2018 PP in Indium Grey Now Mine!

[Popinman]

Morning all.

Car is now mine, collected, internals cleaned (why can't dealers do this properly?! - steering wheel was a sticky as pole dancers thighs  ).  Pictures to follow once I've detailed the externals this weekend.

Slowly figuring everything out after 10 years of BMW ownership, but one question to put to the collective - is Car-Net really any good and something you guys use regularly? I work in IT, so setting up my mobile to work as a hotspot is fine, I'll use Tasker to automate it, but what if any apps/connectivity are useful?

Cheers guys.

[fredgroves]

Its not very useful.

The number one useful thing is getting traffic data for the car's nav unit.

Assuming of course that you are using that and not Waze/Google maps/Apple maps via AA/CP.

I set up a thing to enable the hotspot on my phone when the phone connects to the car over bluetooth - works fine but I've just given up on it now and don't bother with VW nav.

[Popinman]

Its not very useful.

The number one useful thing is getting traffic data for the car's nav unit.

Assuming of course that you are using that and not Waze/Google maps/Apple maps via AA/CP.

I set up a thing to enable the hotspot on my phone when the phone connects to the car over bluetooth - works fine but I've just given up on it now and don't bother with VW nav.

Thanks Fred, I must admit to thinking I'll not bother as AA all set up and working, and will only ever use the inbuilt Nav on rare occasions.

[Hertsman]

Its actually pretty easy to set up in the MK 7.5 and tether to phone but once done that you will be hugely underwhelmed there is nothing there of any real use at all. - Set it up as like you in IT and we do these things, but not once tethered phone since!

Do download the We Connect though as that connects to the eSim and gives you assurance car is locked, and some notifications for example if anyone was trying the door handles or if its being driven out of the area (which if happens is too late! but at least you can get it being looked for quite quickly suppose) and if you a company driver saves you walking to the car to fetch the months mileage as its all there on the App

Lots of colleagues have BMW, still the car of choice but all love mine, look forward to seeing the photos

[SRGTD]

Morning all.

Car is now mine, collected, internals cleaned (why can't dealers do this properly?! - steering wheel was a sticky as pole dancers thighs  ).  Pictures to follow once I've detailed the externals this weekend.

The sticky steering wheel could be down to the dealer using alcohol based sanitiser products that might be unsuitable for use on leather - this section cut from the article at the link below;

‘For this presentation, straight rubbing alcohol does the quickest damage and though it’s hard to see on camera, a softening of the leather and loss of the protective coat occurs within seconds. It starts with the leather getting sticky, and once the coating compromised, the leather is easily damaged. We can see the leather flaking off as the video host runs his fingernail over the compromised section‘.

https://uk.motor1.com/news/428633/coronavirus-hand-sanitizer-damage-leather/

[Hertsman]

Morning all.

Car is now mine, collected, internals cleaned (why can't dealers do this properly?! - steering wheel was a sticky as pole dancers thighs  ).  Pictures to follow once I've detailed the externals this weekend.

The sticky steering wheel could be down to the dealer using alcohol based sanitiser products that might be unsuitable for use on leather - this section cut from the article at the link below;

‘For this presentation, straight rubbing alcohol does the quickest damage and though it’s hard to see on camera, a softening of the leather and loss of the protective coat occurs within seconds. It starts with the leather getting sticky, and once the coating compromised, the leather is easily damaged. We can see the leather flaking off as the video host runs his fingernail over the compromised section‘.

https://uk.motor1.com/news/428633/coronavirus-hand-sanitizer-damage-leather/

I am really careful to let the gel fully dry before touching anything as its pretty obvious something alcohol based could have a effect on trim when wet - once its evaporated off hands and they dry then you can touch but not before - reversely noticed that as keeping hands cleaner than ever did the steering wheel is immaculate and not in need of the occasional clean from previous normal handling IE: carrying something, doing a light task that brings an element of micro grime, and then driving

[Phil245]

 pole dancers thighs  ).  Pictures to follow

I'm getting giddy now,   are the pictures ready yet.......?

 

[Sootchucker]

Actually I'll stick out as a weirdo here but I find Car-Net genuinely useful and use it everyday.

I find the live traffic info really accurate and it pops up on the infotainment or AID navigation screen straight away, and shows the roads as either Green (free flowing), Orange (a bit of congestion) or Red (fuc*ed up ahead). I know a lot on here hate the VW Nav and much prefer to use either Apple Maps, Google Maps or Waze (through either Apple car play or Android Auto), and as excellent as they are for navigating, on a day to day basis the maps don't show in the AID only on the Infotainment screen.

Also, on many occasions I've pre-planned a route or destination on either my PC, Mac or even tablet and just sent it to the car. As soon as the car then connects to my wifi network (more on that below), it immediately informs me that a new destination(s) are available for download and enables you to navigate to them straight away.

I've also on more than one occasion used the local filling station search (with prices) to look up the best filling station to me in an unfamiliar area. Also, things like local and destination weather can be had as well as news feeds (I have about 5 news feeds set up).

So yes, whilst not essential, I do tend to use one or more feature daily.

Now for me (as primarily an Android user as my main phone), I use an app called "Macrodroid" which enables me to create a simple macro so whenever my phone connects to the cars Bluetooth network it sees that, automatically then turns on the phones WiFi hotspot (encrypted), and connects to the car enabling a data link for all the Car-net stuff. Then when exiting the car, as soon as my phone disconnects from Bluetooth, it automatically shuts down the WiFi hotspot. All this automatically with the phone still in my pocket. Been using the app for 2 years now and no issues at all. Even works with a separate macro which is set up for the wife's Polo Blue GT.

[Sootchucker]

Oh, best colour by the way 

[fredgroves]

Now for me (as primarily an Android user as my main phone), I use an app called "Macrodroid" which enables me to create a simple macro

Yes that's what I have setup.

I'll repeat just for old times sake though that VW's nav data is nothing like as real time or comprehensive as Waze and doesn't contain things like reminders about speed cameras or police. (i of course just like to be able to note those as an interesting piece of scenery to break up the boredom of the journey and have no undue concern about my speed...).... plus the real bone of contention is the pathing algorythm VW use being inferior to Waze. All sat nav pathing is not equal, even when they have the same data to work from.

Would it be nice to have AA on the AID? Yes it would, maybe in about 2040 someone will introduce that to a car.

Although I am guessing its more likely to be HUD than AID by then and you will get AR based navigation cues.