Is Bluelink a total dud, or is it just me?

[my2wins]

I searched all the threads before posting this. I am confused since I didn't see many others complaining about Bluelink, given the poor experience I've had.

I've used my Bluelink a few times just to try it out. The first time worked, but there was a human that came on the line, asked me to sign up, and then they downloaded a POI to my navi. I thought that was pretty cool, and it had promise.

But since the first use, now only an automated operator answers. And I haven't been able to get it to do anything each time I've tried. The two times I really needed it for a real life situation, it was a complete dud. Once a few weeks ago, I was trying to get it to re-route me around a massive accident that stopped traffic in all directions, in an area I wasn't familiar enough to find an alternative route. But I didn't get past hello with it. Yesterday in SF I tried to have it find the art supplies store, Flax, which my kid wanted to go to while we were out joy riding the G.

Here's how it went:

I push the Bluelink button.
Bluelink automated operator asks me to say a command.
I say Navigation.
It says Thank you for calling Bluelink, and hangs up.

I push the button again.
Auto operator asks me to say a command.
I say help.
It tells me I can say New Destination, Gas Prices, Restaurant ratings, Daily Route Guide.
I say New Destination.
It says sorry I'm having a hard time understanding you, and hangs up.

I push the button again.
Auto operator asks me to say a command.
I say New Destination.
It asks me to say a name.
I say Flax Art Supplies.
It starts to read me 5 choices of nearby places, and asks me which one I want, starting with the Apple store.
I say Next.
It says Thank you for calling Bluelink, and hangs up.

etc
etc
etc

Different versions of this scenario went on about 10 times until I finally said screw it, and I pulled over (into a bus lane I realized, oops), and looked up the address on my iPhone, then entered it manually into the Navigator address finder.

(But not before trying to find Flax Art Supplies on the Navigator, and having a similarly non-productive experience and complete inability to find it.)

Before I jump to conclusions that I'm SOOL (* out of luck), I cracked open and am starting to study the manual, to see what I'm doing wrong. But I don't see anything at the first read through that tells what I need to do differently.

I spoke loud enough. I had the radio and A/C turned off. I don't have an accent. I don't have a speech issue. I even had my teenage kid answer one time to see if my voice was the problem. Nothing worked.

I still love the car as a driving experience, but the advanced technology experience so far has not been positive.

I can't possibly imagine how Bluelink adds any value, since I couldn't get it to help me if my life depended on it.

Is anyone successfully using it proficiently, and are there any special tricks to getting on track?

Right now I'm kind of bummed because I specifically got the 2013 vs a perfectly fine almost new 2012 that was $10K lower -- and having Bluelink was the tie breaker as to why I chose the new model, all things being equal. If things continue to fail in the Bluelink department, I will be kicking myself for the next decade.

 

[nb_mike]

I have it too on my 2013. It is fun 'dodad' but it certainly isn't a must have. I too waited for the 2013 to get it. I have found restaurants in the vehicle. The best feature is being able to DL favorites from my laptop without having to sit in the car and type in info. I have used the start feature on cold mornings and probably will when it hits 90-100 this Summer.

Bottom line not worth the money but does have some benefits.

 

[Fast55]

I use remote start almost daily and it has been flawless so far. I've only tried the Bluelink button for a destination twice now just to try it, and it worked both times. Having nav, I wouldn't keep the guidance package, but did take the free upgrade for Assurance and Essentials.

 

[Ruissimo]

Guidance never made sense to me as a package I'd own in the long run. I like the Nav just fine, and I never use advanced features - that's what apps on my smartphone are for (and there's no monthly charge for those).

The other packages are pretty cool though, and I believe them worthy of the price of admission.

Doesn't really matter to me... I have a '12.

 

[Aquineas]

How is the interface with the iPod? Has that improved over previous years? I hate to pile on here, but I'm having a hard time seeing why what you described is an upgrade over Google Voice Search on my Android phone...

 

[Fast55]

The only iPod I own is an iPod shuffle I got as a gift, so I can't comment on how a full blown iPod would work. The cable that came with the car is still in the package. Bluetooth streaming from my HTC EVO is awesome. Great sound quality, and even the display shows the album art, etc.

 

[Aquineas]

Well the BT streaming is definitely something missing from previous years (and the album art is a nice touch). I guess what I was wondering about is how it handles searching for songs and music.

 

[my2wins]

Update: I've had two calls with Blue Link yesterday and today to trouble shoot. They escalated my case to their IT department, who will run a test on their servers to see if my set up is faulty.

The feature that doesn't work well is the voice recognition menu in the Guidance package. The remote functions of the Essentials package have worked fine.

FWIW, for anyone who doesn't have Blue Link, but does has a factory Navigation system, you are not missing much in the navigation department. I have noodled around with navigating using both ways, and you do not need the Blue Link Guidance package if you have a factory Navi with voice input.

The only incremental value is in the Blue Link comes from the Essentials package (auto lock/unlock, remote start, find my parked G, etc) and potentially the Assurance package (SOS roadside assist), if you want that sort of thing which I don't.

So net net, it all boils down the remote lock/unlock, remote start and find my parked car. Therefore the Essentials package is most likely the only one I'll be subscribing to when the trial is up.

If someone were to ask whether to get BlueLink or not, it would definitely be a not, unless the remote stuff was a must have.



I see no reason to subscribe to the Guidance (Navi) package via Blue Link.

 

[QuantumRift]

Bluelink is another way to get your car hacked. LOL.

 

[my2wins]

Yep, I agree.

I still want to get it working though. (Just in time to cancel the subscription when my trial period ends. )

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[Potty_Pants]

Not worth it for me. Tooo expensive

Ppp

P.s. sounds like it still has some bugs and improvements necessary

 

[Fast55]

Well the BT streaming is definitely something missing from previous years (and the album art is a nice touch). I guess what I was wondering about is how it handles searching for songs and music.

I didn't spend too much time on it today being busy, but the short answer is:

It doesn't.

As far as I can tell, all you can do is skip up/down within the album or play list you have playing at the time. I'll dig into this more tomorrow since I'll be in the car most of the day.

 

[my2wins]

P.s. sounds like it still has some bugs and improvements necessary

Very buggy. Almost beta buggy.

Anyone who was wishing they had it can definitely save their wishes for something more substantive.

Like VIM. (I'm kidding!)

 

[kf4zra]

at $100 a year, i would keep it, at the current price, ill let it expire when my trial ends

 

[my2wins]

I never heard back from Blue Link, so I called in today to check on my "case," and they told me IT ran some tests, then closed my case once they deemed that I was getting their signal.

I still can't use Blue Link, 9 out of 10 times. It keeps asking me to say a command, as if its not hearing me. It's functionally completely useless at this point, except for the app (remote start etc).

Does anyone have any secret Bat Phone to the Blue Link super Hero team? The first line team just keeps saying my connection to their Blue Link servers seems fine and asking me to keep trying.