New MINI App

My notifications (IOS) also returned yesterday, and I have one session logged from yesterday mid day. I'll have to see if it logs my next one.

 

After being missing for two days, my charging history is back...... I'll have to check the notifications later

Off hand, how does charge history and notifications get to the iOS App? Local network, Bluetooth, internet via a mothership, is cell data involved? Cell coverage is weak where I park. I don't have a problem getting vehicle status or sending remote commands, however.

 

I would speculate your SE uses its built-in cellular modem to communicate events & status via internet connection to BMW/MINI's servers. The mobile app will use whichever available internet connection the phone allows to query those same servers. I don't know if the servers "push" information/events to the app or if the app "pulls" the information periodically, but I would guess the latter.

 

I've noticed that just opening the app will not 'force' an update from the Mini regarding status. For example, I opened the app just now, and the last status update was yesterday at 7:07 AM, even if I pull the app screen down to show the refresh icon. But I just sent a lock command to the car, and that forced an actual status update. So you apparently have to send a command to the car to make it give you the latest status from it.

 

Exactly!

 

Now today, I received the notification that the car was fully charged, I opened the app and the updating charging history was already there.

Sounds like a system perhaps marginally overloaded or one not robust enough to efficiently mitigate communication errors.

 

I'm so glad MINI didn't force me to upgrade (fingers permanently crossed) the way Honda frequently does. Even worse, sometimes Honda disables the old version before making the new version available! One upgrade forced me to change phones, which I resented (and dread happening again).

 

You must be Android? IOS disabled the old version of the app.

 

Yes, Android. Sorry that IOS meddling forces apps to be updated.

 

SOMEONE MUST HAVE TATTLED ON ME! My trusty old MINI Connected app--you remember, the one with eDrive--stopped working.

I was worried when the app required me to enter my password. I was more worried when I entered my password and it didn't work. I changed the password and that didn't work--hope was fading. I tried 5 more times, but no dice so I called the MINI Concierge.

When I found my way through to someone who is charged with answering questions about the MINI Connected app, she told me that the password snafu must be the app's way of telling me I have to load the new app. I asked for her to "submit a ticket" to get my password to work with the old app. She told me that's not an option. I told her that denying a valid password not a good way to indicate it's time to upgrade an app.

I complained that a key feature of the old app isn't available with the new app. She told me all the features of the old app are available with the new app. I told her that eDrive is not available with the new app and many people are complaining about its omission. She then said that she knew people were unhappy that eDrive is not included with the new app! But you just told me... She suggested I call Customer Relations at 866 275 6464.

Of course, 866 275 6464 was the same number I had called to speak with her, but I thanked her for her time. The Customer Relations person with whom I spoke didn't know anything about the phone app, but agreed that removing the useful eDrive feature from the app didn't make sense. He wrote up my request for MINI to add eDrive to the new app.

HE SUGGESTED I TELL THE OTHER FORUM MEMBERS TO CALL 866 275 6464 AND REGISTER A COMPLAINT THAT EDRIVE HAD BEEN OMITTED FROM THE UPGRADED APP. "The squeaky wheel...," he concluded.

 

But was the E-Drive information in the old app based on accurate calculations, or was it based on the same, flawed manner in which the trip computer calculates range and results?

 

Could it be that BMW's trying to decide if they want the app's eDrive info to be more accurate than the SE's eDrive info? Perhaps they could give the more accurate numbers a different name.

 

Then I would definitely want that feature added into the new app!

 

Everybody, call 866 275 6464, ask for Customer Relations, and request the deleted eDrive to be reinstated in the next upgrade. Perhaps they'll improve it in the process.