tigerliketoightness
95843
800
41
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/23204950/bmw-subscriptions-microtransactions-heated-seats-feature
Jul 12, 2022 10:58 PM
tigerliketoightness
95843
800
41
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/23204950/bmw-subscriptions-microtransactions-heated-seats-feature
IAlwaysUpvoteSunsets
I didn't know EA bought BMW.
scragglynerfherder1
I would load up on baked beans every day rather than pay that bullshit
TrumpRapesChildren
If the hardware is there, wire in a manual switch. Problem solved.
BobTheWeak
When is EA going to announce a new car company?
HostMigrationPleaseWait
pfft new? you think they would start a new company? easier to buy one already in business and then ruin it
SomebodyalreadytookMyPants
Their target buyers are gonna pay for heated seats all through the summer because they aren't being taxed enough.
riddmkidd
Unchecked greed.
Canucklesammich
And yet, no plans to do this with turn signals
Metadonmixer
Why should their customers want to pay extra for something they don't use anyway?
ShartistFormerlyKnownAsSPCR
You know what won’t have micro transactions? A 2006 Nissan Altima. Get on my level
rlopez2431415
A reboot/ remake 2006 Nissan Altima just announced with a battle pass door options. Wheels will be in the upcoming dlc
Lurker3533
My 99 Dodge Ram needs macro transactions from time to time but the cassette player still works.
hippityhoopla213631
2011 Highlander for the win!!!
Samerious
I'm eyeing an "Antique" plate for my 94 Honda Accord.
rlopez2431415
A what?
nojustsayitdont
You'll have to pay $50 to load a third bag in the trunk too.
Electromedy
I am an electrical systems engineer for auto industry. There's a very easy way to circumvent this.
tomobach
You work in the industry and haven't figured out this is fake?
Heavenissize17socks
With a $40k price tag, -i shouldn't have to-.
nero4ty2
What kind of car are you getting for 40k these days? Definitely not a bmw
AmbroseWolfinger
Not buying a BMW?
CasualBoulder
There's undoubtedly legal jargon that voids your free maintenance that I think lasts 3-5 years
scuba7jb
Oh ffs.
bladderinfection
This speaks more to the type of consumer that would buy this in the first place.
CaptainAsshat
If you've got the money to own a BMW with this subscription you're not likely to care about it, which is what BMW hopes for.
TheMightyMoto
Fuck BMW and the idiots who would pay.
Porecomesis
No it doesn't because they want EVERYONE to buy this stuff. They will make it so that these are the only cars you can get.
WhatzitTooya
comacomacomacomachameleon
People won't even know. There are so many people that don't research cars. They walk into a dealership let the salesman drive.
comacomacomacomachameleon
Friend of mine at a VW dealership said an old lady came in, liked the Golf, said "give me the most expensive one" and paid 45k for a Golf R
Guidocat
They are slowly normalizing it. The same way we don't own movies and music anymore, just long term rentals.
ChocolateChickenWaffle
It's called everyone decided not to pay money for albums anymore and stream it instead. You can still buy albums.
QuartzPoker
You can still own music, you just have to download the MP3 and keep it safe.
culinarydream7224
What's more insane than them even attempting this is that they charge more than any streaming service
flornholio
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/07/no-bmw-is-not-making-heated-seats-a-subscription-for-us-cars/
AmbroseWolfinger
For now.
cpubrowzer
Good job. Rage disinformation is the most viral, just because this isn't political doesn't mean it should go uncorrected.
Ryyyyyyyan
So they are doing it. Just not in the US yet. Which the Verge article did not claim.
kovalaki
Remember when they tried micro transactions at game industry and then it just went away. No reason to panic at all.
Idontevenwanttosignupjustletmelurk
In 2020, it revealed that it still had designs in this arena, selling cars with software-locked features like adaptive cruise control, high
Idontevenwanttosignupjustletmelurk
high beam assist, or even heated seats. For example, a British BMW buyer can choose to pay $888 (750 pounds
Idontevenwanttosignupjustletmelurk
That's what the article you linked say
FetteredJuvenescence
That's not a subscription though, that's paying once to add a feature.
OGSnow
Your paying for a feature that's already in the car, and purposely deactivated unless you pay more. Its still a scam.
Idontevenwanttosignupjustletmelurk
they can try it out as a three-month trial for free and then choose to either buy it outright or just for one month ($42/35 pounds),
thatwoodguy
I know if you bought a bmw, you're not very smart with money so this shouldn't matter
deaconshadow
Anyone who agrees to this is a stone cold moron.
geotard
They will dobto cars what jon deere did to tractors. Lobby shitty congressmen and senators to block bypassing or altering your car
tetsuothecat
We always knew the turn signal was optional...
