Disable all data/cellular connection

[mojoJJ]

2023 X3 M40i

I’m a big privacy freak and was wondering if there’s a way to make my connected car “un-connected”. I don’t really care if the connected features become unavailable as a result.

Has anyone else figured out a way to pull the related fuse or any other way to disable the eSIM module from the car?

[RigaTony1982]

Originally Posted by mojoJJ

2023 X3 M40i

I’m a big privacy freak and was wondering if there’s a way to make my connected car “un-connected”. I don’t really care if the connected features become unavailable as a result.

Has anyone else figured out a way to pull the related fuse or any other way to disable the eSIM module from the car?

I believe you can deactivate the Connected Drive services from MyGarage. Can also adjust the privacy stuff related to car data in there as well.

[mojoJJ]

Originally Posted by RigaTony1982

I believe you can deactivate the Connected Drive services from MyGarage. Can also adjust the privacy stuff related to car data in there as well.

Well, if we have learned anything from all the recent and past consumer privacy debacles, is that companies don’t really care what privacy settings you’ve chosen. They’d rather take risk and profit off your data, and apologize if caught. It’s more of ask for apology not permission kinda approach.

I’d rather physically render the system incapable of communicating. Even when “connected services” is disabled from the app, the car STILL sends over telemetry data including usage and location etc.

[RigaTony1982]

Originally Posted by mojoJJ

Well, if we have learned anything from all the recent and past consumer privacy debacles, is that companies don’t really care what privacy settings you’ve chosen. They’d rather take risk and profit off your data, and apologize if caught. It’s more of ask for apology not permission kinda approach.

I’d rather physically render the system incapable of communicating. Even when “connected services” is disabled from the app, the car STILL sends over telemetry data including usage and location etc.

Yeah, good luck though. I'm assuming if you pull a fuse or something you're going to get a bunch of error messages or it's going to mess up something other than the just the esim.

I get where you're coming from as far as the privacy stuff. At this point though, it's almost a lost cause. I avoid the obvious stuff (like Facebook), but I've never worried too much about the car stuff. Your phone is probably tracking similar stuff the car is (location, etc.)

[mojoJJ]

Originally Posted by RigaTony1982

Yeah, good luck though. I'm assuming if you pull a fuse or something you're going to get a bunch of error messages or it's going to mess up something other than the just the esim.

I get where you're coming from as far as the privacy stuff. At this point though, it's almost a lost cause. I avoid the obvious stuff (like Facebook), but I've never worried too much about the car stuff. Your phone is probably tracking similar stuff the car is (location, etc.)

I agree that you can only do so much. My concern is also about poor security when it comes to connected cars. There have been numerous discussions and demonstrations about how hackers can access your car and disable critical systems etc. Companies are making cars more dependent on connected services but paying almost no attention to security whatsoever.

I haven’t gotten my car yet but I’ll try to find a way to disable connection to the internet altogether. Like pulling an antenna somewhere or something like that. So it just doesn’t have the signal.

[RigaTony1982]

Originally Posted by mojoJJ

I agree that you can only do so much. My concern is also about poor security when it comes to connected cars. There have been numerous discussions and demonstrations about how hackers can access your car and disable critical systems etc. Companies are making cars more dependent on connected services but paying almost no attention to security whatsoever.

I haven’t gotten my car yet but I’ll try to find a way to disable connection to the internet altogether. Like pulling an antenna somewhere or something like that. So it just doesn’t have the signal.

Just an FYI, if you disable the in-car WiFi Apple CarPlay/Android Auto won't work.

[RigaTony1982]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Yup. And thank the Lord.

Do you not listen to music or anything? How do you navigate somewhere?

[mojoJJ]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

If you are that concerned, just open up the shark fin and disconnect the antenna cable(s). Or line the fin with aluminum duct tape.

That would disable FM radios and in-car GPS too. Also, I’m not sure cellular antenna is in the shark-fin. I’ll have to figure this out when I get my car in a couple of weeks. Thankfully it’s only ID7; ID8 would’ve been a privacy and security nightmare; one more step closer to “you own nothing”.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by mojoJJ

That would disable FM radios and in-car GPS too. Also, I’m not sure cellular antenna is in the shark-fin. I’ll have to figure this out when I get my car in a couple of weeks. Thankfully it’s only ID7; ID8 would’ve been a privacy and security nightmare; one more step closer to “you own nothing”.

FM antenna is integrated into the rear glass heating element.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by RigaTony1982

Do you not listen to music or anything? How do you navigate somewhere?

I'm a Boomer. "I possess a unique set of skills that allows me to live without the need of a cell phone or GPS."

[RigaTony1982]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I'm a Boomer. "I possess a unique set of skills that allows me to live without the need of a cell phone or GPS."

I can respect that. I’d have a tough time in my current job without one, but sometimes I feel like it’s more of a distraction than what it’s worth, so I can see where you’re coming from

[f30freak]

Originally Posted by mojoJJ

2023 X3 M40i

I’m a big privacy freak and was wondering if there’s a way to make my connected car “un-connected”. I don’t really care if the connected features become unavailable as a result.

Has anyone else figured out a way to pull the related fuse or any other way to disable the eSIM module from the car?

Hey, it has been some time since your post creation but I am also big on privacy and would really like my car not making any data/cellular connections.

Have you found any solution to this ?

Thanks a lot

[Snave01]

I believe that would disable connected services like remote start, lock, etc as well. Everything everywhere is collecting information about you from grocery stores to weather apps (this site is likely even being scraped by a third party if for nothing else than AI data). I'm ok with a lot of it but I refuse to be on Facebook and other social media sites where they track every little thing.

[DomMuc]

if you are that big privacy freak.. get a car built before 1990 :-)

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by mojoJJ

Well, if we have learned anything from all the recent and past consumer privacy debacles, is that companies don’t really care what privacy settings you’ve chosen. They’d rather take risk and profit off your data, and apologize if caught. It’s more of ask for apology not permission kinda approach.

I’d rather physically render the system incapable of communicating. Even when “connected services” is disabled from the app, the car STILL sends over telemetry data including usage and location etc.

This is literally why I drive a 2008 MY car. Find the cleanest E90 you can tolerate and ditch the bloated tech mobile you have now with 60K in your pocket to spend on other hobbies.

[David70]

If you don't connect your phone to the car then the only information your car has is where you go? Not seeing many potential downsides.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by mojoJJ

Well, if we have learned anything from all the recent and past consumer privacy debacles, is that companies don’t really care what privacy settings you’ve chosen. They’d rather take risk and profit off your data, and apologize if caught. It’s more of ask for apology not permission kinda approach.

I’d rather physically render the system incapable of communicating. Even when “connected services” is disabled from the app, the car STILL sends over telemetry data including usage and location etc.

That's true for American companies. BMW is German so they build their system to GDPR standards with heavy privacy controls, ability to delete your data, etc.

You can also disable the remote connection via the portal and it will nuke your cell connection in the car (and nuke things that rely on it like the app and stolen vehicle recovery etc).

You can set your privacy settings in the car and it will respect them. It won't share data between profiles to ensure each driver actually has privacy. It also will default to the most privacy focused stated after any updates and let you know to opt back in.

The allow you to download data they've collected so you know what they have, etc etc

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/usa/a...-for-customers

This is one area BMW leads the pack IMHO as a privacy focused user.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by DomMuc

if you are that big privacy freak.. get a car built before 1990 :-)

I'd say mid 2000's.