2018 e-golf App?

[ivan]

When my wife first had her VW e-golf we used the VW app for setting when to charge / charge rate /deicing windscreen remotely - which was all very useful. However, every few months we were getting messages saying that the current app was expiring and we'd need to download and set up a new app to continue to use the service. After this happened 3times, it was obvious that VW didn't want us using an app with her golf, so we gave up.

I think VW's problem is that it doesn't want to pay for the mobile data - so Im wondering, is it possible to control the VW via an app using local wifi to communicate with the car rather than mobile data? Although the car is parked outside our wifi range, I could run a cable and put some wifi nearby, but it's a lot of effort to make it it isn't going to work

[Stinsy]

As far as I'm aware no VW EV can access wifi. Which is really annoying because many are parked in places with good wifi but poor 4G connectivity so software updates don't get done, Octopus struggles to connect to the car, and even turning the heater on doesn't work...

An additional problem with many older EVs is that they use 3G data which is no turned off (or in the process of being turned off). So you're out of luck if you have one of these.

It doesn't strike me as that difficult to design a module that would upgrade older EVs to 5G or wifi. Unfortunately, VW seems to only care about the first leaseholder and after 3 years they consider the car obsolete.

[SimonSays]

When my wife first had her VW e-golf we used the VW app for setting when to charge / charge rate /deicing windscreen remotely - which was all very useful. However, every few months we were getting messages saying that the current app was expiring and we'd need to download and set up a new app to continue to use the service. After this happened 3times, it was obvious that VW didn't want us using an app with her golf, so we gave up.

I think VW's problem is that it doesn't want to pay for the mobile data - so Im wondering, is it possible to control the VW via an app using local wifi to communicate with the car rather than mobile data? Although the car is parked outside our wifi range, I could run a cable and put some wifi nearby, but it's a lot of effort to make it it isn't going to work

We have a 2020 e-Golf and I use the Volkswagen app to remotely precondition and check journey data etc.
I can't remember the setup procedure though, but there's no nagging here.
On forums I see that VW migrated from a older system to the Volkswagen app, but that happened before I bought the car last year.

[ivan]

I think our e-golf might be a 'later' one - as it's got the 35kWh battery - the earlier ones were a fair bit smaller.

What app do you use with your golf? I tried using the 'Volkswagen' app - but that just sends me round in circles - login to the website, then the app then sends me on a wild goose chase with the VIN number. The other app I've tried recently is 'We Connect Go' - but I think that's the one that told me I needed to use the Volkswagen app instead

I think our car is capable of connecting to a wifi network, as there is the option on the infotainment system to connect to wifi, but the car is parked just a little too far to get a decent signal - it finds the wifi networks, but fails to connect due to poor signal

[SimonSays]

I do remember it was a little bit of a faff to get the e-Golf working with the Volkswagen app but it's been faultless since.
Sorry that I can't remember the exact steps. I got them from a forum post somewhere. Google was my friend.

[AGT]

I use the same app, don’t use it much apart from turning in the heating/ac prior to getting in the car when I remember.

Doesn’t update that quickly, when you want to check charge progress, but again that could be a mobile signal issue.

Had mine 4 years now

[Yuff]

My biggest bug bear on the Audi e-tron we had, apart from the ridiculous drop in range upon turning the heater on, was the inability to communicate with the vehicle from my phone. Mostly, it was only when the vehicle was charging could I alter any in car settings remotely and sometimes even then it didn’t work……
I contacted Audi multiple times but they just said it’s a software issue being looked into.
Tesla on the other hand …..brilliant connectivity

[ivan]

agreed - tesla connectivity is fantastic. Weirdly it was hit and miss for a month or two after I got my tesla - which may be something to do with the fact that it had been unused for a few months, but after that it's been perfect.