BMW now charging micro transactions for heated seats in select countries

[Badhobz]

https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/2...-seats-feature

BMW is now selling subscriptions for heated seats in a number of countries — the latest example of the company’s adoption of microtransactions for high-end car features.

A monthly subscription to heat your BMW’s front seats costs roughly $18, with options to subscribe for a year ($180), three years ($300), or pay for “unlimited” access for $415.

It’s not clear exactly when BMW started offering this feature as a subscription, or in which countries, but a number of outlets this week reported spotted its launch in South Korea.


Fuck. You. BMW.

[GLOW]

going full on microsoft

inb4 DIY seat heater modz/hackz

wonder if they'll charge per using the ignition to start the car on a vehicle you own

[bcrdukes]

I am curious how maintenance and break/fix activities come in to the picture?

Say for example, you build your car with heated seats (assuming it is a non-feature on base model) and you subscribe to heated seats. Upon say Year 7 of ownership (likely 4 because BMW) the heated seats components break and what have you. Are you on the hook for getting it repaired or will the subscription model cover the cost of repairs?

[nismodrifter]

I am done with cars.

[ilovebacon]

everything is subscriptions these days.... what a greedy world

[68style]

Originally Posted by bcrdukes

I am curious how maintenance and break/fix activities come in to the picture?

Say for example, you build your car with heated seats (assuming it is a non-feature on base model) and you subscribe to heated seats. Upon say Year 7 of ownership (likely 4 because BMW) the heated seats components break and what have you. Are you on the hook for getting it repaired or will the subscription model cover the cost of repairs?

They will build every car with the feature in it so there's no more build sheets/customizations on the production line... and then it's up to you to activate it or not through subscription.

[bcrdukes]

[trollface]

They prob figured it was cheaper to just make one type of seat with the elements and then bang you for it than having two skus.

Someone should do a breakeven on this. Say you only buy the subscription during winter, how many years does it take to equal the cost of buying the multi-thousand dollar package for the higher trim right off the batt?

[donk.]

Ok here you go sir, your brand new 70,000$ 2022 bring my wrench series

Now it does come with heater seats, GPS, Bluetooth, auto start, airbags, an engine, and a transmission, but for us to activate those features, you need to pay our subscription

[Great68]

This isn't really anything new, my truck has all sorts of features already built in that just needed to be enabled.

For example, I added factory remote start to my F150 myself. All I needed to do was to get a new FOB with the button, the antenna (which just easily plugs into an existing connector under the dash), and use the FORScan software to enable a bit in the Body Control Module.

Added Hill Descent the same way, just bought the right button from the dealership and enabled with the programmer.

Added the Navigation option to my dad's truck the same way.

My question is, for these "subscription" services how do the cars know that you're keeping up with the monthly payments? Are they connected with a SIM to the cell network or something?

[320icar]

Before we bought the flex, we test drove some Kia/Hyundai. Almost got the telluride, nice car. The Hyundai version rubbed is both the wrong way.

They have an “app” that does remote start, all these features etc but you have to pay a subscription. I got into a heated debate with the salesman about how the car no matter what comes with those features, but you essentially DISABLE them if I don’t keep paying you on top of buying a 70k suv? What if you delete the app? What if we have no internet connection?

So fucked. Fuck you capitalism

[Badhobz]

Originally Posted by nismodrifter

I am done with cars.

yes this.

Fuck you BMW for setting this shit head precedent on heated seats and the little extras THAT WE PAID FOR. I guarantee you every other manufacturer will quickly jump on this bandwagon and start charging for everything.

[bcrdukes]

Wasn't Toyota going to do something like this for their cars? You'd have to pay a subscription fee to get auto / remote start for a Corolla. A freakin' Corolla!

I would expect that these cars are connected to the Internet by way of a SIM or IoT service.

[radeonboy]

All this nickel and diming by BMW for basic functions feel very backward for a supposed luxury brand. It adds complexity to the system by requiring an internet connection (another added cost) while serving no additional benefit for the end-user compared to the outgoing implementation.

This would've been more acceptable if the subscription is for a feature that is expected to grow and improve over time (i.e. 'autopilot' improvements or UX updates that introduce new functionality), but charging a subscription for something like heated seats where its functional scope is just outright egregious.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by 320icar

They have an “app” that does remote start, all these features etc but you have to pay a subscription.

If it's run through an app your car needs internet access via cellular which costs money because it has to come through Telus or whoever and they charge for that. Same deal with the Toyota one iirc.

Having it run through an app is stupid though. I don't want to lend someone my phone to lend them the car. And when everyone is banging on about pollution and fuel economy why are they making it easier to idle your car for no reason?

[320icar]

@underscore: right. So just fucking build it into the fob. Aparently not an option

[trollface]

I have a feeling it's going to be tied to your app. You sync your phone to the car, and it will unlock the feature for 30 days etc without the connection. Kind of like inputting a CD key that's good for 30 days.

I personally cant wait for my shoes to be subscription-based and Bluetooth enabled.

[GLOW]

Originally Posted by 68style

They will build every car with the feature in it so there's no more build sheets/customizations on the production line... and then it's up to you to activate it or not through subscription.

back when i was in technology we did the same thing with product.

hardware team put every feature in to the product and made it work for every country we will sell in.

i programmed the firmware to do set features based on country setting. it was cheaper/easier to manufacture/design just 1 standard product and depending on country shipment, set the programming to said country.

[westopher]

BMW continuing to swirl down the fucking toilet. Oh well. Their cars suck now anyways, so any dumb thing they do to make them worse won't affect me, and shouldn't affect anyone with any sense when it comes to buying a new car.

[Alpine]

I wonder how this works...
Buy a BMW, add on a premium package for heated seats, then pay a monthly fee to use it? So you get charged twice?

[Manic!]

Originally Posted by Alpine

I wonder how this works...
Buy a BMW, add on a premium package for heated seats, then pay a monthly fee to use it? So you get charged twice?

Before you had different modules for each feature now you just have one that does everything. So now all feathers are installed into every car. You just pay per month for the ones you want.

This will be hacked.

[68style]

I am sure you meant features, but feathers is a cute description too

Peacock of BMW's with all feathers installed/activated

[SkunkWorks]

Old news. Bmw has had the subscription service for years for the turn signals.

Low uptake however.

[Alpine]

Originally Posted by Manic!

Before you had different modules for each feature now you just have one that does everything. So now all feathers are installed into every car. You just pay per month for the ones you want.

This will be hacked.

I wouldn't mind that to be honest. Then I would have full control over which options I want instead of buying a package that's bundled with features I don't want.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by 320icar

@underscore: right. So just fucking build it into the fob. Aparently not an option

iirc Toyota did, it was only the app that cost extra. Was Hyundai app-only? Seems like a prime opportunity for an aftermarket company to make a FOB then.