealers have no idea either. The app is even worse. Got a meassage from connected app saying that my drive home will take 427 minutes, when it actually took 30

The one thing Jaguar beats the BMW hands down was the app. There was never an issue and you were able to remote start from the house in the cold morning and defrost the windows.

Come on BMW get the connected drive sorted!!

I’ve commented on various threads regarding the flaky app and especially the Portal which is unfit for purpose.

[Franko666]

Originally Posted by Vossy

I’ve commented on various threads regarding the flaky app and especially the Portal which is unfit for purpose.

Originally Posted by Vossy

I've commented on various threads regarding the flaky app and especially the Portal which is unfit for purpose.

It is totally useless.

[springer222]

Hey,

Agreed, BMW has a lot of work to do in this area but could I make a request from everyone who has this issue? Please call BMW UK customer services and make a complaint about it. I spoke to them recently and spoke to their manager. He was pretty honest and said its all down to numbers, if people complain (he said smaller complaints made to the dealers often go in the bin) things start to get done but he said he has very few complaints in this area. He said it won't happen overnight but if they think they have a contentious issue then progress is much more likely to be made.

He said he gets far more complaints about the dealerships not having the right types of tea or coffee....

[tricky6]

Originally Posted by springer222

Hey,

Agreed, BMW has a lot of work to do in this area but could I make a request from everyone who has this issue? Please call BMW UK customer services and make a complaint about it. I spoke to them recently and spoke to their manager. He was pretty honest and said its all down to numbers, if people complain (he said smaller complaints made to the dealers often go in the bin) things start to get done but he said he has very few complaints in this area. He said it won't happen overnight but if they think they have a contentious issue then progress is much more likely to be made.

He said he gets far more complaints about the dealerships not having the right types of tea or coffee....

I made a recent post on LinkedIn about how the car was great but the software and supporting dealer "training/support" was appalling. It was widely forwarded around, including some German friends based in Munich.

I wouldn't be that surprised if the decision making Exec's in Munich aren't fully aware of the magnitude of the problem.

We should get the media involved. A few articles in AutoExpress and the like and maybe they'll wake up.

They are missing some basic 101 about software and user experience. Easily fixed with some small effort.

[Saleshark]

Originally Posted by Franko666

I thought i would give my impressions of driving the 330i since new over the last 6 months.

Mechaniclly is it one of the best cars i have driven, having owed a Jaguar XR-R Sport previously.
Drive is smooth, engine is fantastic, gearbox is excellent and HK sound system superb.

But oh dear, the overall impression is ruined by the connected drive software. Some times it works, some times it dosent. BMW connected drive advisers have no idea. BMW dealers have no idea either. The app is even worse. Got a meassage from connected app saying that my drive home will take 427 minutes, when it actually took 30

The one thing Jaguar beats the BMW hands down was the app. There was never an issue and you were able to remote start from the house in the cold morning and defrost the windows.

Come on BMW get the connected drive sorted!!

What is your average MPG after six months? I’m looking at the 330i and although mpg is not the end of the world I am coming from a diesel!

[giorgoXXI]

Out of curiosity, what do you guys use the app for?

I barely use it, but when I do it has always worked (except Remote 3D view which is flaky). I just use it to check the status of the car every now and again.

I've had glitches on the iDrive system which needed a reboot (Spotify freezing has happened a couple of times) and lately for some reason the fold mirror setting always gets deselected.

Overall the software experience hasn't been bad though.

[Franko666]

Originally Posted by Saleshark

What is your average MPG after six months? I’m looking at the 330i and although mpg is not the end of the world I am coming from a diesel!

Getting around 35-36 mpg urban driving

[Isow]

I’ve had my 330i and have to agree that it is a very smooth refined car. The build quality is great. I’m very happy with it !
I have no problem sending post codes from my iPad/phone to the car via the connect drive app. That’s all I ever use the app for.
The only problem I have is that all the apps are in black and white
and not colour on the idrive screen.
I’m sure that this can be sorted out by a software upgrade at the
dealer but to be honest, I can’t be bothered.

[Seaford]

I have had my 330! M Sport Plus with every option bar the tow bar for a month...and am loving it. Only complaint I have is that the front passenger seat belt buckle rattles against the interior trim when I don't have a passenger (how on earth did BMW miss that!).

I came from an F34 328 GT...while theoretically the engine is virtually identical other than a very slight power increase - the G20 feels a lot stronger..and there was nothing wrong with the 328. The GT is much more comfortable.....and I do miss the massive boot and I guess the rear seat passengers probably miss the prairie like legroom in the GT. The G20 is also a significantly firmer ride the the GT.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Andybird

I have had my 330! M Sport Plus with every option bar the tow bar for a month...and am loving it. Only complaint I have is that the front passenger seat belt buckle rattles against the interior trim when I don't have a passenger (how on earth did BMW miss that!)

Just move the little retention clip up or down so the belt buckle is further away from the B pillar. It won't hit anymore.

[Seaford]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Just move the little retention clip up or down so the belt buckle is further away from the B pillar. It won't hit anymore.

I'll give it a go!!

[Xsapper]

Had my 330i since April 2019. The only issue I have had was with Spotify not working from the cars sim and its been fixed for some time. I love the car coming from the F30 335D