R18 TFT Grievances & Support Group Thread.... aka did the TFT annoy you today?

adamchandler

Well-known member
I took delivery of a July 2021 Built R18 Bagger on June. I didn't know that there were software features I was missing like the split screen where you can see music + NAV on the same screen. Issues with audio playback (wouldn't automatically go to next song and would require I open my phone holder and open music and stop / start playback on iTunes which was about 25 seconds of not looking at the road ahead) caused me to go to a dealer (200 miles round trip) and leave the bike with them for 2 days to update the software.

When I got it back, I had to remove the connected app, reset my Wifi + bluetooth on my iPhone and 'reset all settings' on the R18's TFT just to get everything re-paired. Sitting on the side of the road waiting for New Hampshire's map to download took a while due to weak cell phone service but I was excited that maybe some of my issues would be fixed.

Big one aside from the music was the screen mirroring feature that showed the 3d map on my TFT but required I 1, have the phone unlocked and screen on 2, plugged in to the phone holder which required buying a $35 USB to lighting cable from BMW, 3. Had the connected app running and in 'map sharing mode' 4. connected to the bike's wifi hotspot & bluetooth.

Before the software update, the 3D map would just crash sometimes. I'd once again take my eyes off the road at 80 miles an hour to open my phone holder case to see what was going on and the app was just sitting there waiting for a connection. The bike would sometimes work itself out but after 3 attempts, the bike would go out of mirroring mode (flashy square logo thing) and just revert back to text turn by turn directions. I guess the bike was doing more to protect my safety than I was.

This issue continues. I get about 5-30 minutes of 3D map mode out of my TFT before it crashes and I'm back to text mode.

Luckily, the music playback issues are resolved.

I'm probably going to reset all settings just once more and then install a dedicated GPS on my handlebars.

I also wish our default screen wasn't just a silhouette photo of the motor but a tachometer like the RT gets but oh well.

anyone else want to report issues or how you fixed it?
 
We thank you for being part of the Testing group for the new TFT interface system. Please log any user issues on the BMWTFTUSER.com web site. Ok, just kidding, hope they get it sorted out soon for you. Over at the bmwmoa site some…maybe many…soft of kind fo like it from what I have read :)
 
We thank you for being part of the Testing group for the new TFT interface system. Please log any user issues on the BMWTFTUSER.com web site. Ok, just kidding, hope they get it sorted out soon for you. Over at the bmwmoa site some…maybe many…soft of kind fo like it from what I have read :)

LOL. You had me there for a quick second! I was like "son of a gun, I was the mouse in the maze this entire time?!?!"
 
Mine acted the same way but after the latest updates and service I deleted the app and started over w reinstalled app and new map downloads etc.. so far it has been working great for 1800 miles multiple states.

Try to run only the connected app on your phone if possible and select the map icon on bottom of the app

Make sure when you first down load you agree to let in run in the background apple will try to override that setting.

Phone doesn’t need to be plugged in to get map info it goes via WiFi. I leave mine in my pocket most of the time.

Update also fixed glitchy radio (XM).

These were suggestions from the BMW tech. YMMV.
 
Mine acted the same way but after the latest updates and service I deleted the app and started over w reinstalled app and new map downloads etc.. so far it has been working great for 1800 miles multiple states.

Try to run only the connected app on your phone if possible and select the map icon on bottom of the app

Make sure when you first down load you agree to let in run in the background apple will try to override that setting.

Phone doesn’t need to be plugged in to get map info it goes via WiFi. I leave mine in my pocket most of the time.

Update also fixed glitchy radio (XM).

These were suggestions from the BMW tech. YMMV.

I wonder if 'background allow' is what's breaking my map view? I'll do a full reset again and re-pair it all from scratch and see if that works.
 
I took delivery of a July 2021 Built R18 Bagger on June. I didn't know that there were software features I was missing like the split screen where you can see music + NAV on the same screen. Issues with audio playback (wouldn't automatically go to next song and would require I open my phone holder and open music and stop / start playback on iTunes which was about 25 seconds of not looking at the road ahead) caused me to go to a dealer (200 miles round trip) and leave the bike with them for 2 days to update the software.

When I got it back, I had to remove the connected app, reset my Wifi + bluetooth on my iPhone and 'reset all settings' on the R18's TFT just to get everything re-paired. Sitting on the side of the road waiting for New Hampshire's map to download took a while due to weak cell phone service but I was excited that maybe some of my issues would be fixed.

Big one aside from the music was the screen mirroring feature that showed the 3d map on my TFT but required I 1, have the phone unlocked and screen on 2, plugged in to the phone holder which required buying a $35 USB to lighting cable from BMW, 3. Had the connected app running and in 'map sharing mode' 4. connected to the bike's wifi hotspot & bluetooth.

Before the software update, the 3D map would just crash sometimes. I'd once again take my eyes off the road at 80 miles an hour to open my phone holder case to see what was going on and the app was just sitting there waiting for a connection. The bike would sometimes work itself out but after 3 attempts, the bike would go out of mirroring mode (flashy square logo thing) and just revert back to text turn by turn directions. I guess the bike was doing more to protect my safety than I was.

This issue continues. I get about 5-30 minutes of 3D map mode out of my TFT before it crashes and I'm back to text mode.

Luckily, the music playback issues are resolved.

I'm probably going to reset all settings just once more and then install a dedicated GPS on my handlebars.

I also wish our default screen wasn't just a silhouette photo of the motor but a tachometer like the RT gets but oh well.

anyone else want to report issues or how you fixed it?
BMW actually sent me a request on my experience with my screen. My maps will not download and on countless occasions I am unable to change station's or adjust the volume. I emailed BMW and so far, they have let me know they have my response on my issues. No answers and the parts guy at my dealer tried to help me with no avail. My hope is that at some point we'll be able to download Android Auto and Apple Car Play one day.
 
This is the SW my bike came with (built last year):
Xue0nNH.jpeg


This is the latest Bagger software:
ukGHJ5T.jpeg
 
is it possible to update without going to bmw ?

BMW's TFT Software updates are a bit complicated. What I've heard is BMW Dealers can't just update you, it has to go through the warranty. Like it's 4 hours or so on a lift to do the update. Once it took me 8 hours to update so that's lot of time of a bike just sitting there so I guess you could convince a dealer to charge you 8 hours of labor but the only way I've gotten updates was under warranty and with an issue. I had an actual issue (music playback) only to find out my bike (a May 2021 build that sat on the dealer floor for 11 months) didn't have the split screen view all of the rest of you have and the only way to get the split view is to have an issue. I had a real one but some people just lie to get the latest software. The dealer has never made me show the problem and just trusts me..they just need something to tell BMW for the reimbursement through warranty repairs.
 
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