Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

pensfan83

Nice! Look forward to the pictures.

qbrozen

qbrozen

We have a problem. Customer service has informed me I don’t have all the necessary components for carplay. Ummm....

28firefighter

Isn’t it a dealer installed software update?

pensfan83

Looks good!

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

Isn’t it a dealer installed software update?

You can install yourself via the connecteddrive system. But now I'm told, not only do I need Nav, but I need wireless charging.(?!) I texted salesman and he never heard that either. He'll talk to service in the morn. In the meantime, I have reached out to an aftermarket place that will supply the code remotely. The only requirement I found through that method is that you have a wifi antenna. No idea if I have that, but considering I have nav with live traffic updates and can, indeed, purchase apps through the car, I'd imagine I have it.

tbirdmarco

Congrads. QB on the secand punch! 

cdnpinhead

It is truly entertaining to monitor what goes on in here. As I think I mentioned before, it's a Downton Abbey thing -- people who live in an environment entirely separate from mine, but interesting to watch.

tifighter

Downton Abbey?

"This reminds me, do I ever hate driving in traffic while wearing my golden monicle to see the Waze screen."

benjaminh

Congrats! Love it!

ab348

Congrats on the BMW,. Condolences on that gawdawful shifter.

henryn

@qbrozen -- very very pretty car. I like that much better than the Alfa.

qbrozen

ab348 said:

Congrats on the BMW,. Condolences on that gawdawful shifter.

Well, Alfa stole it, so I feel right at home. 

roadburner

Congrats!. Can't you go to the ConnectedDrive store in the car and buy CarPlay from there?
Regardless, if I were you I'd try the existing navigation and BT before adding it. It works pretty well, and as I've mentioned before, even die hard Apple fans haven't been all that impressed with CarPlay when it's integrated into the BMW telematics.

28firefighter

Given that text messaging etc is pretty important to @qbrozen and the fact he is an iPhone user, CarPlay seems like a no brainer. 

carnaught

@qbrozen, congrats on the BMW! Like it a lot!

Drivingfool

Might go check out a used QX30 on my next day off, loved the way it drove. But noticed it's a bit thirstier than my current Golf. But hoping I can get over that having the 2.0 turbo under the hood. Calls for premium but betting 87 would work just as good. But first things first. Let me test drive another unit as the Hertz unit had 15,590 on the clock, a bit more than I'd like. And was told we only get a $700 discount as being a Hertz employee. Not enough for those miles!

qbrozen

roadburner said:

Congrats!. Can't you go to the ConnectedDrive store in the car and buy CarPlay from there?
Regardless, if I were you I'd try the existing navigation and BT before adding it. It works pretty well, and as I've mentioned before, even die hard Apple fans haven't been all that impressed with CarPlay when it's integrated into the BMW telematics.

It is not showing up in the store for me.

Siri works just fine, BUT I get no notification when I get new messages. I had the salesman text me while sitting there to test it out.

corvette

Ugh, that's not encouraging.

But, congrats on the new ride. Is it a 2018 330xi service loaner? How many miles? 24 or 36 month lease?

qbrozen

24/10. Had 2500 miles on it.

nyccarguy

@qbrozen - congrats on the 330xi!  Very sharp!  I really like how the current generation 3er has evolved.  

roadburner

28firefighter said:

Given that text messaging etc is pretty important to @qbrozen and the fact he is an iPhone user, CarPlay seems like a no brainer. 

If you hold down the voice command button it activates Siri and you can then ask if you have any new text messages; they will be read back to you- and you can send them as well. Also, the text messages arrive in the ConnectedDrive Office message box and you can have them read to you as well. All of this is done without CarPlay.

stickguy

I should have bought that unit last week when I was there. Darn. Oh well. I never would have gotten to that deal I doubt.

Drivingfool

Should inquire at the close Infiniti store if they have any service loaners that they're willing to sell and see where that leads. Interesting, I got an email from my local VW store about trading in my current '15 Golf SE on a new '19 Golf SE. Only problem is I'd have wanted the SEL model which they no longer make. And the Jetta really doesn't do anything for me. Then I saw a few Acura ILX's and have always liked them. And then on Monday, driving that QX30 again.
And have no understanding as to why I just didn't like the GLA 250 rental I had but like this QX30 so much more? Crazy since they're basically the same vehicle save for some really minor changes.
Not many 2019 models out yet which I find surprising. Saw a used unit in red which really does look good on this vehicle. Like the silver also on it but not the blue which is strange since I like a blue vehicle usually. Think I like the red and silver the same, then the white. Hate the black but think I'd get used to it but not the swirl marks. Might swing by there after my doctors appointment in the tomorrow afternoon. But, am I really ready to jump right now with just under 49K on the clock?

nyccarguy

Drivingfool said:

Should inquire at the close Infiniti store if they have any service loaners that they're willing to sell and see where that leads. Interesting, I got an email from my local VW store about trading in my current '15 Golf SE on a new '19 Golf SE. Only problem is I'd have wanted the SEL model which they no longer make. And the Jetta really doesn't do anything for me. Then I saw a few Acura ILX's and have always liked them. And then on Monday, driving that QX30 again. And have no understanding as to why I just didn't like the GLA 250 rental I had but like this QX30 so much more? Crazy since they're basically the same vehicle save for some really minor changes. Not many 2019 models out yet which I find surprising. Saw a used unit in red which really does look good on this vehicle. Like the silver also on it but not the blue which is strange since I like a blue vehicle usually. Think I like the red and silver the same, then the white. Hate the black but think I'd get used to it but not the swirl marks. Might swing by there after my doctors appointment in the tomorrow afternoon. But, am I really ready to jump right now with just under 49K on the clock?