KarakLohr
FUCK. THIS.
dorenavant
There’s no limit to corporate greed.
SamHodg3s
Why would anyone buy a BMW?
CoarseAndSalty
If you need your seats warm my ass will do it for a taco.
bananabonanza3
Wow, that’s fucked. Micro transactions cuz cars aren’t already just about the second most expensive product you can buy
Verbalstunts
I think they want to be the bank, you pay them directly, make a loan, insurance too.
AmbroseWolfinger
Right after healthcare...
bananabonanza3
Well, buying a house. But sadly that’s a good point too..
Heavenissize17socks
I wish we could somehow come up with a system of legal consumer protection that coukd put a stop to this fuckery… regulate it, somehow.
TheMemeForge
Ha, and expect a group of 80 year olds to stop taking their bribes?
Mynamedoesntmatteronlylifematters
that would need some type of government agency. one who's task it is to protect consumers... like we could ever have anything like that
rusrsdude
Boycotting would be a good start on the brands which do these kinds of things.
911wasDigiornosnotDelivery
OK let boycott bmw.woowee I'm doing such a hood job
Sjama
Not yet in the US, but available in Germany where customer protection is quite good. However, its terrible bureaucracy prevents it from>>
Sjama
>>adopting regulations fast enough to regulate modern issues and technology.
endlesshampsterwheel
I bought a truck that came with remote start. Was only free for a year. Not I have to pay $8.99 a month to use the already install system
Raggedsrage
My Subaru can do it if you pay for the app service. If I want the fob, that’s $400+ I’ll buy aftermarket before that bs
aFadingMemory
Why did you buy it?
tantallous
I heard toyota? was doing that i think. but most of their older cars are exempt b/c they don't have a chip to let them control it like that.
Bukkhockey
Is it a Toyota? If so,, you're paying for the mobile connection, you can still use the key fob, lock button 3 times, to remote start.
endlesshampsterwheel
I’m going to try this now. Had no idea. It’s a 2021 Tacoma. Will let you know.
Bukkhockey
Sometimes it's pressed three times, sometimes it's pressed twice, then a third time but hold it down until the car starts
endlesshampsterwheel
You just saved me $17 a month. I asked the dealer who sold me the truck and they said I had to use the app ?
Foxplay
Just murder these people already FFS...... enough of this bullshit
bladderinfection
Time to jailbreak your car.
mikeatike
From a dealership
freezingpilot
Dodge recently built a Hellcat with LESS electronic crap in it, called the Super Stock, and I want one.
jayman0123
if the answer to why my ass is cold in my car is "i didn't pay the heated seat subscription" regardless of make ill burn the dealership down
linkgenesis
I am actually stoked to figure this out and then charge idiots 150$ to do it
iabductaliens11
Can do it with a Firestick
VagrantKoba
Or just not buy BMW
Minterfresh
There's probably good money in making custom controllers for the paid features.
tentaclefriendly
The One and only correct answer
cbale2000
You don't even have to do that. Bypassing the wiring and adding a toggle switch would be incredibly simple.
TK421isAFK
Not really. You'd have to build a pulse-wdith modulator power supply with temperature feedback.
cbale2000
I doubt older heated seats had a complex control system. Getting a heating element to stay at a certain temperature is fairly easy.
TK421isAFK
Even if you were right, what does that have to do with using a toggle switch to bypass a modern car's DRM-controlled heated seats?
cbale2000
Because likely all the control system is doing it toggling a relay. Temperature control adds complexity and there's no need for it. Unless..
thevortexmaster
I wonder if insurance would chime in on that?
WeCanDoBetter9
Perhaps on safety features that are locked out, but can’t imagine they’ll care about convenience things like heated seats & steering wheels
thevortexmaster
No doubt
JiffyGee
I mean…once it’s yours you can make repairs to it yourself as long as it’s still road worthy. I doubt fucking with the switch to a heated…
JiffyGee
seat would make it undrivable.
fearghul
Ever dealt with an insurance company? After market modifications are a great way to invalidate your coverage and get them not to pay.
xlr82xs
But it's highly likely they included some dumb rot13 "encryption" on the CAN that makes modifying it piracy and/or a copyright violation.
