4 ms·

BMW is the most user-hostile car brand there is. They’re constantly seeking ways to squeeze revenue from their owners in slimy ways. (They charge an annual fee

BMW is the most user-hostile car brand there is. They’re constantly seeking ways to squeeze revenue from their owners in slimy ways. (They charge an annual fee for access to car play, for instance)

gambiting 6y ago
In US they are experimenting with locking almost all features of the car behind a subscription model, so the car leaves the factory in nearly "full" spec, but then you need to pay a subscription to unlock features. For instance if you like heated seats, you can pay a fee and have them unlocked for a year. Or a radar-based cruise control, or satellite radio, or sport driving modes - everything will have its own price. Their argument is that in US, something like 90% of all new BMWs are leased - so it's "great" for customers and for businesses, since you can now lease a BMW for your employee very cheaply in the most "basic" spec, and if they want some extra features they can pay for them themselves. Obviously, it's horseshit. But that's the argument they are using.
- m000 6y ago
  And I thought EA was bad...
- bkovacev 6y ago
  Do you have a source for this?
  - gambiting 6y ago
    I do: https://jalopnik.com/bmws-new-feature-subscription-plan-idea-needs-to-be-sto-1844246264 https://jalopnik.com/bmws-new-feature-subscription-plan-idea...
- corty 6y ago
  Not only in the US. 15 years ago when aircon wasn't yet standard in Germany, they added it to all cars anyways and just deactivated the controls in software. So you still get decreased mileage from weight and friction for the compressor, increased accident-risk for the gas filling, but have to pay extra to get a bit flipped at your friendly dealer to use it...
leokennis 6y ago
Eugh. I dread the day my 2010 car needs replacement. It's deliciously dumb: I put petrol in it, and in return, it gets me places.
- Multicomp 6y ago
  exactly why I keep feeding my 4Runner whatever parts it wants. it's too dumb to be turned against me, snitch on my speeding habits, or demand to get oil changes on its own terms like a Dodge Sprinter for ex. Feed me gas, air, electricity, and 0.05 parts and labor, and off u go.
- jtbayly 6y ago
  You don’t have to subscribe to the windshield wiper functionality?
- Slaren 6y ago
  Yes it can be, but then again there are ways to keep the car longer, I myself drive a 2008 Honda, but at the same time I think it is easy for another 10 years. You should definitely think about taking care of the engine. I hope I can help if I tell you to read about the same transmission fluid for honda https://carfluidsexpert.com/best-transmission-fluid-for-honda/ https://carfluidsexpert.com/best-transmission-fluid-for-hond... , take a look, I think you will find a lot of universal options. It's worth starting to take care of your car with at least that. I hope I was able to help.
- Klais 6y ago
  Yes it can be, but then again there are ways to keep the car longer, I myself drive a 2008 Honda, but at the same time I think it is easy for another 10 years. You should definitely think about taking care of the engine. I hope I can help if I tell you to read about the same transmission fluid for honda https://carfluidsexpert.com/best-transmission-fluid-for-honda/ https://carfluidsexpert.com/best-transmission-fluid-for-hond... , take a look, I think you will find a lot of universal options. It's worth starting to take care of your car with at least that. I hope I was able to help.

BMW is the most user-hostile car brand there is. They’re constantly seeking ways to squeeze revenue from their owners in slimy ways. (They charge an annual fee for access to car play, for instance)

gambiting 6y ago

In US they are experimenting with locking almost all features of the car behind a subscription model, so the car leaves the factory in nearly "full" spec, but then you need to pay a subscription to unlock features. For instance if you like heated seats, you can pay a fee and have them unlocked for a year. Or a radar-based cruise control, or satellite radio, or sport driving modes - everything will have its own price. Their argument is that in US, something like 90% of all new BMWs are leased - so it's "great" for customers and for businesses, since you can now lease a BMW for your employee very cheaply in the most "basic" spec, and if they want some extra features they can pay for them themselves. Obviously, it's horseshit. But that's the argument they are using.

m000 6y ago
And I thought EA was bad...
bkovacev 6y ago
Do you have a source for this?
- gambiting 6y ago
  I do: https://jalopnik.com/bmws-new-feature-subscription-plan-idea-needs-to-be-sto-1844246264 https://jalopnik.com/bmws-new-feature-subscription-plan-idea...
corty 6y ago
Not only in the US. 15 years ago when aircon wasn't yet standard in Germany, they added it to all cars anyways and just deactivated the controls in software. So you still get decreased mileage from weight and friction for the compressor, increased accident-risk for the gas filling, but have to pay extra to get a bit flipped at your friendly dealer to use it...

leokennis 6y ago

Eugh. I dread the day my 2010 car needs replacement. It's deliciously dumb: I put petrol in it, and in return, it gets me places.

Multicomp 6y ago
exactly why I keep feeding my 4Runner whatever parts it wants. it's too dumb to be turned against me, snitch on my speeding habits, or demand to get oil changes on its own terms like a Dodge Sprinter for ex. Feed me gas, air, electricity, and 0.05 parts and labor, and off u go.
jtbayly 6y ago
You don’t have to subscribe to the windshield wiper functionality?
Slaren 6y ago
Yes it can be, but then again there are ways to keep the car longer, I myself drive a 2008 Honda, but at the same time I think it is easy for another 10 years. You should definitely think about taking care of the engine. I hope I can help if I tell you to read about the same transmission fluid for honda https://carfluidsexpert.com/best-transmission-fluid-for-honda/ https://carfluidsexpert.com/best-transmission-fluid-for-hond... , take a look, I think you will find a lot of universal options. It's worth starting to take care of your car with at least that. I hope I was able to help.
Klais 6y ago
Yes it can be, but then again there are ways to keep the car longer, I myself drive a 2008 Honda, but at the same time I think it is easy for another 10 years. You should definitely think about taking care of the engine. I hope I can help if I tell you to read about the same transmission fluid for honda https://carfluidsexpert.com/best-transmission-fluid-for-honda/ https://carfluidsexpert.com/best-transmission-fluid-for-hond... , take a look, I think you will find a lot of universal options. It's worth starting to take care of your car with at least that. I hope I was able to help.