Porsche Connect Activation Issues
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 57
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Porsche Connect Activation Issues
So, I got my CPO 2018 Panama 4S four months ago – LOVE IT! But, one thing the dealership and Porsche have been unable to activate –after four months is Porsche Connect. The dealership at least “appears” to be trying to get Porsche to address this issue on its end and actually seems frustrated Porsche can’t figure out how to activate it (since Porsche wants the dealerships to activate it and scores the dealerships on activations). Initially the dealership/Porsche story was something to the effect of they need to contact the first owner and have him disconnect the service first and they couldn’t get a hold of him. I was like, “o.k., what if he’s dead, are you telling me Porsche doesn’t have a plan in place to have Porsche Connect activated for the new owner of a CPO, surely pre-owned Porsche’s are sold daily where this occurs. Then, apparently the dealership and Porsche got it worked out and had me come in only to determine it still wouldn’t activate. My frustration was somewhat offset by the receipt of a nice red Porsche hat, lol, and hearing the dealership tell someone on the phone at Porsche that “if you can’t get Porsche Connect to activate for a new owner of a 2018 preowned Porsche, how the hell are you going to build the all-electric Taycan.”
Four months in and still no resolution. Aside from the principal of the whole ordeal and that this really shouldn’t be so difficult, I understand at least one useful benefit of Porsche Connect is the ability to find or track your car (and the find aspect for me and my wife would be nice in some instances).
Can anyone else tell me what else Porsche Connect has which they have found useful?
Four months in and still no resolution. Aside from the principal of the whole ordeal and that this really shouldn’t be so difficult, I understand at least one useful benefit of Porsche Connect is the ability to find or track your car (and the find aspect for me and my wife would be nice in some instances).
Can anyone else tell me what else Porsche Connect has which they have found useful?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 402
Likes: 132
From: Los Angeles
So, I got my CPO 2018 Panama 4S four months ago – LOVE IT! But, one thing the dealership and Porsche have been unable to activate –after four months is Porsche Connect. The dealership at least “appears” to be trying to get Porsche to address this issue on its end and actually seems frustrated Porsche can’t figure out how to activate it (since Porsche wants the dealerships to activate it and scores the dealerships on activations). Initially the dealership/Porsche story was something to the effect of they need to contact the first owner and have him disconnect the service first and they couldn’t get a hold of him. I was like, “o.k., what if he’s dead, are you telling me Porsche doesn’t have a plan in place to have Porsche Connect activated for the new owner of a CPO, surely pre-owned Porsche’s are sold daily where this occurs. Then, apparently the dealership and Porsche got it worked out and had me come in only to determine it still wouldn’t activate. My frustration was somewhat offset by the receipt of a nice red Porsche hat, lol, and hearing the dealership tell someone on the phone at Porsche that “if you can’t get Porsche Connect to activate for a new owner of a 2018 preowned Porsche, how the hell are you going to build the all-electric Taycan.”
Four months in and still no resolution. Aside from the principal of the whole ordeal and that this really shouldn’t be so difficult, I understand at least one useful benefit of Porsche Connect is the ability to find or track your car (and the find aspect for me and my wife would be nice in some instances).
Can anyone else tell me what else Porsche Connect has which they have found useful?
Four months in and still no resolution. Aside from the principal of the whole ordeal and that this really shouldn’t be so difficult, I understand at least one useful benefit of Porsche Connect is the ability to find or track your car (and the find aspect for me and my wife would be nice in some instances).
Can anyone else tell me what else Porsche Connect has which they have found useful?
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 1
I have the same issue with my 2018 E-Hybrid which I’ve owned NEW since last August. I’ve had them try to activate it a few times and it always fails. They even did it with me standing and watching so I know they were not BSing. They claim that they cannot do anything and to call Porsche. Last time I called they said they would look into it and I have not heard back. I have given up. If you get this resolved please let me know!
Pro
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 742
Likes: 76
From: Southwest Florida
Porsche Connect is the least well thought out and most German thing ever. Here we are in 2019 and technology is invariably self-service activated and Porsche requires me to get a code from HQ and then go to the dealer to turn it on. And then there is the separate issue of connecting your smartphone app with the car... thank God they couldn’t mess around with Bluetooth for if they could we would have an entirely separate set of dealer-managed processes for pairing a phone.
I had it on in my 911 and didn’t bother with my new Panamera. I use Apple CarPlay and while I give up some of the functions enabled through the Porsche app that require Connect, I’m still better off and don’t have to pay an annual fee to use it.
The Germans are simply not good at software and in the age of a technology-centric mobility market, they are at a significant disadvantage even with Bosch Labs here in the Valley. Tesla is weak on a lot of points (e.g. interior materials) but their software is leading the industry and how they interact with customers is at the center of that advantage. Porsche better figure this out before the Taycan hits the market.
I had it on in my 911 and didn’t bother with my new Panamera. I use Apple CarPlay and while I give up some of the functions enabled through the Porsche app that require Connect, I’m still better off and don’t have to pay an annual fee to use it.
