BMW heated seat subscription "experiment" FAILED

[ctenidae]

...
I don't fault the car companies for trying. I just hope the efforts fail.
...

This.

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[KevinS]

I didn't pay for the "prep" package and the cost of the car reflected that as it was cheaper than the cars WITH the package .....proving my point . IF they installed the prep equipment on all cars MY car would've cost $1200 more .

Did you get the Appearance package instead? That and the Tech/Comfort package were on the ones on the lot when I bought. I got the Tech/Comfort because I figured it might have better resale (even though it was only the prep kit at the time.)

 

[Ghost Ryder]

Used to work in a vehicle assembly plant. One production worker got a maximum suggestion award ($20k) for recommending omitting a (lets say 5 cent) nut securing the battery tray, as there were several used originally to secure. Plant was a 3 shift operation, plus sister plants that used the same chassis/battery tray.
The corp would sell their grandmother to a dog food company to save a nickle per vehicle.

cost of options is further complicated on the side of inventory, and material handling with having more storage locations and deliveries to the assembly line. They certainly do what they can to minimize the parts proliferation. Option packages instead of pick and choose, build design to eliminate fasteners and the operation to tighten (fewer workers). Its a science in itself providing choice of content, and minimizing costs.
Even so far as having a master cad drawing detailing all the footprints of equipment used for storage and machinery, so they can calculate the total area of the plant used for production vs empty space for tax calculations.
Believe me, they leave no stone unturned.
In manufacturers view, they are hoping to have legacy income after the sale 'renting' popular options. Apps on your phone, streaming services, etc. The subscription model is becoming normalized in the younger generation. Im sure we'll see this strategy fine tuned going forward.

It always amazes me when "keyboard warriors" complain about true experts like Monroe and associates. Saving 5 cents a vehicle adds up quickly when you're selling 2+million vehicles a year.

 

[ctenidae]

It always amazes me when "keyboard warriors" complain about true experts like Monroe and associates. Saving 5 cents a vehicle adds up quickly when you're selling 2+million vehicles a year.

Model T came in as many varieties as you liked, as long as you liked the one variety. Dude made a fortune.

 

[AngryMan]

Did you get the Appearance package instead? That and the Tech/Comfort package were on the ones on the lot when I bought. I got the Tech/Comfort because I figured it might have better resale (even though it was only the prep kit at the time.)

I got mine at the very beginning and in the heart of the original covid outbreak so pickings were kinda slim. I did get the tech/comfort package. I really wish I had the 360 camera . Had that in my work ProMaster. That is the best rearview mirror system going.

 

[KevinS]

I got mine at the very beginning and in the heart of the original covid outbreak so pickings were kinda slim. I did get the tech/comfort package. I really wish I had the 360 camera . Had that in my work ProMaster. That is the best rearview mirror system going.

You should have the 360 camera with the Tech/Comfort package... Is yours a Job 2? Maybe it was dropped from what was offered with the Job 1?

 

[MachEMaster]

Ford needed to lower the costs so what did they do ? The eliminated equipment that was up til that point in time standard . A good example was the charger .

The '23 Select heated seats and wheel comes to mind as well.

 

[AngryMan]

The '23 Select heated seats and wheel comes to mind as well.

You are right . That's an even better example . Thanks

 

[AngryMan]

You should have the 360 camera with the Tech/Comfort package... Is yours a Job 2? Maybe it was dropped from what was offered with the Job 1?

Ok technically I guess I have the 360 but functionally it only shows what's behind me when in reverse . Ive seen videos of the Mach multi view option/capabilities ...I want THAT ....and for my car to be red .
The red one sold 15 minutes before I showed up .?

 

[nuMach]

I think we should all be able to agree that there is a significant difference between charging subs for use of hardware versus software. Particularly if that software is at least nominally subject to continued development.
.

Yeah, for software things like bluecruise, though i despise subscriptions, I could come around if updates were a guaranteed part of it. I do wind up buying the latest MS word, eg.

At the current pricing - i find it a shocking and greedy grab. $100/yr, or $10/mo, that's palatable.

Hardware features ... like seat heaters .. never.

 

[bpbailey]

When I ordered our 2023 BMW i4, I made the stupid assumption that adaptive cruise control would "surely" be a standard feature on the "ultimate driving machine". Heck, it was standard on my mid-level 2020 Prius Prime and on my 2022 MME Select. Silly me, what could have possibly possessed me to think that BMW would make such a useful feature standard on an upscale vehicle?

 

[Guss-E 2021]

It's actually cheaper to build things with more common options than like 100 different trims.

Right. Honda/Acura figured that out a while ago. How many variants of the F-150 are available again? ?

 

[byoungblood]

It's not the equipment that's expensive, it's the R&D and ongoing support- the software. The sensor package isn't much (I'm sure someone here knows exactly what's in it), but the software's a beast.

That's why heated seats subscriptions are stupid. The material costs more than the ($0) support, so pay up front.

There's no reason to turn it off just because you don't pay.

I can see not getting new features or expanded areas where it works. But to flip it off completely because you don't reup is dumb. I, and others paid a premium for the hardware AND software that was installed in the car when it was delivered to us.

Before someone starts harping on safety related updates, they have to provide those for any system installed in the car, subscription or not.

Unpopular opinion, but auto manufacturers are pushing this because of the buying power of the "more money than sense" crowd.

 

[xxiii]

Unpopular opinion, but auto manufacturers are pushing this because of the buying power of the "more money than sense" crowd.

...And the whole world is going subscription based, and younger people don't know any different. I can't imagine half (or more) of my income disappearing each month into dozens or hundreds of subscriptions. talk about death by a 1000 paper cuts.

[I don't know about the unpopular part] everyone I know hates subscriptions, especially ones where you bought the hardware already, and then have to pay to actually use it.

I only tolerate subscriptions where they actually provide something new each month (or whatever), and the cost isn't more than the alternative (where available). But I don't know how long i'll be able to stick to this.

 

[awp0]

There's no reason to turn it off just because you don't pay.

I can see not getting new features or expanded areas where it works. But to flip it off completely because you don't reup is dumb. I, and others paid a premium for the hardware AND software that was installed in the car when it was delivered to us.

Before someone starts harping on safety related updates, they have to provide those for any system installed in the car, subscription or not.

Unpopular opinion, but auto manufacturers are pushing this because of the buying power of the "more money than sense" crowd.

I agree with this. Everyone keeps saying BC is different because it's software and requires ongoing support and R&D and crap. Why? No one can really explain it much further than this. I haven't received a single BC improvement in the 14 months that I've owned this car. Had I been outside my trial window, I'd have spent over $900 for nothing.

And before you say "but BC 1.3 is coming", honestly the only thing I really want from 1.3 is for the car to stop ping ponging and hugging the right side of the lane. Those are bugs that I shouldn't have to deal with in the first place (much less pay $800/yr to fix them). It's hardly a justification for a subscription, certainly not $800/yr. I've never paid this high a subscription for software, and I have no idea why BC is so exceptional.

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