[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by cwhands

From what I understand it is subscription based anyways - if you have it currently, open up your connected drive store on the iDrive menus and you should see an expiration date. That 300 dollar fee covers a fairly lengthy period if I recall properly.

I believe it's fairly long. Something like ten years?

[cwhands]

Originally Posted by Mo@BMWofFairfax

I believe it's fairly long. Something like ten years?

Yeah I believe it's something along those lines. I can't imagine that customers who have it already would be charged this new annual rate.

[mrbrett]

Originally Posted by VR1

BMW and nickel and diming customers. Name a more iconic duo.

Porsche and nickel and diming.

[r20]

Originally Posted by Nuckle

I won't have CarPlay in my next BMW even if it is free. It is terrible.

I bet it was apples model to charge for it.


They can keep it.... it is such a shitty experience.

More crappy iOS all around us

[jondaman]

Originally Posted by VR1

BMW and nickel and diming customers. Name a more iconic duo.

Originally Posted by VR1

BMW and nickel and diming customers. Name a more iconic duo.

Comcast, Verizon, or any ISP for that matter.
Next up, Ajit Pai was hired as the head of customer relations at BMW AG!

[SlickShift]

Originally Posted by VR1

BMW and nickel and diming customers. Name a more iconic duo.

I think Porsche takes the cake. But BMW is gaining in the battle of nickel and diming.

[Kung Fu English]

So if I already paid for it I'm not going to have to pay the sub right?

Also I only like it because it makes the bluetooth work better. I always get my album art and the wheel controls work every time with car play. If the regular bluetooth just worked consistently I wouldn't care. It's kind of nice to be able to use the wheel to change my podcast app but it's still kind of laggy. I mainly just use it to get the bluetooth options which is super dumb, it should just work anyway.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Next up:

- Subscribe to your digital dashboard! If you don't particularly care how fast you are going, you are all set - no fees. Otherwise, that's a nominal fee of $4.99 a month which we think is a generous offer considering the price of a speeding ticket.

- Pay per use fuel gauge indicator. Always keep your tank topped off? Great, you've got no need for any indicator then. For owners who want a little more peace of mind, we offer the monitor at a $5.99 monthly fee. It is a matter of economics vs. running out of fuel and calling for assistance.

- Rear-door opt in. Don't typically have passengers in the car? You'll won't usually have to pay to use your doors then. For those that need the back seat on regular basis, we have two payment plans - one for both doors, and one for passenger side only for the family of three. Prices start at $12.99/mo.

- Optional blinker package. Blinker lights will be made optional - we have listened to the marketplace and our customers do not use these on a regular basis. All part of the $1000 ZBL package which includes front and rear blinker lights and interior indicators. Possible on-demand subscription service forthcoming.

Also coming on a trial basis for pay-as-you-go plans next year - HUD, rear view mirror, manual-shift/paddle-shift user interface, air-bag deployment, and USB/power outlets.

I agree with your point, but man you have too much spare time!

[Ibiza]

I would subscribe to Waze, would be cool to tag the LEO on the touchscreen.

[Red Bread]

I assume at some point BMW will charge me to put my briefcase in the trunk.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

This is also a good way to guarantee a higher take rate for other one-time choice options such as Nav. Think about how many use CarPlay for that instead of an OEM Nav system. (I do in my P-car.) Than, think about how many skip choosing that option because of CarPlay compatibility. You can see how this is designed to encourage an uptick on BMW's side ...

This is also evidence that Android Auto will FINALLY become available across the BMW range for the 2019 model year.

My questions now are:
- How long before Apple itself begins charging for CarPlay? If there aren't any plans to do so, Apple may have a pretty big problem with a subscription model that it doesn't control. And:
- If BMW doesn't have the same subscription model for Android Auto -- which it shouldn't since Android Auto is much more open source by design -- what kind of conflict will that create among BMW, Apple, and Google?

My bet: If this happens at all, it will only last a year.

I'm glad Porsche at least offers CarPlay separately without having to get PCM plus or whatever it is. I would have blown a gasket if I had to spend $3k to get CarPlay. No idea why BMW won't follow suit.

[sq86]

What a joke. Another way for them to charge for something new. I wouldn't elect to get this. It was a hard sell before but now that it's another fee to pay for each year, no thanks.

[c63er]

There was a time many of us were fans of BMW because of the amazing cars, but also the amazing fan culture that came with it. So much of that culture did come top down from BMW or at least cultivated by the company which was filled with enthusiasts. The company was also run with foresight and general good decision making which reinforced fan dom.

Now it seems like everyday the company steps into the role of "evil company".

From subpar products marketed as something more, to rebadging exercises ad nauseam, to pedaling racist afd ideology and now to tricking people to sign up for subscription services (does it get any lower?).

I understand why they want to extract every last penny they can, it's what most companies do. But why anyone would consider them a good company or an enthusiast friendly company is beyond me. That day is long gone. This just fits into the pattern of decisions we have seen now for the last few years.

When BMW removed the cf driveshaft from the m3 we were somehow told it's actually a benefit and when that didn't fly then it was that BMW was forced to by regulations. This is the MO of their truly unprofessional and inept marketing/pr department.

Right now this is being spun as a "benefit" which will fall flat here, then we will be told how some external force made them do it.

[hmd5859]

Originally Posted by VR1

BMW and nickel and diming customers. Name a more iconic duo.

I agree! I am sick to death of the nickel and dime approach of BMW. Actually if it really was a nickel or dime that would be great. They always charge a premium for things and then all of the sudden it becomes obsolete. Enough is enough. It really does make me really consider other brands alot

[termigni]

I hate my CarPlay.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by allinon72

And they'll package it all up as "consumer choice."

Based on the feedback on Carplay........good luck maintaining a subscriber base.

Agreed. I have it and it works sometimes and sometimes not. I don't even bother with it anymore. I took a lot car so I did not order it. Next time I order, this option will NOT be selected regardless of it being 300 upfront or 80 a year.

[wdeerfield]

how long do you all keep your car anyways? if you lease, and you get the first year free, its cheaper. and if you like to swap out of cars often (like i see happening with enthusiasts on here) itll be cheaper. You cant take the $300 with you when so go from that '17 M3 to that '18 M3 ZCP. With this model you can subscribe in the new car and be on your way.

[rkmjr]

I have Apple Car Play in one of my vehicles and it works great. If your a heavy iPhone user, Apple Car Play (ACP) has a lot of potential and can allow you to stay connected in your car more safely. I do agree though, that Android users should have the same opportunity to use their Android phone via Android Auto. It is curious that BMW is the ONLY (as far as I know) car maker that charges for the software!!! I have one vehicle that I would not have purchased if it did not have ACP! Now I have to wonder that the car I have configured in BMW's system for spring delivery will require that I have to pay $300 AND and an $80 subscription?? An earlier comment from above regarding nickel and dime'n the customer, sure has merit. Recent changes such as warrantee/service changes seem to be more common place with this "luxury" brand. Seems like the customer is starting to take a "back seat" in BMW's ethos lately.

[davem3fan]

I just got a 2018, and I'd rather pay one year at a time than 300.00 for beyond the time I will have the vehicle.

I wonder when the 80.00/year offer will go live?

[Hansell]

BMW: YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.

[subliminalaudio]

BMW what the hell are you doing!!!! Listen to your customers.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by subliminalaudio

BMW what the hell are you doing!!!! Listen to your customers.

Haha, they stopped that in about 2007 when they dropped mechanical lsd's at the same time they started offering 300lb/ft.