[Heavyd]

Originally Posted by zoli1986

I completely understand your frustration, and you're definitely not alone in this! This is my first BMW featuring this option, and initially, I just assumed that's how it was supposed to function . No scent, just another feature what the customer can pay for. However, after browsing through forums and learning how quickly these cartridges run out, I started to think that maybe my cartridges had the protective film still on as nothing seemed amiss

How do you have access to this information?

Some fragrances are very subtle so I was sniffing at the vents. But when the cartridges still were 100% I thought something was wrong because normally they run out quickly.

Very disappointed in this.
Issue exists since first production in April 2023. High priority bugfix is expected April 2024. That's 1 year to solve it!

[1230vani]

Does this issue affect 40i also?

[Heavyd]

Originally Posted by 1230vani

Does this issue affect 40i also?

I don’t think so. The document above only mentions the PHEV.
I find it very strange that something like ambient air wouldn’t work on the PHEV LCI but works on all other LCI’s.

Someone who has an explanation for this?

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by Heavyd

I don’t think so. The document above only mentions the PHEV.
I find it very strange that something like ambient air wouldn’t work on the PHEV LCI but works on all other LCI’s.

Someone who has an explanation for this?

Only guess I can think of is that PHEV has very different AC system (electric vs mechanical) and they messed up the coding on logics how to direct airflow

[Heavyd]

Originally Posted by alanzyy

Only guess I can think of is that PHEV has very different AC system (electric vs mechanical) and they messed up the coding on logics how to direct airflow

One would think they would test such things… Certainly on a PHEV with completely different wiring and AC than a traditional car.

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by Heavyd

One would think they would test such things… Certainly on a PHEV with completely different wiring and AC than a traditional car.

Well as a software engineer I have to say I am definitely often guilty being too lazy to test a lot of stuff lol

[Heavyd]

Originally Posted by alanzyy

Well as a software engineer I have to say I am definitely often guilty being too lazy to test a lot of stuff lol

If I fuck up I don’t have a year to write a bugfix

Don’t understand how they messed this up from production in April. It worked on the 45e. It’s not they had to begin from scratch.

A paid option that doesn't work from start of production is just not acceptable and professional. I may hope they have dedicated test teams and test scenario's for everything?

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by Heavyd

If I fuck up I don’t have a year to write a bugfix

Don’t understand how they messed this up from production in April. It worked on the 45e. It’s not they had to begin from scratch.

A paid option that doesn't work from start of production is just not acceptable and professional. I may hope they have dedicated test teams and test scenario's for everything?

QA testing is usually outsourced either to a dedicated team or third party company. Communication, depending on company, could be a mess

[MissVito]

Originally Posted by six

Oh such useful info as I have the same issue. I’ve been thinking it’s just that I’ve not set it up right but since day one I’ve not had a single sniff from the ambient air (apart from opening the cartridges to put in the unit in the glove box )

I was thinking I’ll have to raise with my dealer next week as I’d come to the conclusion I’m actually not doing anything wrong and it’s actually not working at all!

TBH it’s been a bit frustrating as I’ve used up a good bit of time fiddling with setting and taking the cartridges out and putting back in. It’s a shame we can’t be notified of known issues like this to save all the time and effort trying to make it work when in fact it wont.

Do all the X5s have the ambient air feature? I didn't see that as an option when we ordered ours. Not that I'd use it, the new car smell is all I want to smell. ;-)

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by MissVito

Do all the X5s have the ambient air feature? I didn't see that as an option when we ordered ours. Not that I'd use it, the new car smell is all I want to smell. ;-)

I never heard of it either. My M60i may have it and I wouldn't know.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by MissVito

Do all the X5s have the ambient air feature? I didn't see that as an option when we ordered ours. Not that I'd use it, the new car smell is all I want to smell. ;-)

It is not available in the US.

[cobramite]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

It is not available in the US.

Question answered.

[aaaaaaaaaz]

No BMW cars in US spec offer this for past few years

[1230vani]

Do dealers set this up at pickup or is it up to the owner to place it (scent containers). I actually dont want the actual scents applied, just the ion stick. Thank you

[Heavyd]

Originally Posted by 1230vani

Do dealers set this up at pickup or is it up to the owner to place it (scent containers). I actually dont want the actual scents applied, just the ion stick. Thank you

You can enable/disable it with idrive or remove the cartridges in the glovebox compartment.
You can also enable/disable the ioniser with idrive.

[1230vani]

Originally Posted by Heavyd

You can enable/disable it with idrive or remove the cartridges in the glovebox compartment.
You can also enable/disable the ioniser with idrive.

Wow great. Will have to dive in the idrive menus once I receive the car

[Heavyd]

Originally Posted by six

Ha ha yes so true! I’ll be reporting both to my dealer and will be putting pressure for a fix. Six months isn’t acceptable really

Did you hear something from your dealer. My dealer just confirmed the SIB that was posted here. Probably nothing mechanically wrong, be patient and wait for the software fix which will probably must be done at the dealer. They hope it will not take until April to get the fix.

But the OTA 8.5 update was promised for September, then it was October and the last I read about it is December now but that isn't even definite.
So BMW's word means nothing

[six]

No not reported it yet as busy with something else. I can’t see me being very happy if they expect me to wait until maybe April to access a feature I’ve paid for

[MissVito]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

It is not available in the US.

Thanks, Turtle Boy!

[Heavyd]

Funny, I keep getting advertising messages everyday in my BMW app to buy ambient air cartridges. But after months they are still 100% because that crap doesn't work out of factory due to a software bug since April...

Any means to contact those BMW app nitwits?

[Graydon3112]

I emailed BMW UK about this issue before Christmas. Received a response today saying they're only the distributor and I should go back to the dealer. Have responded as they're the distributor they should go back to their principal and let us know when this issue will be resolved. You can still buy this as an option on the 50e so they're still selling a product they know doesn't work......

[Heavyd]

Originally Posted by Graydon3112

I emailed BMW UK about this issue before Christmas. Received a response today saying they're only the distributor and I should go back to the dealer. Have responded as they're the distributor they should go back to their principal and let us know when this issue will be resolved. You can still buy this as an option on the 50e so they're still selling a product they know doesn't work......

When I went to the dealer last week for the brake recall and the parts they didn’t have… I asked about the fix for the ambient air and ionizer. They said they expect a software fix in April. But it also could be May
They hope they can do the two fixes at once very soon. We will see…