JiffyGee
That’s why you make a bypass switch. Run it up through the door or on the side of the seat like in days of old.
thevortexmaster
Probably right
tracereading
Imagine having to pay to use stuff that you had to pay to get as an option in the first place.
matti55
Like EA of cars
saywhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat
I got a cousin, who knows a guy, whose sister has a friend thats married to a guy that knows a mechanic that can do it for $20
ummjakefromstatefarm
A month.
cookiesareafoodgroup
It’s my cousin’s acquaintance’s sister’s friend’s husband’s acquaintance’s guy.
tossacointoyourwitchers
Iamnotacreativeman
What does that make us?!
kutku
NOTHING! Which is exactly what I'd pay for heated seats on a monthly basis.
BeneGesseritConspiracyTheorist
What a coincidence!!!
KommSusserTod
I call it the mother-in law Dutch oven.
ihavethelowground
Just fart in the seat, instant heating and scented as well
Mooselover2000
So you own the hardware, and you're already paying for the energy you need to use it. What is the money paying for (aside from corp greed?)
JustTryingToLiveLife
Especially since cars are increasingly getting more and more expensive, like come on, how is the price of the vehicle not enough……
UnhelpfulAnswers
Isn't Toyota starting to do something similar with keyless entry?
AmbroseWolfinger
Like GM and OnStar?
middlehead
They announced they'd do it for remote starters, got shit on, and retracted.
Lostarchitorture
The fact you have to pay a subscription for the safety camera is where I draw the line. "Why couldn't you see the child you hit?" "Well, 1/
AmbroseWolfinger
It's a subscription to be warned about traffic cameras, but go off I guess.
Lostarchitorture
officer, the BMW reps started a subscription service on the camera at 25 pounds a month, beyond my budget right now." 2/2
LAMovieDesign
Wait, this hasn’t happened (yet), has it?
DocNitro
Tesla is pulling stuff close to this with their assistant. Instead of slamming the brakes, plain slowing, or moving aside, it disables
DocNitro
itself moments before the crash, so that legally, the driver was in full control at the moment of impact.
PhloydPhan
Looking forward to 2028 when I have to pay $50/month for my airbags....
secretoaster
Japan has foretold this in the 90's and people thought it was funny...
Hellscourge
Airbag Standard Edition is only $15 a month for each airbag, however the Deluxe Airbag Pro is $25 a month and deploys upß to 23$ faster >
Hellscourge
To the regular edition. Airbag Deluxe costs $45 and is the fastest service of airbag deploying that you can imagine, plus if you have >
Hellscourge
a child use the airbag seat it will cost 25% less.
JagdPanzer38T
try 2021 https://jalopnik.com/this-dystopian-biker-airbag-crash-vest-only-saves-your-1846823791
outdoorsman537360
Can we think of this as the company pricing an $800 vest at $400 then giving you the option to pay it off over the years?it's not the 1/?
outdoorsman537360
Most expensive option available, and realistically could be priced @800 upfront, which keeps people from this tech more than $12/month
dumidiot
That's was a lot of words for a loan.
loma45
If they have the option to buy it outright, or you stop paying after X years then sure. Otherwise no.
PhloydPhan
I swear this country becomes more like Snow Crash every goddamn day.....
MoonQueenie
where do you think Snow Crash creators got the idea?
DrLOAC
Unfortunately I am past the age where I could legitimately become the baddest MF’r in the world. Even if u gave me a nuclear armed side car
StunttheRunt
Or to not have your car steer you into incoming traffic or off a cliff.
TK421isAFK
So, don't buy a Tesla. Got it. Wasn't going to, anyway.
DocNitro
Oh, it won't have been 'steering' at the moment of the crash. 1s before the Point of no Return, it will disable so the blame is on you.
CommanderShitFace
Don't forget they're now actually trying to put advertisements on the home screens of all phones no matter what that you can't get rid of
Icecreaman
"no matter what you can't get rid of them" give a group of pissed nerds a week, if that.
stupidbastardinutah
The moment that happens, I'll not have a phone ever again. Just shut it off and cancel my plan. I haven't had a TV in nearly 20 years so?
nero4ty2
No you won’t, just stating a fact, you won’t give up the most basic communication device in the world because of an ad
stupidbastardinutah
I assure you i most certainly will. I'm not in need of being that connected.
HostMigrationPleaseWait
i will too, if there is no workaround. phone is already bad enough of a distraction i will not sign up to make it worse
nero4ty2
Glad I use apple devices
Markuspsyches
That sounds like something apple might do first for once.
CommanderShitFace
They actually first suggested it.
CommanderShitFace
Unfortunately you might be one of the people trialing it or first deployment.
nero4ty2
Nah, that is totally the android model, not saying apple wouldn’t follow but that’s not their system