[RinconHeat]

If BMW sells cars with all features included and awaiting subscription do you think it will add significant weight to the cars? It seems that we are always looking for ways to shave every kilo and I can't see that manufacturing cars with every option in place will help to achieve that end. Or is BMW just done with making agile, light cars altogether?

[adamjs83]

Originally Posted by RinconHeat

If BMW sells cars with all features included and awaiting subscription do you think it will add significant weight to the cars? It seems that we are always looking for ways to shave every kilo and I can't see that manufacturing cars with every option in place will help to achieve that end. Or is BMW just done with making agile, light cars altogether?

I think this is more for tech features, they'll put the cameras and lidars etc in all the cars and then you can pay for autonomous driving, speed trap recognition etc. Maybe upsell a better audio processing system on the speakers and amp you have or even sell you more colors for ambient lighting. I doubt they would think of mechanical things like heated or massaging seats as part of this. Think of how Tesla does it with their autonomous driving.

[RinconHeat]

Originally Posted by adamjs83

I think this is more for tech features, they'll put the cameras and lidars etc in all the cars and then you can pay for autonomous driving, speed trap recognition etc. Maybe upsell a better audio processing system on the speakers and amp you have or even sell you more colors for ambient lighting. I doubt they would think of mechanical things like heated or massaging seats as part of this. Think of how Tesla does it with their autonomous driving.

Not to be argumentative, but wasn't heated/cooled seats one of the examples in discussion?

[wdeerfield]

Originally Posted by JRobUSC

I think you guys are missing the point. They can build the cars with all the features on them, which is faster and cheaper than building to order, and then people can unlock whichever features they want, or cancel those they don’t. Someone in Minnesota find the perfect car in Florida except it doesn’t have heated seats? Click - now it does. Active Cruise? Got it.

Btw, this is how Tesla works. Perhaps you’ve heard of them? They seem to be doing ok with it.

oh i didn't miss the point.. this is a way for BMW to continue to suck money out of people even on the used market... instead of a used car buyer working with the dealer on a car and negotiating a price based on features that car already has they will need to enter into a subscription plan.. so it'll be base price of the used car + even more money...

[adamjs83]

Originally Posted by RinconHeat

Not to be argumentative, but wasn't heated/cooled seats one of the examples in discussion?

Yea, I'm just speculating so who knows, it just seems unlikely to me they're gonna put expensive mechanical parts in a car to turn on or off years later. Software on the other hand that relies on relatively inexpensive sensors or infrastructure already in the car is just pure incremental profit.

[eddiehaug]

I don't get it why some people think this is BMW milking its customers or, in other words, a kind of abuse from their side. Seat heating, for example, as far as I know, is an option you have to pay for anyway, so having the choice to activate it or even buying for shorter periods of time (just winter, for example), I think it's great. The same with other features.

I have a fully spec'ed up 3 series, and I had to choose every single option, and they all came with a price tag associated with them, so being able to try before buy and pay for periods I think is great.

Welcome to the subscription economy guys, that's how tech companies sell their stuff now, and BMW is a tech company that sell great cars, don't get confused about that.

[RinconHeat]

Originally Posted by eddiehaug

I don't get it why some people think this is BMW milking its customers or, in other words, a kind of abuse from their side. Seat heating, for example, as far as I know, is an option you have to pay for anyway, so having the choice to activate it or even buying for shorter periods of time (just winter, for example), I think it's great. The same with other features.

I have a fully spec'ed up 3 series, and I had to choose every single option, and they all came with a price tag associated with them, so being able to try before buy and pay for periods I think is great.

Welcome to the subscription economy guys, that's how tech companies sell their stuff now, and BMW is a tech company that sells cars, don't get confused about that.

A tech company that sells cars? Whatever happened to the Ultimate Driving Machine? Everyone ok paying forever for what were once standard features? No sweat? Are you all so confident you can defeat their security? I'm really shocked that no one cares that they will continue to have a "car payment" despite paying cash for their vehicle. Furthermore, new customers who may have scrimped to buy their first used Bimmer are going to be saddled with an extra payment just to keep relevant. I can see the advantages as well but this is very thinly veiled gouging- and frankly crass and unbecoming of a luxury brand.

[eddiehaug]

Originally Posted by RinconHeat

A tech company that sells cars? Whatever happened to the Ultimate Driving Machine? Everyone ok paying forever for what were once standard features? No sweat? Are you all so confident you can defeat their security? I'm really shocked that no one cares that they will continue to have a "car payment" despite paying cash for their vehicle. Furthermore, new customers who may have scrimped to buy their first used Bimmer are going to be saddled with an extra payment just to keep relevant. I can see the advantages as well but this is very thinly veiled gouging- and frankly crass and unbecoming of a luxury brand.

Yes, a tech company that sells cars. Most companies today are a tech companies that sell some product, and BMW is transitioning into that direction as well. That transition started when they released their first car with iDrive 7, and what's happening now is just a natural evolution on that strategy.

