[mvcarpenter]

I have searched but haven't located a definitive answer for this. What is the latest software version for the 2021 X5 40i? Mine seems to have been stuck on 11/2021.50 for well over a year now. Should I be on a newer version by now?

[TurtleBoy]

Welcome to the forum. The latest iDrive version is 03/2023.xx. OTA's are not working for many, likely most, vehicles. As long as you are over 07.2021 then BMW does not consider it to be an issue. In that sense then, you are running the current version. Your dealer may upgrade it for you for free as customer goodwill so never hurts to ask.

[mvcarpenter]

Thank you! Longtime lurker, first time poster. I've had the car since new and OTA updates worked at least twice, but as you said it seems that it has stopped working at this point. I'll see if I can get anywhere with the dealer. They brushed me off when I brought it up late last year during an oil change.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by mvcarpenter

Thank you! Longtime lurker, first time poster. I've had the car since new and OTA updates worked at least twice, but as you said it seems that it has stopped working at this point. I'll see if I can get anywhere with the dealer. They brushed me off when I brought it up late last year during an oil change.

Yes, many do. If you aren't having any problems then I would suggest just staying with what you have. You can also pay them to update, it is usually a few hours of labor.

[nZtiZia]

MY21 45e. I still had 07/2021 software when I went in for annual maintenance in Dec 2022. I brought up two vehicle “issues” while there, and they updated it to 11/2022. on your next service visit, bringing up vehicle “issues” may prompt them to update the software.

I haven’t received any notifications to download 03/2023 OTA yet (and don’t expect to)

[jad03060]

FWIW, I had updated to the 11/22 version OTA, and received the notice for 02/23 on both the X5 and phone, got it on the phone, but the vehicle never pulled it. I just dropped it off today, and they should try to figure out what's going on with it tomorrow. SO far, I'm 2 for 2...two worked properly OTA, and two have not. FWIW, my phone said it was connected in all three modes, the vehicle said to connect the phone and the status bar never moved through several hundred miles beyond maybe about 10% nor did the silly circular working on it indicator.

[javapro]

Originally Posted by jad03060

FWIW, I had updated to the 11/22 version OTA, and received the notice for 02/23 on both the X5 and phone, got it on the phone, but the vehicle never pulled it. I just dropped it off today, and they should try to figure out what's going on with it tomorrow. SO far, I'm 2 for 2...two worked properly OTA, and two have not. FWIW, my phone said it was connected in all three modes, the vehicle said to connect the phone and the status bar never moved through several hundred miles beyond maybe about 10% nor did the silly circular working on it indicator.

I hope you meant to say "03/23". I am pretty sure iDrive updates get released in 4 months increments: 03/21, 07/21, 11/21, 03/22, 07/22, 11/22, 03/23...

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

MY21 45e. I still had 07/2021 software when I went in for annual maintenance in Dec 2022. I brought up two vehicle “issues” while there, and they updated it to 11/2022. on your next service visit, bringing up vehicle “issues” may prompt them to update the software.

Be advised, most dealers will have to actually verify "issues" before they would actually perform an update. They are not going to take your word for it.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

Be advised, most dealers will have to actually verify "issues" before they would actually perform an update. They are not going to take your word for it.

oh, mine were real issues presented under the guise that a software update may fix them

the SA still had to get authorization from BMW to perform to software update, too

[jad03060]

Well, my X5 has been at the dealer for a few days...discovered a few things:
- the service writers have a new app that can show the status of your vehicle's software to include whether the download has been pulled onto the phone
- while the BMW rep that I met today was going to verify this, it appears that if you select your phone to download, it will no longer try to do an OTA update direct to the vehicle. If I get confirmation, I'll let you know, but he THOUGHT that if you remove that ability from the phone, it would revert back to OTA direct to the vehicle. While in theory, using your high-speed WiFi to get the program should be faster, not everyone is having great results, so a slower download direct into the vehicle seems like a useful fallback. Now, why it couldn't figure that out by itself and decide is another question.

So, a recap on where I am at:
- mid-April, I was alerted that there was an update, so I got it on both the X5 and my phone, so downloaded it successfully to the phone
- took multiple hour+ trips while verifying that the phone (iPhone XS) was connected in all three modes to the vehicle - no upload to the vehicle
- talked to the local BMW Geniuses, suggested removing the app, so I did, and then reloaded the app and redownloaded the update file - no change, it would not upload to the vehicle
- tried an iDrive reset (only a soft reset - one time), no effect
- made an appointment to get it looked at
- they called the area service rep whom I met today.
- he took pictures while we took a drive around, no indication that it was uploading to the vehicle

So, where we're at now is the dealer is applying the update, and I hope to get it back this afternoon, or a loaner for the weekend. The rep requested the dealer open a case so it's recorded.

The rep also said that the German app developer is currently in the USA, and he wanted to get this recorded for his research and potential update.

Here's hoping the s/w update runs smoothly...hope to get it back this afternoon.

I'll update as I hear more.

It took about an hour and a half, and I have my X5 back with 03.23.53 installed. While not a big deal, there's a potential bug that everyone should consider where a glitch in the transmission may not properly shut down all of the time, and the resulting power drain can ruin your day by exhausting the 12vdc battery. I'll have to see how the other little things affect anything that I can tell. Don't need to drive it all that often...it's a 2021 with still less than 6K-miles on it.

[gfeiner97]

Originally Posted by jad03060

While not a big deal, there's a potential bug that everyone should consider where a glitch in the transmission may not properly shut down all of the time, and the resulting power drain can ruin your day by exhausting the 12vdc battery. I'll have to see how the other little things affect anything that I can tell. Don't need to drive it all that often...it's a 2021 with still less than 6K-miles on it.

There is already a service bulletin for that. See attached.

[jad03060]

My point being, some ignore updates for various reasons, and this one has that SIB in mind, along with other things...IOW, you may not wish to ignore updates - not all changes are 'cosmetic' or just 'fluff'.

[nosnoop]

Originally Posted by gfeiner97

There is already a service bulletin for that. See attached.

So which software version would fix this bug?
Is 11.2022 ok or does it require 03.2023?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by nosnoop

So which software version would fix this bug?
Is 11.2022 ok or does it require 03.2023?

The bug is fixed in 11/2022.44 or any version thereafter.