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BMW is Going All-in On In-car Microtransactions (theverge.com) 197

Posted by msmash from the no-mercy dept.
BMW has detailed an overhaul to the digital systems that power its luxury vehicles, including a new map and navigation system, a revamped digital assistant, a "digital key" (first shown off at Apple's annual developer conference last month), and wireless Android Auto. But the most interesting thing BMW shared about the changes is that the company is going all-in on in-car microtransactions. From a report: Cars are more full of computers and software than ever before, which has made it possible for automakers to add new features or patch problems on the fly with over-the-air software updates. This has also presented these automakers with new ways of making money. Take Tesla, which pioneered them and currently sells access to a variety of features after purchase. It even used to ship cars with battery packs that had their range limited by software, and owners could pay a fee unlock the full capacity. BMW now wants to take this to a far more specific level. The German automaker announced on Wednesday that all cars equipped with its newest "Operating System 7" software will soon receive an update that makes it possible for the company to tinker with all sorts of functions in the car, like access to heated seats and driving assist features like automatic high beams or adaptive cruise control. And the company unsurprisingly plans to use this ability to make money.
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BMW is Going All-in On In-car Microtransactions More

BMW is Going All-in On In-car Microtransactions

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  • Lootboxes next? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by sinij ( 911942 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @10:46AM (#60267150)
    Buy this for a chance to unlock M power for your car?

    Hopefully legislation squashing this will make what was done to Volkswagen after diesel cheating mild by comparison.

  • Another reason to drive something else! (Score:5, Interesting)

    by drewsup ( 990717 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @10:46AM (#60267154)

    This is about control, under the guise of âoecustomer helpfulnessâ .
    If I buy a Skoda, everything just works or it is not there. The same platform car with an Audi or VW badge... oh you want the sat nav to work?! That will be extra!! Even if all the hardware is there.

    • No its auto makers following the video game model. They don't like cars being sold for a second time and not getting that sweet sweet profit. BMW is junk anyhow they don't know how to build a V8.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward
      The GPS was a $3000 option on my Honda. It's just an .apk file installed on the head unit. The antenna and all the hardware is there. People have figured out how to root the head unit and have made the .apk available.

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by Sebby ( 238625 )

        The GPS was a $3000 option on my Honda. It's just an .apk file installed on the head unit. The antenna and all the hardware is there. People have figured out how to root the head unit and have made the .apk available.

        I'd order the car sans radio/head unit, and install my own head unit. And if too much functionality is tied to the original unit for the car to function, look at a different manufacturer altogether.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by majorme ( 515104 )
      Since Skoda and VW cars are largely the same, they probably figured that people willing to shed extra for virtually the same thing are likely to pay even more for other "add ons".
    • I'm ok with this, if the idea is simply to lower manufacturing costs by making every car model the same, and passing on those savings to the consumer. Financially that might only work if they charge for features when some people are willing to pay for them, rather than offering all features to everyone since every car already has them built in. This way whoever wants the extra features effectively subsidizes the cheaper base model without these features. It just depends on what price point they set, and

      • I'm ok with this, if the idea is simply to lower manufacturing costs by making every car model the same, and passing on those savings to the consumer... It's also an attractive proposition for the second hand market, both for prospective buyers and for BMW to make some money off that market too.

        That assumes they won't do a Darth Vader and 'alter the deal' - but I for one am fairly certain they will do just that. FTS:

        "all cars equipped with its newest "Operating System 7" software will soon receive an update that makes it possible for the company to tinker with all sorts of functions in the car, like access to heated seats and driving assist features like automatic high beams or adaptive cruise control."

        To me that implies, or at least suggests, that current owners who receive this update, (with no

      • }}} , if the idea is simply to lower manufacturing costs by making every car model the same {{{ --- I'd be OK with that if it weren't for the "monthly fee" model currently being touted by BMW. Sure, make every car the same and enable features that were purchased. That's fine. But once I purchase those features, they stay enabled for the life of the car, and not some artificial 3 year "lifetime" BMW is currently talking about.

    • Re:Another reason to drive something else! (Score:5, Interesting)

      by jellomizer ( 103300 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @12:30PM (#60267642)

      It is more about trying to compete against Tesla. As in terms of market share they are the #1 Auto Manufacturer (Not a great measure). But Tesla has a few key advantages over other Auto Makers.
      1. Full Electric Cars (with high acceleration, and good range)
      2. Self Driving features built of neuro-networks with a lot of data.
      3. Over the air updates (Fans say it makes the car better over time)

      Traditional Automakers do not like Electric Cars for the big reason is its general reliability. This cuts into sales of parts, and people going back to the dealer to get their car fixed while looking at this years current model.

      Traditional Automakers are going to need a lot of work to catch up to Tesla in terms of self driving. Tesla has so much collected data that it will be difficult for them to catch up.

