[lennyf]

Has anyone outfitted their vehicles with GPS type tracking devices ??
ie: for teenage drivers and parents peace of mind.

Thanks in advance.

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by lennyf

Has anyone outfitted their vehicles with GPS type tracking devices ??
ie: for teenage drivers and parents peace of mind.

Thanks in advance.

I switched on the GPS tracker in IDrive combined with the BMW Connected app and you can track the car that way. All free!!

[lennyf]

Doesn't do real time tracking.

[BEM-S4]

Probably easier to just track phone

[jpnh]

Just call the NSA

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by lennyf

Doesn't do real time tracking.

Yes, you're right it's not real time. But maybe the OP is just looking for an update now & then, which he'll get just by refreshing the maps page/screen. Free & easy to "set-up"

[P2]

Originally Posted by lennyf

Has anyone outfitted their vehicles with GPS type tracking devices ??
ie: for teenage drivers and parents peace of mind.

Thanks in advance.

If you need a realtime option take a look at: http://www.gotrack.com
I helped someone set this up with the hardwire option and they have been using it for 5 years or so. Realtime, data available for 6 month, multiple report options, geofences etc. It's not cheep. But is a good reliable service if you want these features.

[lennyf]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

[Lacessit]

https://www.automatic.com

GPS location via 3g. Plugs into obdii port. Will send notifications when your car is started & moved, with real-time location. Also has crash alert with automatic notifications for up to 3 contacts of your choice.

I just started using it, my brother gave it to me as a gift.

[Maynard]

Personally I think you are nuts to turn a teen loose in a 240 - feels really great to be that cool kind of a parent, until you get the call. But if you do, get something that tracks the car, and keep this to yourself. Then make a big point of putting an app on their phone to track these things. Just in case your kid gets 'smart' and leaves their phone someplace for the joyriding. And a half a chance you can find out if they get in somebody else's car to do crazy shit. But this is really like having a paramedic standing by while they play Russian roulette - haven't you already had that 'damn, I'm going faster than I should' feeling yourself a few times in it?

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Maynard

Personally I think you are nuts to turn a teen loose in a 240 - feels really great to be that cool kind of a parent, until you get the call. But if you do, get something that tracks the car, and keep this to yourself. Then make a big point of putting an app on their phone to track these things. Just in case your kid gets 'smart' and leaves their phone someplace for the joyriding. And a half a chance you can find out if they get in somebody else's car to do crazy shit. But this is really like having a paramedic standing by while they play Russian roulette - haven't you already had that 'damn, I'm going faster than I should' feeling yourself a few times in it?

I'd look into a Dinan tune. Not for extra performance mind you, to permanently leave the car in valet mode to reduce boost as junior is learning to drive.

[wjjkoevoets]

Originally Posted by Maynard

Personally I think you are nuts to turn a teen loose in a 240 - feels really great to be that cool kind of a parent, until you get the call. But if you do, get something that tracks the car, and keep this to yourself. Then make a big point of putting an app on their phone to track these things. Just in case your kid gets 'smart' and leaves their phone someplace for the joyriding. And a half a chance you can find out if they get in somebody else's car to do crazy shit. But this is really like having a paramedic standing by while they play Russian roulette - haven't you already had that 'damn, I'm going faster than I should' feeling yourself a few times in it?

I will quote myself from another post:

Originally Posted by wjjkoevoets

Generally speaking, I think you’re absolutely right. There are so many irresponsible kids on the road causing all sorts of dangerous situations.

I would just like to point out that this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case for every 18 year old.

My first car was a RWD 136HP mid-engine convertible. Granted, in the US that’s not a very fast car. To put things in perspective, however, out of the 8 million cars in this country, only 1.5 million cars are faster OR have more HP. With a top speed of just over 125 MPH and 0-60 rating of 8.9 seconds most shit boxes on the road here don’t stand a chance. Not the most sensible option for a 18 year old, right?

I drove 95 miles a day with that wonderful, wonderful piece of British engineering (crappy interior quality, Rover K-series head gasket was complete shit, but that car was such a blast to drive, really amazing!). Never pulled off any crazy stunts or did anything stupid with it. And on an unrelated side-note: It actually had an oil temperature gauge :P

Heck, my parents had no problems lending me their 1 year old RWD MB E320 CDI with a top speed limited at 155 MPH and 0-60 rating of 6.8 seconds at the age of 18 (mind you, only 184,000 cars are faster OR have more HP over here!). Never pulled of any stunts with that car either, always drove responsibly with it. Still, not the kind of car you would let your 18 year old drive around with, it has every potential to be a recipe of disaster.

Now I’m 25 and driving an M235i (only 33,000 cars are faster OR have more HP!). Still not being an irresponsible road toddler. I’ve made it a sport to drive like a complete grandma in Eco PRO driving to work, doing 8.7l/100km or 27 mpg on a 13.5 mile trip, while people are hating me for driving slowly in a 6-cyilinder turbo when they're behind me in their 0.8l 2 cylinder turbo lol :P

Again, not everyone is irresponsible at the ages 18 to 26 (I believe that’s the age a brain is fully developed, generally).

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of idiots out there, being all cool in their cardboard tuned 92’ Honda CRX with noisy quad exhausts and zero wheel traction, but it’s definitely not everyone.

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by lennyf

Doesn't do real time tracking.

Mine does real-time tracking.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by wjjkoevoets

I will quote myself from another post:

That's spot on. There's a reason you can't rent a car til 25 all kinds of science backing that up. That aside it takes a lot of drive time to get experience. Unless junior is the next Lewis Hamilton and has been driving since 3 there's just no good reason to go this route. Hell even he totaled his personal car not that long ago.

[lennyf]

Thanks guys !!!
Picked up an 06 325Ci coupe w/ 60k miles.