BMW to charge monthly for features

[MadInNc]

Really? Who’s next?

[Mike Mercury]

[Rodnok1]

If they don't have to pay for turn signals they don't use its a wash...

[DAB]

what's on the dashboard?

[outrunm]

Originally Posted by DAB

what's on the dashboard?

parking receipts. He literally paid for both spots.

[outrunm]

I understand Cadillac is exploring doing the same.

[dvarapala]

Originally Posted by MadInNc

Really? Who’s next?

Companies saw how Adobe turned a one-time sale into a recurring monthly revenue stream and they've all been salivating ever since. BMW buyers are a good candidate for this business model because they typically have plenty of disposable income. If this turns out to be profitable for BMW look for other luxury brands like Mercedes and Audi to quickly follow suit.

[mrvette]

An old ET like me would have FUN tricking my way around that crap....call it a challenge.....cut the computers out, and hardwire what I want, the way I want it to function.....put a phony load on the computers, if necessary.....

[Bill]

Meanwhile, Dodge does it the old fashioned way. Both front seat warmers stopped working years ago on my truck. It's a thin electric wire that generates the heat, easily broken by repeated sitting, getting in, and out of the truck. Thankfully, the seat coolers (fans) still work. I'd probably pay to have them fixed.

My Silverado had the same problem. Thankfully, in South Texas, a seat heater would only be useful for a few weeks a year.

[Iron Chef]

BMW states that it's going to be effective with every car manufactured after July 2020 as well as the new 5 series. I'd be more than happy to pick up a 2017 M6 or a 2013 SL63 where that system doesn't exist.

I'm all for latest and greatest features, but you can still put yourself in a really nice car that's a few years old without them.

[The_Dude]

recurring revenue

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

BMW states that it's going to be effective with every car manufactured after July 2020 as well as the new 5 series. I'd be more than happy to pick up a 2017 M6 or a 2013 SL63 where that system doesn't exist.

I'm all for latest and greatest features, but you can still put yourself in a really nice car that's a few years old without them.

Just a version of what the computer virus protectors do. Oh you can throw "Word" and some C cleaners in there also.

[Mike Mercury]

[dvarapala]

Originally Posted by mrvette

An old ET like me would have FUN tricking my way around that crap

You're an extraterrestrial? That explains a lot actually...

cut the computers out, and hardwire what I want, the way I want it to function.....put a phony load on the computers, if necessary.....

Please explain how you would accomplish that. I design embedded systems for a living, so please feel free to be as technical as you need to in order to explain it clearly and thoroughly.

[The_Dude]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

Just a version of what the computer virus protectors do. Oh you can throw "Word" and some C cleaners in there also.

It's a common model in software. At least software vendors give you updates and bug fixes for the annual fees.

[dvarapala]

Heated Seats As A Service.

[outrunm]

Pretty sure they are already doing it with remote start and other features via their BMW Connected app. This is what I get with the wife's car. The app was free for a short time, but I literally never used it:

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by dvarapala

Companies saw how Adobe turned a one-time sale into a recurring monthly revenue stream :

I jumped on this. I actually like the service and being up to date. $10.00/Month and I have Lightroom and Photoshop.

[DAB]

how come my chevy truck, with fancy OnStar, that can call anyone, that tracks various sensors on the truck, how come it can't set the time automatically?

[bsmith]

Monthly payments for a feature like heated seats? **** that.

I understand on services like Onstar, or GPS, or self-driving...but not features that you pay for in the sticker price.
Are the repairs covered in the subscription?