Yikes, BMW

[dan]

https://nypost.com/2022/07/12/bmw-ow...-heated-seats/

[Theo]

Ok this is the UPSIDE of no physical buttons? This and over the air updates that you have no control over make me love my lowly ID6.

Come on BMW!! Seriously.

[nate]

Seems like a great way to destroy customer goodwill.

BMW is great at that.

[kognito]

Many American vehicles don't offer heated seats due to the chip problems (for the 2022 models)

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by nate

Seems like a great way to destroy customer goodwill.

BMW is great at that.

Yep. They backtracked on charging a subscription for CarPlay in face of customer outrage, which at least made some sense because they have to keep pushing updates. Maybe they will backtrack on this? If not, I will just keep my current well-equipped car forever.

That said, there is now escapist language in some of the services that says "as long as technically capable." Probably added in light of some features lost when 3G went away, but who knows what other nefarious purposes they may have in mind.

[FC]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

Yep. They backtracked on charging a subscription for CarPlay in face of customer outrage, which at least made some sense because they have to keep pushing updates. Maybe they will backtrack on this? If not, I will just keep my current well-equipped car forever.

That said, there is now escapist language in some of the services that says "as long as technically capable." Probably added in light of some features lost when 3G went away, but who knows what other nefarious purposes they may have in mind.

I heard about this. I had to check the date to make sure it wasn't 4/1. It's preposterous.

If the lifetime cost equates to what the a la caret cost would be, then mathematically I suppose it's not that big a deal, but what a way to turn off owners.

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by FC

I heard about this. I had to check the date to make sure it wasn't 4/1. It's preposterous.

If the lifetime cost equates to what the a la caret cost would be, then mathematically I suppose it's not that big a deal, but what a way to turn off owners.

I remember attending a tech conference, maybe 20 years ago. A Microsoft executive gave the keynote. The gist was that the major revenue in the future would come from subscription models.

And you can see that happening everywhere. Streaming subs; Adobe products no longer sold by version but as subs; etc.

[FC]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

I remember attending a tech conference, maybe 20 years ago. A Microsoft executive gave the keynote. The gist was that the major revenue in the future would come from subscription models.

And you can see that happening everywhere. Streaming subs; Adobe products no longer sold by version but as subs; etc.

Definitely.

But in SW that makes sense. You get the latest and greatest all the time. The function in a heated seat never improves.

[Alan]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

Yep. They backtracked on charging a subscription for CarPlay in face of customer outrage

That was just what I was thinking about when i read this article, I remember when they backed out of it.

I don't see how it is right to charge for options and then put us on a monthly subscription ... in general I do not like the idea of the monthly subscriptions.

I know I am currently paying for the 'red light camera warning' in 2 of our BMW's now but that was an upfront fee for I think 3 years.

[nate]

Originally Posted by Alan

I know I am currently paying for the 'red light camera warning' in 2 of our BMW's now but that was an upfront fee for I think 3 years.

I assume that list gets updated over time, so in the case of services like that I get it.

But heated seat fees are fucking absurd.