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Monday, 31 January 2011

BMW ConnectedDrive: New Generation.

Vines BMW News.


Dependable and accurate against traffic congestion: BMW ConnectedDrive presents a new generation of traffic information. Denser coverage for road networks in several European countries, more detailed information, more frequent updating, optimised re-routing recommendations - BMW Navigation System Professional with Real-Time Traffic Information (RTTI) from BMW ConnectedDrive will be available in all new BMW models from autumn 2011




From autumn 2011, all new BMW cars can be equipped with an innovative traffic information system to ensure that sheer driving pleasure is compromised as little as possible by tiresome traffic jams and tailbacks. Real-Time Traffic Information (RTTI) has been developed by BMW ConnectedDrive for BMW navigation systems. It delivers unique dependability and accuracy in the automotive sector when generating, transmitting and applying information on the latest traffic situation in real-time. This data is used for calculating the most efficient route and making any subsequent detour recommendations.
BMW ConnectedDrive customers are able to use RTTI as a premium alternative to the continually available Traffic Message Channel (TMC). The key benefits are as follows: faster and more comprehensive data communication via cellular networks and the SIM which is integrated in the vehicle.

In addition to motorways and major roads, the new system also covers country roads and numerous inner-city links. Considerably more data are taken into account for analysing the traffic situation and they are also updated more frequently. In the future, BMW drivers will receive precise information about the traffic situation on a potential diversion route in addition to warnings about traffic jams on the current route. Unexpected delays occurring on the alternative route are thus a thing of the past. Instead, the navigation system always seeks out the fastest route to the driver’s selected destination, even under the most adverse conditions.

This very tangible benefit for streamlined journeys compared with previous bulletins about tailbacks is based on the significantly increased volume of data that can be used for analysing the traffic situation. Apart from the traffic reports provided by the police, only a limited number of sensors are available on motorways and arterial roads so far, whereas the future will see both moving and stationary vehicles providing data that indicate the latest status on traffic flow and congestion. Apart from truck fleets operated by freight forwarders and taxis with navigation systems linked to a control centre, mobile phones carried in vehicles will also deliver data that indicate traffic jams or tailbacks.

The dynamic network connections of cellular phones will transmit anonymous movement profiles which will be matched with the entire road network. The number of locations and the speed at which they are changed within the cellular network will provide information about the current status of the respective traffic situation. Data are transmitted in real time via the GSM cellular network. An active smartphone app is not necessary.

Local authority traffic computers will also be included in data aggregation, which will allow drivers in many towns and cities to receive information about possible delays on ring roads and connection routes between cities. Coloured road markings on the navigation map displayed in the control display of the iDrive control system indicate the latest traffic flow. The appropriate traffic situation is displayed in four increments – from green for free traffic flow, through yellow for slow-moving traffic and orange for stop-and-go, to red for gridlock.

The analysed road network is divided into sections of 500 metres and information is updated every three minutes. This means that very precise data is provided on the length of queues and the resulting delays. The driver is also able to notice changes on the color map display to identify whether the traffic situation has gotten worse or the tailback has already started to disperse.

The detailed data covering a comprehensive and dense road network enables RTTI to provide much more precise and dependable recommendations on alternative routes. For example, if a tailback is reported on a particular motorway section, the navigation system can immediately calculate the resulting delay whenever destination guidance is switched on. However, this is not the only parameter that can be determined. Since the traffic situation on roads away from the motorway is also recorded for the first time, the system provides effective suggestions on the alternative route. Once again, the system substantially reduces the risk of driving into other congestion areas when travelling on the alternative route and losing additional time as a result.

Recommendations on alternative routes include precise data on the difference in distance and time compared to the current route. This knowledge provides the driver with the option of accepting the traffic jam on the main route, if the proposed alternative routes offer no time savings. Drivers also have the option of deciding to take a longer diversion in order to have a less stressful journey and perhaps even include a pleasant stop-off en route.

For many years, BMW ConnectedDrive customers have already been able to take advantage of exclusive supplementary information on traffic conditions in place of the TMC messages. The Traffic Info Plus service (V-Info+) provided by BMW ConnectedDrive supported drivers with information on the length of queues and delay times, as well as the weather conditions and corresponding state of the road along the route. The introduction of the succeeding system RTTI has further developed the intelligent integration of driver, vehicle and surroundings in order to further promote comfort and enhanced driving pleasure.

