Internet Option - Has it evolved into 3 or 4G?

[MattUK]

I have the internet option in my X3, and to be honest its totally useless. It uses EDGE as its connection, so its slower than a snail glued to reversing wheelbarrow.

In the latest editions, does anyone know if they have now improved this to either 3 or 4G? and if so, is it more usable and fast?

[Palmnuts]

Yes, my M6 uses 3G when coverage is available (it has a little 3G symbol to indicate this, which appears more than I thought it would). It has the latest NBT operating system and the most recent software update installed.

It would be good if this was future-proofed so it could be upgraded to 4G, although I expect BMW won't have built-in this kind forward thinking!

[JOHNBMWM5]

My LCI M5 internet is F**king useless, I have NOT ordered it for the M6 GC CP.
Total wast of time, my phone is miles quicker.

[Palmnuts]

Depends what you use the internet for. If you use it to browse then it is going to be poor, because at the end of the day it's a car not a computer/tablet/mobile. Simply typing something in takes 10x longer than on a phone because the interface isn;t a touch control keyboard (and iDrive touch is even slower!)

However, I frequently use the internet/connectivity 'function' in the car for navigation destination entry via voice control - I just hit the voice control button, say 'points of interest' and then say where I want to go. It works really well and quickly displays my destination or a choice of destinations....it's the fastest and easiest way to enter a destination.

Saying this, I'm not sure if the car needs the internet option to do this though, or if it's just a standard function of the navigation.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by Palmnuts

Depends what you use the internet for. If you use it to browse then it is going to be poor, because at the end of the day it's a car not a computer/tablet/mobile. Simply typing something in takes 10x longer than on a phone because the interface isn;t a touch control keyboard (and iDrive touch is even slower!)

However, I frequently use the internet/connectivity 'function' in the car for navigation destination entry via voice control - I just hit the voice control button, say 'points of interest' and then say where I want to go. It works really well and quickly displays my destination or a choice of destinations....it's the fastest and easiest way to enter a destination.

Saying this, I'm not sure if the car needs the internet option to do this though, or if it's just a standard function of the navigation.

I will give that a go.

[quitethesnapper]

I use it for the traffic and to check the weather. the browser is too slow i agree.

[dnw]

Never used it on my X3 (tried once, never again) so have skipped this on the M6. Always have the iPad with EE 4G with me regardless.

Even without the Internet option you still get all the connected drive functions, POI, weather etc. Internet only adds the useless web browser.

[Palmnuts]

Originally Posted by dnw

Internet only adds the useless web browser.

In that case, 100% not worth it.

I spec'd internet as it was only £95 so couldn't be sure what was part of that option or part of the standard nav functionality.