Just curious Sandy, what does the fictitious SEL have that your Golf SE does not?

benjaminh

stickguy said:

I should have bought that unit last week when I was there. Darn. Oh well. I never would have gotten to that deal I doubt.

I'm hoping that once you start driving your TLX you're going to like it. And once you learn the setup, you shouldn't have issues with CarPlay, navi, etc. unlike what's happening with that new BMW.

stickguy

We get home late tonight so will be using it this weekend, and the wife will get to ride in it so will see how she likes it. Will even let her drive it! I told her she can use it to commute but she’s afraid of damaging it. Really defeats the purpose of getting it, if she is going to still just use her old car!

ab348

nyccarguy said:

Just curious Sandy, what does the fictitious SEL have that your Golf SE does not?

I was wondering the same thing. It may be that VW has upgraded the current SE to that level.

stickguy

SE seems to have all the old SEL stuff. Add drivers assist package to get 17” alloys and some other goodies. That package seems to make it as good as the old SEL.

I did notice the Golf switched to the 1.4t engine also for 2019.

graphicguy

qbrozen said:

28firefighter said:

Isn’t it a dealer installed software update?

You can install yourself via the connecteddrive system. But now I'm told, not only do I need Nav, but I need wireless charging.(?!) I texted salesman and he never heard that either. He'll talk to service in the morn. In the meantime, I have reached out to an aftermarket place that will supply the code remotely. The only requirement I found through that method is that you have a wifi antenna. No idea if I have that, but considering I have nav with live traffic updates and can, indeed, purchase apps through the car, I'd imagine I have it.

I’m sure RB knows more than I do about the BMW implementation for CarPlay. But, I thought I read somewhere that BMW was trying to make CarPlay wireless? That’s the only reason I can think of to have your telematics be WiFi capable.

Aside from that, can you just plug in your iPhone via lightning/USB cable to have CarPlay show up on your NAV screen?

Guess I’m not following why BMW is having such a hard time with CarPlay.

graphicguy

benjaminh said:

stickguy said:

I should have bought that unit last week when I was there. Darn. Oh well. I never would have gotten to that deal I doubt.

I'm hoping that once you start driving your TLX you're going to like it. And once you learn the setup, you shouldn't have issues with CarPlay, navi, etc. unlike what's happening with that new BMW.

I will agree that Acura has made CarPlay a pretty simple set up. You plug in your iPhone via the USB port and it shows up on the screen.

After over a year and a half with my TLX I’ve come to the conclusion that it doesn’t matter how hard I drive the TLX in the city. MPG is going to be the same weather I drive it vigorously or whether I drive it like a granny. Same with highway....doesn’t seem to matter if I’m cruising at 65 MPH or 80 MPH, MPG seems the same.

Got it washed at a touchless place yesterday. As I came out of the car wash and I was drying off the wet parts, two guys commented how much they liked mine. That usually only lasts for the first month of owning a car. Nice to know others agree with me.

ab348

I wonder if QB's CarPlay issue is due to BMW making everything an extra-cost item? So you would need to order some arcane package of gizmos to make it work.

pensfan83

I thought the subscription requirement started with 2019 models.

qbrozen

roadburner said:

If you hold down the voice command button it activates Siri and you can then ask if you have any new text messages; they will be read back to you- and you can send them as well. Also, the text messages arrive in the ConnectedDrive Office message box and you can have them read to you as well. All of this is done without CarPlay.

I've been down that route before. It is pretty annoying to be asking Siri every 15 mins if you have new messages. Salesperson had me check that inbox and it wasn't there. Can you tell me more about that?

qbrozen

graphicguy said:

I will agree that Acura has made CarPlay a pretty simple set up. You plug in your iPhone via the USB port and it shows up on the screen.

That's how my lowly Ford pick-em-up truck worked. Go figure.

henryn

stickguy said:

We get home late tonight so will be using it this weekend, and the wife will get to ride in it so will see how she likes it. Will even let her drive it! I told her she can use it to commute but she’s afraid of damaging it. Really defeats the purpose of getting it, if she is going to still just use her old car!

I am reminded of an episode of Leave It To Beaver, from back in the 50's. His Dad buys a new car, and his Mom won't drive it for fear of getting a scratch or something. So his Dad takes a nail, goes out to the driveway, and puts the first scratch on the brand new car.

au1994

Q- Congratulations the punch! Wish I could help you with the CarPlay. Wasn’t available on the 16 X6 and came out on the 18 X1’s. Haven’t checked to see if I could get a s/w flash to add it to the 17. The Subaru has it. It pops up as soon as you plug it in. Need to spend some more time with it as very few apps are coming over. Google Maps and Waze do though!

