BMW starts selling heated seat subscriptions for $18 a month

[Buster]

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If this is successful,I can see them detune the engine then move to a subscription based performance upgrade. $200/mth to unlock M/AMG/RS performance.

I've heard a poster here suggest that the future of cars is shitty and boring....unless you like the "ACCELERATE TO 100KM SUPER FAST" party trick.

[98brg2d]

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If this is successful,I can see them detune the engine then move to a subscription based performance upgrade. $200/mth to unlock M/AMG/RS performance.

Wasn't "track key" already a thing? More power and no speed limiter at approved road courses. Same idea on a limited basis.

[Kloubek]

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People are very willing to accept this concept when it comes to engine power. Same motor, different power figures depending on which version you buy.

Well there are a couple of things at play there. The first is how it's positioned to the customer. The second is whether it's a full disable, or just an enhancement.

In this case, it's a full disable even though the hardware is there. To me, it's just TOO overtly a cash grab.

As for opening up power in vehicles, I'm only away of a couple of vehicles that actually do this, but I would venture to guess in almost all cases, the customer is required to buy the stock vehicle first and then get it afterwards. The upgrade is usually not immediately available, making the customer feel like it wasn't even a possibility until now. Also, if they limited the vehicle to unrealistically low speeds unless you bought the upgrade, then there probably WOULD be issues with it. But from what vehicles I know, they are already quick and the upgrade just makes them that much more quicker. And let's face it, the concept of paying more to upgrade the performance of a vehicle is nothing new.

Not like paying to make brand new seat warmers actually operate.

[killramos]

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If this is successful,I can see them detune the engine then move to a subscription based performance upgrade. $200/mth to unlock M/AMG/RS performance.

Isn’t that basically how electric cars work?

[Buster]

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Well there are a couple of things at play there. The first is how it's positioned to the customer. The second is whether it's a full disable, or just an enhancement.

In this case, it's a full disable even though the hardware is there. To me, it's just TOO overtly a cash grab.

As for opening up power in vehicles, I'm only away of a couple of vehicles that actually do this, but I would venture to guess in almost all cases, the customer is required to buy the stock vehicle first and then get it afterwards. The upgrade is usually not immediately available, making the customer feel like it wasn't even a possibility until now. Also, if they limited the vehicle to unrealistically low speeds unless you bought the upgrade, then there probably WOULD be issues with it. But from what vehicles I know, they are already quick and the upgrade just makes them that much more quicker. And let's face it, the concept of paying more to upgrade the performance of a vehicle is nothing new.

Not like paying to make brand new seat warmers actually operate.

Basically every current SC/Turbo V8 is a select-a-power

[killramos]

The BMW s55 engine is well documented to have like 5 different tunes for exactly the same engine.

I can literally give my M2 the M4 CS tune with an iPhone and a dongle.

[Buster]

hehe, he said dongle

[Kloubek]

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Basically every current SC/Turbo V8 is a select-a-power

Oh, sorry. So you aren't talking over-the-air updating (which I had assumed this was. Haven't read anything. Creating my own narrative, apparently).

For sure - for that, I will completely agree. My car included, which uses the same engine in the supercharged, XFR, and XFRS.

[Buster]

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Oh, sorry. So you aren't talking over-the-air updating (which I had assumed this was. Haven't read anything. Creating my own narrative, apparently).

For sure - for that, I will completely agree. My car included, which uses the same engine in the supercharged, XFR, and XFRS.

Same same. You're paying more for the same hardware and some software

[Kavy]

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Who are the people using heated seats? Do they not have garages or park underground at work?

I would be willing to pay a one time fee to disable the annoying engine auto shutdown though

BimmerCode and a port reader. 1 time fee and you can disable whatever you want from that stupid auto shutoff (first thing I did) to seat belt chimes. Heck I even adjusted the temp of my seats and the brightness of my lights.

On the subscription, I pay that already and I bought a car that required me to purchase shit after from the connected drive store like my car starter because it wasn’t optioned in from factory due to some stupid excuse. Personally I see this subscription model changing the used market. Homeboy can buy the model and Color they want then add everything they want to it after instead of hunting for that used car that has all the options they are looking for.

[rage2]

AMG vs AMG S, Porsche sport chrono package. 2 examples off the top of my head same hardware but software unlock more power.

[Tik-Tok]

New Jersey is looking to put their foot down on this.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/new-je...-subscriptions

[Buster]

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New Jersey is looking to put their foot down on this.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/new-je...-subscriptions

the only thing dumber than in-car subscriptions is gov't busybodies thinking they should put their muddy paws on a free market.

[killramos]

What’s the difference between a subscription fee and a lease again?

[M.alex]

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And with the Ford "you can't buy the battery" nonsense, you can see where this is going.

?

[nismodrifter]

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?

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a4...out-leased-ev/

[sabad66]

Mercedes joining the party. Doesn’t Tesla already do this?

https://www.thedrive.com/news/merced...ion-in-its-evs

[killramos]

I would still like to understand the difference between subscription fees and leasing.

[HiSpec]

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Mercedes joining the party. Doesn’t Tesla already do this?

https://www.thedrive.com/news/merced...ion-in-its-evs

I can already see manufacturers withholding battery capacity and charging people to unlock extra EV range.

[Buster]

I've already crossed over into the don't-give-a-fuck-about-cars territory. You'll all join me eventually.