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The cars will receive an over-the-air update with the features.



May 06, 2022 at 10:56am ET

By: Anthony Alaniz

The chip shortage that ravaged the auto industry last year continues to terrorize vehicle production in 2022. BMW switched chip suppliers to keep production rolling, but the new semiconductors weren’t fully functional, lacking Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These made their way into new vehicles, but owners will receive an update with the features.

BMW told Automotive News Europe that it would install the software features via an over-the-air update by the end of June. The chips also lack wi-fi capability. According to the publication, BMW didn’t specify the number of affected models or disclose where they were shipped. However, ANE discovered owners on forums from the US, France, Italy, and more with cars lacking the infotainment tech.

This isn’t new territory for BMW. In November of last year, the chip shortage forced the company to drop touchscreen functionality in models like the 3 Series, 4 Series, Z4, and several crossovers. It’s just not touchscreens and tech that are being affected, either. Earlier this week, Mini announced that it would stop building models with manual gearboxes because it simplifies its lineup with the ongoing semiconductor shortage and supply chain issues.

It’s unclear when the chip shortage and supply chain issues will resolve themselves. In September, BMW and Mercedes predicted that the chip shortage could last until 2023 or later. The disruption has driven up new car prices, and the pair might not be eager to lower them once chip supplies normalize. But that doesn’t appear to be happening anytime soon.


Since March alone, Genesis, Ford, and Volkswagen have all cut features from certain models, while Chevy and GMC had to idle production. The chip shortage has also delayed new vehicle launches, like the Alfa Romeo Tonale, and not even supercars have been immune. McLaren had to postpone the Artura because of the shortage.

BMW says that affected customers will have their software updated by the end of June at the latest. While not having the technology could be a bummer, it is nice that BMW can simply perform an over-the-air update to add in the missing functionality.

Source: https://www.motor1.com/news/584293/b...-carplay-auto/

[ramparts]

see this thread for updates:

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...8#post28875878

[White340]

Is it because they have to develop the software for it? Is the chip inferior in any way? I.e. slower, loses features, etc

[M3EATERS]

Some manufactures are producing smaller screens as well as a half digital/half analogue system over previous models just to pump out cars.

[cbertels]

This feels wildly unacceptable given the sticker of most vehicles. I'm not intimately familiar with specific supply chains but a 2022+ vehicle without what should be standard features seems ridiculous.

[Ibiza]

Originally Posted by M3EATERS

Some manufactures are producing smaller screens as well as a half digital/half analogue system over previous models just to pump out cars.

But BMW is going full steam ahead with the dual screen ID8. Makes zero sense.

[backslashv]

Without the wireless chip, Wireless Android Auto is a no go. We're back to the stone age where people connected wires for AA.

[fvfvsix]

Originally Posted by White340

Is it because they have to develop the software for it? Is the chip inferior in any way? I.e. slower, loses features, etc

If the update can be done via OTA update, they likely had the new control hardware finished before they could validate the CarPlay/Android Auto software (which are likely "containerized", from a software perspective for security purposes).

As for your other question - there's no reason the replacement controller (chip) would be inferior to the original. They are both likely equally spec'ed Cortex-based processors, perhaps from different manufacturers - which would need a code re-compile and retargeting for the differences in perpipherals from vendor to vendor.

[TheStanman]

Originally Posted by cbertels

This feels wildly unacceptable given the sticker of most vehicles. I'm not intimately familiar with specific supply chains but a 2022+ vehicle without what should be standard features seems ridiculous.

It's the unfortunate reality right now. OEMs are having to choose between:
a) Don't produce car at all
b) Produce but omit certain features

Everyone agrees it's "unacceptable", including BMW. All parties want it resolved ASAP, but Option B is better than Option A.

[Blubaron79]

I have car play in my '21, and have never used it. It's annoying. You have to switch from it back to the the original iDrive set up to access car settings, ect.

Also, BMW maps are so more intuitive with car than Apple Maps.

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by backslashv

Without the wireless chip, Wireless Android Auto is a no go. We're back to the stone age where people connected wires for AA.

Agreed and what is confusing is that both AA and CarPlay wireless use a combo of Bluetooth and WiFi. Bluetooth has specific profiles but WiFi outside of the frequency is universal and the device just needs to support the frequency to connect. At least in the case of AA it requires a 5GHz frequency. Not sure how a software update is going to enable that if the chip doesn't support it in the first place.

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

I have car play in my '21, and have never used it. It's annoying. You have to switch from it back to the the original iDrive set up to access car settings, ect.

Also, BMW maps are so more intuitive with car than Apple Maps.

Agreed as played with AA and Google maps which is superior to Apple maps but the BMW navigation is more intuitive regardless of AA integration into the HUD on my M850i.

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by bloozemanAZ

Agreed and what is confusing is that both AA and CarPlay wireless use a combo of Bluetooth and WiFi. Bluetooth has specific profiles but WiFi outside of the frequency is universal and the device just needs to support the frequency to connect. At least in the case of AA it requires a 5GHz frequency. Not sure how a software update is going to enable that if the chip doesn't support it in the first place.

Afterthought is it may not be the WiFi but rather the software coding in iDrive to enable the new chip to support the HUD integration, etc.

[agentorange]

Could be worse. Audi is shipping $60k+ cars without keyless entry. Ummm, no sale.

[sor]

Yeah, it's likely just a matter of drivers if they are able to enable these features after the fact. New SoC, maybe Broadcom WiFi instead of Atheros or Marvell what not.

[robopp]

CarPlay is proof that god loves us. I could never live without CarPlay

[jmg]

Originally Posted by bloozemanAZ

Agreed as played with AA and Google maps which is superior to Apple maps but the BMW navigation is more intuitive regardless of AA integration into the HUD on my M850i.

I don't use either. I use waze.

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by jmg

I don't use either. I use waze.

I have Waze as well but it's alerts, etc. come throught the JBV1 app (sources via the Waze APIs) on my Android phone with integration to my V1 Gen2. Never use it from a maps/navigation perspective but rely on it for "sneaky police", accidents, etc.

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by sor

Yeah, it's likely just a matter of drivers if they are able to enable these features after the fact. New SoC, maybe Broadcom WiFi instead of Atheros or Marvell what not.

A fellow geek speaking my language. 🤣

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by agentorange

Could be worse. Audi is shipping $60k+ cars without keyless entry. Ummm, no sale.

Waiting for that to hit BMW. Some UK members on our 8-series thread reported issues with getting the power/memory seats (also chip aka FPU related) but thankfully that didn't last long and never became an overall issue.

[Roch M4]

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

I have car play in my '21, and have never used it. It's annoying. You have to switch from it back to the the original iDrive set up to access car settings, ect.

Also, BMW maps are so more intuitive with car than Apple Maps.

In addition the Apple CarPlay inteface looks like a game for toddlers, so annoying and really cheap!

[NGT2]

Whenever all this does end, or something new normalizes, the market for these stripped down cars is going to be weird. They'll continue to circulate and people will buy them, but I have to think their values will be lower relative to the way you'd normally expect them to depreciate. And that's even crazier when you consider how much they're getting for them when sold as new.