BMW introduces new heated seat subscription in UK

[dopper99]

I had to double check the date to make sure it wasn't 1st April.

 

You can't make this up. BMW charging per month for options. Honestly. 🙄😳

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-62142208

 

I wonder if a subscription option such as heated seats developed a fault (such as some 8R's have), could you request a refund on your subscription...... lol.

[gazza5]

This subcscription model is apparantly the future. Won't just be BMW doing this, with electric cars having over the air updates, I have no doubt you will be able to pay extra for software upgrades (better nav) or just to be able to turn things on, such as cooled seats in summer.

 

Although personally surely it would cost manufacturers more to put heated and cooled seats in every car to be able to offer this?

[EcosseGolfR]

I currently own a 2022 BMW X3, yes there are some subscription items that you can choose but the vast majority of those items are unlimited and only 1 or 2 have time limits. Note: That may differ if you bought a basic model with zero options.

I think it’s a great idea, for a car to be able to be upgraded via the BMW App is brilliant. My car had optioned heated seats from factory so I think that some of the hype has been blown out of proportion in my opinion, just like most things we hear and see in the media. If we believe everything we see on Sky/BBC news we’d never get past our front door every morning.

[MJC1216]

If they thought their cars were that good they should be offering free 5 years warranty like a lot of the more reliable cars offer nowadays instead of this gimmick.

[Raiden]

Ridiculous

Be a subscription for the wheels next


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[dopper99]

The thing just seems crazy.

 

On one hand you've got manufacturers like VW that have removed the gas bonnet strut on the 8R to (probably) save money, whereas BMW will fit the heated seat and heated steering hardware to every car on the off chance the buyer will pay for these through a subscription.

If not enough people pay for these subscriptions, BMW will lose a lot of money fitting parts that no-one is paying for. 🙄

 

Clearly the bean counters at BMW have done their maths and worked out it is economical to use this sort of business model, but it all seems a bit of a gamble to me.

[NRW]

Leasing = Whole car subscription.

[Deano]

Prob aimed at leases to tempt folk to ‘upgrade’ during the lease.

 

Also when the lease goes back, BMW can switch on all the options and sell it as a higher spec’d car on their approved used car program

[tweaked9107]

35 minutes ago, Deano said:

Prob aimed at leases to tempt folk to ‘upgrade’ during the lease.

 

Also when the lease goes back, BMW can switch on all the options and sell it as a higher spec’d car on their approved used car program

 

This. It's got to be lease cars only surely. Otherwise it makes no sense at all. If you wanted those options you'd of spec'd them when you bought the car. If you didn't want those options how likely are you to then pay a monthly subscription to add them later? The cost to fit them must outweigh any potential (and unlikely) gain that comes later.

 

Makes you wonder what the future of car ownership is going to look like. Does this mean that if you buy a base car the buttons will all be there for everything, but when you flick the switch you just get a message saying "sign up now"? Maybe we will get pay as you go seat adjustment. £1 everytime you want to adjust the lumbar. I wouldn't be surprised as well if electric cars in future just all come with the same motor and you can pay a monthly subscription for more power (for all I know some may do this already).

 

I could sort of say it's fair enough on certain things if there isn't any additional (or absolutely minimal additional) cost to the manufacturer in the first place. That would mostly have to be software based though. Like for example, I want 3d maps or satellite maps rather than 2d maps. Heated seats however is one of the ones that makes the least amount of sense. 

[Chris7.5R]

It probably won't be too long before someone offers an unofficial permanent firmware upgrade for the hardware feature that's already lurking under the seat, just as happens now with map updates, etc.

[tweaked9107]

Or manufacturers offer you the chance to go "premium" rather than standard. This will give you the luxury of not having ads come up on the digital cockpit. Perhaps a well placed life insurance ad every time you go over the speed limit. 

[jrw]

Barratt homes will be charging you monthly for a dump next. 

[BobbyT]

crazy times 

[Deano]

New VW launch procedure:

1. Disable TC

2. Left foot hard on brake

3. Right foot to floor on accelerator

4. Tap in-built debit card machine with card

5. Away you go (minus £5) 

[LouCyffer]

I’d love to see the BMW Subscription figures for how many owners enable their indicators. I bet it isn’t a lot…….