Anonymous wrote:Millenials and their dang subscription models are killing the world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rest...

It’s no surprise that BMW isn’t trumpeting the news, though. Since the company announced in 2020 that its cars’ operating system would allow for microtransactions on features like automatic high beams and adaptive cruise control, customers have decried the move as greedy and exploitative.

Carmakers have always charged customers more money for high-end features, of course, but the dynamic is very different when software, rather than hardware, is the limiting factor.

In the case of heated seats, for example, BMW owners already have all the necessary components, but BMW has simply placed a software block on their functionality that buyers then have to pay to remove. For some software features that might lead to ongoing expenses for the carmaker (like automated traffic camera alerts, for example), charging a subscription seems more reasonable. But that’s not an issue for heated seats.

Other features that BMW is locking behind subscriptions (as per the company’s digital UK store) include heated steering wheels, from $12 a month; the option to record footage from your car’s cameras, priced at $235 for “unlimited” use; and the “IconicSounds Sport package,” which lets you play engine sounds in your car for a one-time fee of $117.

I really wonder how this will go over the US is they expand it. Will people be able to hack their cars to circumvent the BMW programming and make their features work? Will that be a nice hacker gig?

Hacking it would probably void all warranties on the car.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well Lexus charges a subscription fee for the remote start feature on my car. And I assume other employ similar crappy tactics. It's one reason why my next car won't be another Lexus. I think it's a really low ball move.

Here's the thing - I only really want remote start during the coldest parts of the winter. So maybe 4 months per year. At $8/month, that's $32 per year. Assuming I have my car for 10 years, that's $320.

Remote start as an option on most new cars starts at $500.

Anonymous wrote:The rest...

It’s no surprise that BMW isn’t trumpeting the news, though. Since the company announced in 2020 that its cars’ operating system would allow for microtransactions on features like automatic high beams and adaptive cruise control, customers have decried the move as greedy and exploitative.

Carmakers have always charged customers more money for high-end features, of course, but the dynamic is very different when software, rather than hardware, is the limiting factor.

In the case of heated seats, for example, BMW owners already have all the necessary components, but BMW has simply placed a software block on their functionality that buyers then have to pay to remove. For some software features that might lead to ongoing expenses for the carmaker (like automated traffic camera alerts, for example), charging a subscription seems more reasonable. But that’s not an issue for heated seats.

Other features that BMW is locking behind subscriptions (as per the company’s digital UK store) include heated steering wheels, from $12 a month; the option to record footage from your car’s cameras, priced at $235 for “unlimited” use; and the “IconicSounds Sport package,” which lets you play engine sounds in your car for a one-time fee of $117.

I really wonder how this will go over the US is they expand it. Will people be able to hack their cars to circumvent the BMW programming and make their features work? Will that be a nice hacker gig?

Anonymous wrote:The rest...

It’s no surprise that BMW isn’t trumpeting the news, though. Since the company announced in 2020 that its cars’ operating system would allow for microtransactions on features like automatic high beams and adaptive cruise control, customers have decried the move as greedy and exploitative.

Carmakers have always charged customers more money for high-end features, of course, but the dynamic is very different when software, rather than hardware, is the limiting factor.

In the case of heated seats, for example, BMW owners already have all the necessary components, but BMW has simply placed a software block on their functionality that buyers then have to pay to remove. For some software features that might lead to ongoing expenses for the carmaker (like automated traffic camera alerts, for example), charging a subscription seems more reasonable. But that’s not an issue for heated seats.

Other features that BMW is locking behind subscriptions (as per the company’s digital UK store) include heated steering wheels, from $12 a month; the option to record footage from your car’s cameras, priced at $235 for “unlimited” use; and the “IconicSounds Sport package,” which lets you play engine sounds in your car for a one-time fee of $117.

I really wonder how this will go over the US is they expand it. Will people be able to hack their cars to circumvent the BMW programming and make their features work? Will that be a nice hacker gig?

Anonymous wrote:Long term I think it’s a mistake. I once had to pay $18 for WiFi access at a Ritz hotel and I’ve never looked at the brand the same way since.

It’s no surprise that BMW isn’t trumpeting the news, though. Since the company announced in 2020 that its cars’ operating system would allow for microtransactions on features like automatic high beams and adaptive cruise control, customers have decried the move as greedy and exploitative.

Carmakers have always charged customers more money for high-end features, of course, but the dynamic is very different when software, rather than hardware, is the limiting factor.

In the case of heated seats, for example, BMW owners already have all the necessary components, but BMW has simply placed a software block on their functionality that buyers then have to pay to remove. For some software features that might lead to ongoing expenses for the carmaker (like automated traffic camera alerts, for example), charging a subscription seems more reasonable. But that’s not an issue for heated seats.

Other features that BMW is locking behind subscriptions (as per the company’s digital UK store) include heated steering wheels, from $12 a month; the option to record footage from your car’s cameras, priced at $235 for “unlimited” use; and the “IconicSounds Sport package,” which lets you play engine sounds in your car for a one-time fee of $117.

Anonymous wrote:Not thrilled about the idea that someone else has remote access to anything in the operation of my vehicle such that they can turn it on or off at will from afar. What could co wrong?

Anonymous wrote:How weird. I have heating and cooling seats but a subscription to make them work seems very odd.

Anonymous wrote:Well Lexus charges a subscription fee for the remote start feature on my car. And I assume other employ similar crappy tactics. It's one reason why my next car won't be another Lexus. I think it's a really low ball move.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not thrilled about the idea that someone else has remote access to anything in the operation of my vehicle such that they can turn it on or off at will from afar. What could co wrong?

Well I have news for you.... they already have this.

Can this be marketed as a security feature? That if your car is stolen, they can manage it so that it can't be started? Maybe insurance goes down?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not thrilled about the idea that someone else has remote access to anything in the operation of my vehicle such that they can turn it on or off at will from afar. What could co wrong?

Well I have news for you.... they already have this.