BMW Remote App - Restricted vehicle location to within 1.5km
Discussion
One of my minor niggles, mainly due to the way that BMW have worded it - is that 'for privacy reasons' they won't let you locate the vehicle if you're more than 1.5km away.
This is frustrating for a number of reasons, so I complained to BMW:
This is frustrating for a number of reasons, so I complained to BMW:
I said:
One thing that particularly annoys me is the refusal to provide the location of the car via the BMW Remote App if you’re more than a few miles away ‘due to privacy reasons’. I am the owner and driver of the car, I have no privacy concerns about me being able to access the location of my car – or in which area of the town or airport parking location I have parked it.
Please can you confirm why, with reference to any specific legislation, you disable this otherwise easily available functionality?
Additionally, please can you confirm that in the event of the vehicle being stolen, that BMW have procedures in place to enable full co-operate with the Police to locate the vehicle?
Please can you confirm why, with reference to any specific legislation, you disable this otherwise easily available functionality?
Additionally, please can you confirm that in the event of the vehicle being stolen, that BMW have procedures in place to enable full co-operate with the Police to locate the vehicle?
BMW said:
I acknowledge your dissatisfaction regarding the location service through the BMW Remote Apps for your vehicle. On behalf of BMW UK, I would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this is causing.
I can advise that the location service is in place to identify where a vehicle is within a 1500 metre radius and is not a tracking service. I can advise that due to the Privacy Law we are unable to disable this function. Should you wish to be able to track your vehicle, we would recommend that you have a tracking device fitted.
I note your comment regarding if the vehicle was stolen. I can advise that we would work closely with the police if we were contacted however, as previously advised the location service should not be relied upon as a tracker.
I can advise that the location service is in place to identify where a vehicle is within a 1500 metre radius and is not a tracking service. I can advise that due to the Privacy Law we are unable to disable this function. Should you wish to be able to track your vehicle, we would recommend that you have a tracking device fitted.
I note your comment regarding if the vehicle was stolen. I can advise that we would work closely with the police if we were contacted however, as previously advised the location service should not be relied upon as a tracker.
I said:
Please can you advise to what 'Privacy Law' you refer in the reasoning behind this restriction in functionality?
I would hope that this restriction is not placed on the vehicles so as to increase the revenue of Dealerships when selling aftermarket tracking devices, which would essentially offer the same functionality.
I await their response...I would hope that this restriction is not placed on the vehicles so as to increase the revenue of Dealerships when selling aftermarket tracking devices, which would essentially offer the same functionality.
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