I understand what you say about having to pay forever for features, and it's a fair concern. I imagine that for customers planning to keep their cars long-term, BMW will still offer to pay for the features up-front when buying the car, so whatever you buy later on is really because you decided it was an optional feature for you.

For people leasing cars, I think this model works great. You can reduce the monthly payment (or get a better one if it's a company car), and then add features as you go. I think it's just awesome.

Personally, the model doesn't bother me (maybe because I work in a tech company myself and I've been seeing this tendency across industries for a while now), but I understand some people may feel unpleased with this new sales strategy.

[scm6079]

I will not *purchase* a car with a subscription system like this for self-contained features, period. I understand the subscription economy, when there are constant updates needed (e.g. an app that needs to keep working on new Operating System versions) - but not for things like seat heaters. If I do not get CONSTANT upgrades in service, I won't pay a subscription for it. I will move to another manufacturer first. I will pay to keep an app updated, for network connectivity, and other things where the manufacturer has recurring costs.

[JayFar]

I'm excited about this announcement, but it sounds like this is primarily for iDrive 7. Is that everyone else's understanding as well?

[RinconHeat]

Another question I have is when this goes into effect and I'm upgraded to the latest OS, should I expect a $1-2 thousand dollar invoice yearly for the features I already have in my M2C?

[ElectroGeek]

Originally Posted by JayFar

I'm excited about this announcement, but it sounds like this is primarily for iDrive 7. Is that everyone else's understanding as well?

Yes, but I believe all of our G05 have iDrive7 so we should all be getting it.

[JRobUSC]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

oh i didn't miss the point.. this is a way for BMW to continue to suck money out of people even on the used market... instead of a used car buyer working with the dealer on a car and negotiating a price based on features that car already has they will need to enter into a subscription plan.. so it'll be base price of the used car + even more money...

You're forgetting that the price of the car itself will be lower, and it'll take all the hassle out of the purchase. You won't need to go "find" a car somewhere. Pick your color, the price of the car is the price of the car, and you can activate whatever you want. The whole used car process will become like the new car process - it'll be easier, more convenient, and less costly.

[JayFar]

Originally Posted by ElectroGeek

Yes, but I believe all of our G05 have iDrive7 so we should all be getting it.

My 2020 F33 still had IDrive 6, so it looks like I'm still not getting remote start

[mffarrell]

What about remote start on a 2020 G30?

[wdeerfield]

Originally Posted by JRobUSC

You're forgetting that the price of the car itself will be lower, and it'll take all the hassle out of the purchase. You won't need to go "find" a car somewhere. Pick your color, the price of the car is the price of the car, and you can activate whatever you want. The whole used car process will become like the new car process - it'll be easier, more convenient, and less costly.

You are dreaming if you think a luxury manufacturer is going to lower the price of a car

[JayFar]

Originally Posted by mffarrell

What about remote start on a 2020 G30?

The way they describe the Apple key sounds like it will.

[mffarrell]

Originally Posted by JayFar

The way they describe the Apple key sounds like it will.

I don’t think so.

The NFC hardware required for the digital key is available for vehicles produced from July 2020.

[digitallust]

Originally Posted by PBJ

I initially got so excited when I read the overview about Apple CarKey being available in this "third quarter" update and took that to mean that the whole "July 2020" thing must've meant for cars that have it preinstalled...

... then I read the part where the "NFC hardware" required to make it work is only on July 2020 build cars and onwards. What rubbish.

Would of thought that hardware would of already been installed ,
Considering android uses it to open them already?

[chpnsus]

Wow! I knew it was a matter of time after seeing BMW try to make CarPlay subscription based but then rolled back their decision on the 2020 x3.

At this point just make the whole car as a service. I'll pay when I need it and when I don't. Hell even get rid of the warranty since it's subscription based. Someone earlier mentioned "welcome to the subscription based economy" and I couldn't agree more we are headed that way. It comes down to companies wanting more money- same reason we are producing more and more in China. The general population is what BMW and other companies care about - not the smaller population of enthusiasts (anyone on this post).

Even if everyone on this site left BMW it wouldn't hurt them. Most people drive these cars for the badge and BMW knows that.

For those of you in the IT world, remember the days you could buy Microsoft Office, install it and be done? Now you have to get a subscription unless you have some enterprise volume. The IT pros know how to get around it but the general population just pays Microsoft.

Sorry for any spelling issues. Holding two toddlers while writing this.

[RinconHeat]

I would imagine that for BMW to pull this off with maximum profit they will need to place electronic security measures to ensure that no one is stealing their tech. How will this affect installing modifications? Will BMW know to immediately void ones warrantee if they get a tune or new intakes, or even an exhaust? This is clearly an erosion of ownership and privacy.

It seems that some people are embracing the new model and I suspect these people must all lease. It does make sense in that context as you are just renting the car really. For owners, however, this could have devastating impacts on ones freedoms with ones property.

[mffarrell]

Will the I7 lite customers have to take their cars to the dealer for the update? I have a 2020 M550i.