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Originally Posted by dwarfer
Dealer got back to me said that they have checked into the programming and can't see any options to enable this feature and that it is not possible to upgrade basicly. Does anyone have any info to the contrary?
Pete did you get your info from any official source?
Thanks
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It may well be true that BMW UK Ltd decided not to offer the Voice Control feature to the UK market. Therefore, BMW UK may have specified the "standard country config" as being with no voice control.
And in a similar manner, BMW USA may have decided that this feature is standard fitting for all USA cars.
Such decisions are part of the marketing decision every car company makes when they decide what configuration a car should have for what country: with/without leather, with/without towbar, with/without CD changer, with/without voice control, specified for hot countries (extra strong cooling) or cold countries (extra heating options), etc etc etc. There are many many options. No country gets all of the options.
If BMW UK did indeed decide that the UK market will not get Voice Control, then the local dealer, using the standard-issue authorised BMW service tools, cannot change the car beyond the specifications that are authorised for the UK market.
So he would be correct in saying "it is not possible to upgrade", from
his official BMW perspective. Remember, the UK dealer works to the rules set out by BMW UK.
However, as with most BMWs, with the right tools, and the right knowledge, any option can be enabled.
You won't be able to do it at a standard dealer, you need to find a BMW programming expert, with the right "super user" BMW tools, who can enable the option for you. And that may be dificult to find. I know a guy in the Chech Republic that can do it. And one in Russia. And I can enable Voice Control on earlier model BMWs. But that doesn't help you...
As to whether your car needs extra hardware - I am not sure. A brief look at the WDS will tell me (but I won't get a chance to check until tonight). If no hardware is required then it is a pure programming issue.
Bear in mind that modifying a car beyond standard country config may possibly cause issues with warranty, future programming, and repairs... however, none of these issues prevented me from reprogramming my BMW - but it was already 10 years old at the time....