‘Tis the season I guess. I’ve seen 2 C class with dealer plates in the neighborhood and a new RDX at the gym this morning.

roadburner

graphicguy said:

I’m sure RB knows more than I do about the BMW implementation for CarPlay. But, I thought I read somewhere that BMW was trying to make CarPlay wireless? That’s the only reason I can think of to have your telematics be WiFi capable.

CarPlay in a BMW is already wireless- see here.

ronsteve

graphicguy said:

After over a year and a half with my TLX I’ve come to the conclusion that it doesn’t matter how hard I drive the TLX in the city. MPG is going to be the same weather I drive it vigorously or whether I drive it like a granny. Same with highway....doesn’t seem to matter if I’m cruising at 65 MPH or 80 MPH, MPG seems the same.

I'm noticing that the real MPG in my RDX is about 1-1.5 mpg short of what the computer is indicating, and usually close to the combined number. Granted after 3 months of ownership it's a fairly small sample. We'll see how it does on the trip between Louisville and Nashville tomorrow for the Music City Bowl. (Boiler Up!)

That said I'm not sure my driving is THAT different from how I used the V70, but I'm getting 22-23mpg with the RDX, compared to 24-25 with the Volvo. A little bit of that may be written off to odometer error, since some known trips are reading about 3% shorter on the Acura. (hard to say which, if either, is truly "right")

Also hoping some better bonding takes place... and maybe when I get to accessorizing that will add to said bonding. And will I break down and actually "name" this vehicle? My wife has always named her cars... it actually took me a few years (and a mirror cover coming off) before I named "Vader."

stickguy

The few times I cross checked the math I think the RDX TC was just about 1 mpg high. So I just mentally adjust.

The wife and kid named the TLX before I even picked it up. Her name is Ruby.

roadburner

qbrozen said:

roadburner said:

If you hold down the voice command button it activates Siri and you can then ask if you have any new text messages; they will be read back to you- and you can send them as well. Also, the text messages arrive in the ConnectedDrive Office message box and you can have them read to you as well. All of this is done without CarPlay.

I've been down that route before. It is pretty annoying to be asking Siri every 15 mins if you have new messages. Salesperson had me check that inbox and it wasn't there. Can you tell me more about that?

Try this.

roadburner

I believe you may not have the Office function if you don't have wireless charging.

qbrozen

roadburner said:

Try this.

Thanks. I'll check it out. In the meantime, I paid usbcoding.com the $120 for a file to add carplay. It worked! And what I discovered is that the wifi within the car is EXTREMELY weak. If I don't set my phone right next to the head unit, the signal cuts in and out.

kyfdx

qbrozen said:

roadburner said:

Try this.

Thanks. I'll check it out. In the meantime, I paid usbcoding.com the $120 for a file to add carplay. It worked! And what I discovered is that the wifi within the car is EXTREMELY weak. If I don't set my phone right next to the head unit, the signal cuts in and out.

Is it wifi or Bluetooth?

qbrozen

it works through wifi for some odd reason. So in order for it to work, you have to select both the car's BT and the car's wifi.

cdnpinhead

ronsteve said:

I'm noticing that the real MPG in my RDX is about 1-1.5 mpg short of what the computer is indicating, and usually close to the combined number. Granted after 3 months of ownership it's a fairly small sample.

I've been on about this for years -- on-board mpg computers are always 5 - 10% optimistic, based on years of data on several cars.

ronsteve

cdnpinhead said:

I'm noticing that the real MPG in my RDX is about 1-1.5 mpg short of what the computer is indicating, and usually close to the combined number. Granted after 3 months of ownership it's a fairly small sample.

I've been on about this for years -- on-board mpg computers are always 5 - 10% optimistic, based on years of data on several cars.

My Volvo was always a bit pessimistic, maybe 5%, a little less in the winter. 

nyccarguy

cdnpinhead said:

I'm noticing that the real MPG in my RDX is about 1-1.5 mpg short of what the computer is indicating, and usually close to the combined number. Granted after 3 months of ownership it's a fairly small sample.

I've been on about this for years -- on-board mpg computers are always 5 - 10% optimistic, based on years of data on several cars.

I found the OBC on my 2010 TSX, 2011 Pilot, & 2011 328xi to be “dead on balls accurate,” while my 2015 Legacy and 2017 Pilot are about 10%-ish optimistic.

Drivingfool

SEL had nice seats with a nicer seating surface plus the bottom cushion was a bit longer in front. Had some more chrome accents outside, remote start button and the aux/usb inputs. Larger wheels and nicer alloys. There's some more but offhand, forgot. Do have the book about the 2015 Golf line-up on my old desk so will go find it and read it.

tbirdmarco

How was your trip stick guy you have to convince the wife to drive the new car!  Going to VA for an few days. With the family