In order to use RTTI, the car must be equipped with the BMW Navigation System Professional including mobile phone preparation with Bluetooth interface. The new generation of traffic information will be offered as a priced option in addition to a BMW ConnectedDrive contract.

Vines BMW Group
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Thursday, 20 January 2011

Customer Feedback on Winter Tyres

News from the Vines BMW Group of Guildford, Gatwick and Redhill.


BMW Tyres for Snow

A week ago today I came and had snow tyres fitted to my 1 series. I met your new managing director on his first day. I told him I was getting them fitted and I said I would let you know how I got on with them. He said that would be good and they could put it on your website.

They area absolutely astounding! When I left, the snow was falling and lying on the A23. The first thing I did was pull into the side road just north of the garage and get some breakfast. I would not have done that with my normal tyres.

I then went along the A25 which was compacted snow and ice with abandoned cars littered along it. I had not problems at all, even though I got stopped at some traffic lights on a hill. I went round an Audi that could not make it up the hill! I then went up Westerham Hill to Biggin Hill, which I managed without the traction control light coming on at all. I then did a visit to Foal Farm to treat some animals. Some of the staff were snowed in there until the Friday, but I could get there easily and did so again on Wednesday evening.

During the day I had to go from Oxted to Croydon, and so went up Titsey Hill which is 1:7 at its steepest. It was covered in snow and ice, but again the car managed it with a bit of traction control.

It has been a joy to drive during the bad weather. It can go anywhere a 4 wheel drive can go, but has one major advantage. When going down hill, if the momentum of the vehicle exceeds the frictional force between the snow and the tryes, the wheels will lock whether you have 4 wheel drive or not. With the snow tryes that frictional force is much greater so the car is very sure footed when going down hills and always stopped without locking the wheels.

I can honestly say that buying winter tyres was the best motoring investment I have made. I will always put winter tyres on every year. For a lot of people it will be a much cheaper option the buying a four wheel drive vehicle.

Kind regards

Mark



I have always found that driving my BMW in icy conditions has caused considerable problems and on many occasions I was unable to access my home which is at the top of a hill. The rear wheels just skidded and in spite of traction control the car came to a grinding halt and had to be left by the side of the road. During the first period of snow at the beginning of December driving was impossible and dangerous. When diving down my road I found it was impossible to stop as the car just skidded on.

I was recommended to purchase a set of wheels with winter tyres which I had fitted in the middle of December just before the second period of heavy snow. My road became impassable and parents collecting their children from the school just down the road had to abandon their cars on the side of the road as they were sliding down the hill into the back of other cars – it was chaotic! The police immediately closed the road due to the dangerous conditions.

On previous occasion in these conditions it would have been impossible for me to get my car into my drive yet alone up the hill. With the winter tyres fitted the car just cruised up the hill pass all these abandoned cars and into my drive without even the traction control coming into operation. Over the period of the worst snow I did a number of tests on the car to see if the tyres were really as good as had been reported. One of the tests included taking someone to their home in a cul-de-sac at the top of a steep hill. They pointed out that no car had attempted driving up this road but a few 4x4 cars had successfully achieved the assent. To both the amazement of my passenger and residents in the road the car just glided up without a care in the world. I was also able to stop on the way down – it seemed that the tyres gave full traction on sheet ice in the same way as it would on a dry road.

I would give the winter tyres a 5 star rating – the only problem from my point of view is that I have become over confident about the performance of my car in very icy conditions and forget that other cars who have not fitted a set of winter tyres will not have the same performance and if I try to stop I must ensure that the other cars following me are some way off!

My tests throughout the period of the snowy conditions has convinced me that my BMW 7 Series fitted with a set of winter tyres has a better road performance than a 4x4 fitted only with standards tyres. I would now advise all BMW owners to consider this option to make their cars safe under these hazardous conditions.

Wishing you all he best for year 2011

David



Vines BMW Group
You can keep  up with news, stories and events by following Vines on Twitter: @VinesBMW or join us on our new Facebook page

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