BMW Makes Heated Seats an $18/Month Subscription Service—Again

Mave

Mave

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BMW Makes Heated Seats an $18/Month Subscription Service—Again

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BMW has toyed with charging monthly subscriptions for certain digital "Connected Drive" options for a few years, testing the waters in different markets with different features. Korea is the latest market for subscription-based options, and customers can now pay monthly for physical options such as heated seats and a heated steering wheel.

As cynical as that might sound, Korean owners aren't forced to pay monthly for heated seats, or any of BMW's other available options, but monthly payments can be made to try those out. Heated seats, for instance, cost ₩24,000 (roughly $18) per month. But you can also pay for a year subscription ($176), a three-year subscription ($283), or you can buy the heated seats permanently ($406).

Source and more: https://www.thedrive.com/news/bmw-is-charging-a-subscription-fee-for-heated-seats-again
 
So, my initial reaction is, rather predictably, PURE FUCKING RAGE

Paying for something that's already installed is the stupidest thing ever. It's just a pure money scheme. Even IF the option to buy it permanently is available, the fact that you have to pay $400 for something that's gonna be installed anyway is ridiculous. There is no justification to ask that money, because the part is in there anyway. It's a scam.

If more companies start doing this (and VW is already doing it), it won't be long before cars get pirated. And rightfully so, too.
 
Stybar said:
So, my initial reaction is, rather predictably, PURE FUCKING RAGE

Paying for something that's already installed is the stupidest thing ever. It's just a pure money scheme. Even IF the option to buy it permanently is available, the fact that you have to pay $400 for something that's gonna be installed anyway is ridiculous. There is no justification to ask that money, because the part is in there anyway. It's a scam.

If more companies start doing this (and VW is already doing it), it won't be long before cars get pirated. And rightfully so, too.
Click to expand...
Hopefully nobody will actually buy this "service". If people do then all car companies will implement this horror.
 
Mave said:
Hopefully nobody will actually buy this "service". If people do then all car companies will implement this horror.
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They will. Especially brands such as BMW and Audi will find great success with this formula, on their cars for people with more money then sense. Rich kids, buying a car with daddy's money, won't think twice to fall for this.
 
Stybar said:
They will. Especially brands such as BMW and Audi will find great success with this formula, on their cars for people with more money then sense. Rich kids, buying a car with daddy's money, won't think twice to fall for this.
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Crap.
 
Welp, they launched it.

edition.cnn.com

Why BMW is offering heated seats on a monthly subscription

BMW is now offering British drivers the option of enjoying a heated seat on a monthly subscription basis. Of course, you can still get heated seats the regular way -- just buy them as an option when you purchase the car -- but for those who didn't do that, or who bought a used car without the...
edition.cnn.com edition.cnn.com
 
lextoc said:
Lol wtf, what happens if you buy it for a month and then cancel? Do you have the heated seats but they just don't work?
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BMW sends a representative to your house, deactivates the feature and gives you the finger.
 
lextoc said:
Lol wtf, what happens if you buy it for a month and then cancel? Do you have the heated seats but they just don't work?
Click to expand...
My guess is that it's activated my mobile internet. If you don't pay, the authorization gets revoked remotely and the feature is automatically disabled.
 
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