How do early builds get BlueCruise?

[dml105]

So a bunch of us are approaching a year into having our Mach-e’s without BlueCruise. I’d say a good chunk of those are also on Ford Options, meaning we are maybe one third of the way through our “leases.” And some are in the early access program, which we thought would get us BlueCruise sooner.

I was fine being patient, but now that GT’s and premiums are shipping with BlueCruise running, that’s become a sore spot for me that I don’t have what I paid for. How do we early build owners get BlueCruise running on our cars?

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[generaltso]

You'll have to wait until Ford releases it via an OTA update (and pay $600). Their latest estimate is Q1 of 2022.

 

[dml105]

You'll have to wait until Ford releases it via an OTA update (and pay $600). Their latest estimate is Q1 of 2022.

That $600 (should be $500 for early builds) needs to be prorated at this point. A three year subscription extends beyond the life of the lease. (And other reasons.)

 

[Gullwingdmc]

Mike Levine has also said that you would be able to take the car to a dealer to have the update done before the OTA is ready. I’m going to guess February for the dealer, March for OTA.

I know the delay is frustrating, but this is the life of the early adopter.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Slight correction: Ford Options is not a lease. It's a loan with a really large final payment that can be re-financed at the original rate of the loan when it comes due. This means you own the car with Ford Credit being the lein holder. ??

 

[dml105]

Mike Levine has also said that you would be able to take the car to a dealer to have the update done before the OTA is ready. I’m going to guess February for the dealer, March for OTA.

I know the delay is frustrating, but this is the life of the early adopter.

I get that there are certain uncertainties that come with being an early adopter, but that doesn’t mean one should roll over when the company doesn’t deliver you something you paid for, but delivers it to others. Working out the bugs in BlueCruise? Yes, I’m fine waiting. But that’s not the situation. They are giving it to some but not the early adopters to whom it was promised. They should prorate the price.

Slight correction: Ford Options is not a lease. It's a loan with a really large final payment that can be re-financed at the original rate of the loan when it comes due. This means you own the car with Ford Credit being the lein holder. ??

That is why I put “lease” in quotes.

 

[generaltso]

That $600 (should be $500 for early builds) needs to be prorated at this point. A three year subscription extends beyond the life of the lease. (And other reasons.)

Early builds got a $100 discount on the car, but will still have to pay the full $600 for BlueCruise when it’s available (unless Ford decides to discount it).

 

[SnBGC]

Mike Levine has also said that you would be able to take the car to a dealer to have the update done before the OTA is ready. I’m going to guess February for the dealer, March for OTA.

I know the delay is frustrating, but this is the life of the early adopter.

Which makes no sense really.
The calibration package exists already (at the factory).....so why can't those that want it be able to get it installed at the dealership now if they wish?

It is a simple matter of making the calibration packages available to the FDRS system. Not really that difficult IMO.

There has to be more to this story that isn't being shared with us.....

Disclaimer. I have no interest in Blue Cruise but agree that it should be available now as promised. If OTA isn't ready.....then cable install it at the dealership. Same as what happens at the factory. Should be the same basic process.

 

[Mach1E]

Which makes no sense really.
The calibration package exists already (at the factory).....so why can't those that want it be able to get it installed at the dealership now if they wish?

It is a simple matter of making the calibration packages available to the FDRS system. Not really that difficult IMO.

There has to be more to this story that isn't being shared with us.....

Disclaimer. I have no interest in Blue Cruise but agree that it should be available now as promised. If OTA isn't ready.....then cable install it at the dealership. Same as what happens at the factory. Should be the same basic process.

If I were to guess, I would say it’s a combo of OTA not ready and they would rather OTA than pay the dealers to install.

If everyone goes to the dealer, it would cost Ford $, so they would likely rather get OTA ready.

Just a guess though.

 

[Luke]

Which makes no sense really.
The calibration package exists already (at the factory).....so why can't those that want it be able to get it installed at the dealership now if they wish?

It is a simple matter of making the calibration packages available to the FDRS system. Not really that difficult IMO.

There has to be more to this story that isn't being shared with us.....

Disclaimer. I have no interest in Blue Cruise but agree that it should be available now as promised. If OTA isn't ready.....then cable install it at the dealership. Same as what happens at the factory. Should be the same basic process.

That is why I suspect it is not just a software limitation. For Ford to release new card with BC already enabled and push the early releases updates in 6 months they might have a hardware limitation that they might be trying to resolve. Just speculating here since they don't release details.

 

[Tbird]

So a bunch of us are approaching a year into having our Mach-e’s without BlueCruise. I’d say a good chunk of those are also on Ford Options, meaning we are maybe one third of the way through our “leases.” And some are in the early access program, which we thought would get us BlueCruise sooner.

I was fine being patient, but now that GT’s and premiums are shipping with BlueCruise running, that’s become a sore spot for me that I don’t have what I paid for. How do we early build owners get BlueCruise running on our cars?

I totally agree. I was always under the impression we got 3 years free then had to pay the $600. And OTA 1.7.1 is still in the process of rolling out so rolling our Blue Cruise via OTA will likely take a long time also.

 

[generaltso]

I was always under the impression we got 3 years free then had to pay the $600.

Not sure why you were under that impression.

 

[Brutakus]

I totally agree. I was always under the impression we got 3 years free then had to pay the $600. And OTA 1.7.1 is still in the process of rolling out so rolling our Blue Cruise via OTA will likely take a long time also.

Assuming you bought one of the early builds where the Comfort/Tech package was $2600 instead of $3200, when you did your purchase, you likely signed a separate Ford document about this and the $100 discount. Would have said something along the lines of: "Blue Cruise is not yet active. When it is you'll have to pay $600. Coming out Q3 2020. Here's $100 off your car purchase."

If you bought a Premium that included BlueCruise, I believe you DO get 3 years free when it comes out OTA and then have to pay whatever fee they end up deciding on.

 

[generaltso]

If you bought a Premium that included BlueCruise, I believe you DO get 3 years free when it comes out OTA and then have to pay whatever fee they end up deciding on.

You do now because the MSRP of the Premium went up $600 to cover BlueCruise. But anyone with a Premium that didn’t come with BlueCruise activated from the factory is going to have to pay $600 for it when it’s available OTA.

 

[jgcom]

You do now because the MSRP of the Premium went up $600 to cover BlueCruise. But anyone with a Premium that didn’t come with BlueCruise activated from the factory is going to have to pay $600 for it when it’s available OTA.

This is true. In my case, the sticker price visible in my online order went up $600 and then back down between order (Feb '21) and delivery (Jul '21) as Ford's plans changed to include BC at the factory and then to not do so.

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