New MINI App
- Thread starter Puppethead
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Puppethead
Well-Known Member
I charged at a public charger during the MINI Together event Saturday and then when I got home, both show up in my charging history. And I got notifications for both at the time.
Check out the sweet DC charging history. Added 30% SoC (at least 30 miles) in 12 minutes.
Check out the sweet DC charging history. Added 30% SoC (at least 30 miles) in 12 minutes.
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ColdCase
Active Member
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.
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.
MichaelC
Well-Known Member
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.
GvilleGuy
Well-Known Member
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.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
They way things behaves leads me to believe the car only sends changes in state to the MINI backend, and when the app refreshes it just polls the MINI backend. So if the charging level doesn't change, the last update time will seem "stuck" because there's nothing new to report.
Sending a command to the car changes the state, and must cause an update to the backend. However, it's not apparent how the command gets to the car. Two scenarios I can think of are: 1) car polls the backend regularly to see if there are things to do; 2) MINI backend can send some sort of out-of-band signal to the vehicle telling it to get work from the backend.
It's an interesting mental exercise to think of how to manage a global network of tens of thousands of devices and how to efficiently communicate. Talk about an internet of things!
GvilleGuy
Well-Known Member
Exactly!
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
The MINI app was updated today with an EV-only update – exporting of charging sessions to a really nice spreadsheet. You select the month and then "share", and it sends the xlsx file to your destination (email, messages, file, etc.) on iOS.
It's nice that there's some more SE love, but still no eDrive data.
It's nice that there's some more SE love, but still no eDrive data.
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).
GvilleGuy
Well-Known Member
You must be Android? IOS disabled the old version of the app.
Yes, Android. Sorry that IOS meddling forces apps to be updated.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
MINI actually released a new app on iOS, and then apparently did something to the old app (either an app update or server change), that causes it to die immediately when you run it. Nothing to do with iOS, per se.
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.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
(It is poor customer experience to have the old app just stop working, they could have at least pushed out an update that would say "This doesn't work anymore, get the new app.")
I'm going to think positively and take that to mean they're working on eDrive for the new app. Pure conjecture, but they monkeyed with things for some reason.
I'm going to think positively and take that to mean they're working on eDrive for the new app. Pure conjecture, but they monkeyed with things for some reason.
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.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
It was actual miles driven and battery used plus mi/kWh, so no guesswork (er, "intelligence") except for the "efficiency" ratings of 0-5 stars.
GvilleGuy
Well-Known Member
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.