The Germans are simply not good at software and in the age of a technology-centric mobility market, they are at a significant disadvantage even with Bosch Labs here in the Valley. Tesla is weak on a lot of points (e.g. interior materials) but their software is leading the industry and how they interact with customers is at the center of that advantage. Porsche better figure this out before the Taycan hits the market.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 180
From: Atlanta
Have any of you resolved this issue? I have ben having the same issue with my 2018 Panamera Turbo S e-Hybrid. Porsche has a case open on the issue and are unable to resolve it for the past 2 weeks. The issue is escalated to Germany. They just sent me a $300 gift card as an apology for the delay. But what I really want is this thing to get resolved.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 31
Likes: 4
I have been trying to get it activated on my 2017 Turbo as well but not much luck. Called Porsche Connect and they said they have been doing system wide upgrade that should have completed this past weekend. But so far still no luck.
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 180
From: Atlanta
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 92
From: Port Orange, FL
Seems I'm seeing more complaints on newest models than I've ever seen in the 50 years of continuously owning Porsches dating back to the 356 Model.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 180
From: Atlanta
1) The first challenge was I was not able to get a my porsche pairing code. This was escalated twice, and the pairing code was issued earlier this week.
2) On Tuesday the guy called me to walk me through the activation. We ran into a second issue. The embedded SIM wasn't working and the car was not getting an LTE signal. Because of this issue, he shipped me an external SIM card via Fedex which arrived this morning.
3) Today the support tech walked me through activating the external SIM with AT&T, and then inserting it into the SIM tray in the glove box. Once this was completed the car had connectivity.
4) I entered the Pairing Code, and the car was online with all Porsche Connect services.
Very happy they resolved it. While the time taken was not ideal, they did give me a $500 gift card as well.
Next challenge though is how to activate the Porsche Car Connect App so I can use the remote services. I can't believe this a separate services to the other one and not integrated. It seems I am being directed to activate this on the Vodafone Automotive website (which is weird because we are in the USA) and once logged on there it says you have to give an activation code (shown on their website) to your dealer. I don't understand the dealer has to be involved in setting up an App. Any ideas on this?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 522
Likes: 272
From: Minnesota
Dealer got me going on the car connect stuff for the hybrid. Had to get an activation code from the car connect 800. The service does require a Vodafone account here in the is. I set mine up before going to the dealer.
Still can can get the wireless connect stuff going.
Still can can get the wireless connect stuff going.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 402
Likes: 132
From: Los Angeles
Guys - great news. I have now been able to activate Porsche Connect. I got a call back earlier this week after weeks of escalation. Here is how I did it in case helpful to you:
1) The first challenge was I was not able to get a my porsche pairing code. This was escalated twice, and the pairing code was issued earlier this week.
2) On Tuesday the guy called me to walk me through the activation. We ran into a second issue. The embedded SIM wasn't working and the car was not getting an LTE signal. Because of this issue, he shipped me an external SIM card via Fedex which arrived this morning.
3) Today the support tech walked me through activating the external SIM with AT&T, and then inserting it into the SIM tray in the glove box. Once this was completed the car had connectivity.
4) I entered the Pairing Code, and the car was online with all Porsche Connect services.
Very happy they resolved it. While the time taken was not ideal, they did give me a $500 gift card as well.
Next challenge though is how to activate the Porsche Car Connect App so I can use the remote services. I can't believe this a separate services to the other one and not integrated. It seems I am being directed to activate this on the Vodafone Automotive website (which is weird because we are in the USA) and once logged on there it says you have to give an activation code (shown on their website) to your dealer. I don't understand the dealer has to be involved in setting up an App. Any ideas on this?
1) The first challenge was I was not able to get a my porsche pairing code. This was escalated twice, and the pairing code was issued earlier this week.
2) On Tuesday the guy called me to walk me through the activation. We ran into a second issue. The embedded SIM wasn't working and the car was not getting an LTE signal. Because of this issue, he shipped me an external SIM card via Fedex which arrived this morning.
3) Today the support tech walked me through activating the external SIM with AT&T, and then inserting it into the SIM tray in the glove box. Once this was completed the car had connectivity.
4) I entered the Pairing Code, and the car was online with all Porsche Connect services.
Very happy they resolved it. While the time taken was not ideal, they did give me a $500 gift card as well.
Next challenge though is how to activate the Porsche Car Connect App so I can use the remote services. I can't believe this a separate services to the other one and not integrated. It seems I am being directed to activate this on the Vodafone Automotive website (which is weird because we are in the USA) and once logged on there it says you have to give an activation code (shown on their website) to your dealer. I don't understand the dealer has to be involved in setting up an App. Any ideas on this?
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,640
Likes: 117
From: Cypress (Houston), TX
I just bought a '14 a few weeks ago. Good to hear Porsche is making progress on fixing the issues. Is there a cost for this connectivity? I'm still not sure if I need or want it.