      However over the air updates is the easy win for the companies. As a lot of setting are controlled by software now. Just put in a cheap 4g modem in the car and give some options for you to change and buy options is a low hanging fruit. But the real details on these updates what will be free and what will be charged extra for. Tesla you need to pay for G4 Service which includes real time traffic updates and superchargers, enabling Self Driving, as well upgrading to better range, performance. But some other options are upgraded for free. Such as better performance, efficiency updates, that doesn't change your model from a standard to performance. But can perhaps give you 5-10 extra miles per charge. Or things like adjusting air suspension for faster launches.

      • cell needs to have no roaming fees so you can't end up with bills as high as $15-$20 /MEG for roaming even if you are still on one side of boarder.

      • }}} give some options for you to change and buy options is a low hanging fruit. {{{ --- Once again, I do not have a problem with buying an option. My problem is with the "monthly fee" aspect required by BMW in order for that option to continue working. That's just extortion to me.

    • that do they think the stuff will keep working enough to be activated through microtransactions? I mean if it just works it's going to be cheaper than changing for example the chair control module. if the microtransaction cost includes that they ACTUALLY MAKE THE FUCKING CHAIR WORK then it's a win for the consumer.

      I'm not holding my breath though and i'm 100000% certain that the weebs at bmw who came up with this haven't actually thought the whole thing through too.

      also it's extreeemely un-ecological to pac

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Jaime2 ( 824950 )

      Just the opposite. Since all the hardware comes installed, this looks like an opportunity to for a deal.

      If you are one of the makers out there, develop and sell a replacement computer system that allows access to everything. It's probably easier than one would think. Either hack the existing box to remove the limitations, or start with a Spark or Rabbit open source engine computer. Spend a few months setting up the requisite fuel maps. Sell for a thousand bucks each. People in the Subaru and Mitsubishi comm

    • In fact the article mentions Ford as inspiration and if you return to Ford's motivations it was entirely motivated by the success of Google and it is all about surveillance capitalism. capture all possible data from the owner and monetize it in every way you can.
      Part of the monetization is straightforward: couple detailed monitoring ot the driving patterns, reaction times, accuracy, speeding, to Ford insurance. Maybe to your health insurance. They can see that you are becoming slower and less accurate befor

  • Welp. (Score:4)

    by thereddaikon ( 5795246 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @10:47AM (#60267156)

    Never buying a new BMW then. I had already decided not to buy another Volvo when I'm done with the one I've got. I'll add BMW to the list. Looks like I'm going back to Mercedes, that's assuming they do something equally dumb in the next two or so years.

    • The one Volvo I owned was a disaster, a turbo S80. One day oil poured out of the cam seals and replacing them was a pain in the ass due to the VVT timing cams. Oil poured out of the steering rack if the car sat for the weekend. Water leaked into the power locks and caused haywire because they were connected to the CAN bus. One day while driving to work every light on the dash lit up at once and then went out. The transmission eventually died and I sold it cheap.

      That said I'll definitely buy a Mercedes again

    • That is what I called First World Problems.
      "Oh I don't like BMW Business model, I will guess Ill go to Mercedes. Woe is me!"

      To be fair I am at a point of my life where I can afford to buy one of these cars as well. However I reserve my decision on what to get when I decide to buy a new car.
      Actually for me it is looking like a Cybertruck. But that will be a few years away, and we will see how Tesla is doing then, as there could be more competition.

      • This site's demographics is, or at least once was tech workers. If you are working in tech, aren't entry level and can't afford a german luxury car then you are getting screwed. Wages vary based on location, not everyone works in silicon valley. I definitely don't. But car prices also vary based on location. A competent and reasonably experienced IT professional should be able to afford financing a new lower end Benz or BMW, or getting a higher end one pre-owned.

    • Never buying a new BMW then. I had already decided not to buy another Volvo when I'm done with the one I've got. I'll add BMW to the list. Looks like I'm going back to Mercedes, that's assuming they do something equally dumb in the next two or so years.

      Well, you can still buy good used examples for pennies on the dollar. You know, when they still made real cars (E46, E90, ...). Beware though, the price of the more special of these is starting to tick up now, like a unmolested, manual E46 M3...

      • I'd like an e30 as a weekend/project car but the price on clean examples is going up. You have to be really picky when it comes to modern BMWs. Seems at least every model they've made in the last 20 years has some form of deadly flaw. Especially in engines with more than 6 cylinders.

  • It's getting dark out (Score:5, Insightful)

    by marcle ( 1575627 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @10:47AM (#60267160)

    Did you want to turn on the headlights? Please enter your credit card number.

    • Re:It's getting dark out (Score:4, Informative)

      by nitehawk214 ( 222219 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @10:54AM (#60267192)

      Did you want to turn on the headlights? Please enter your credit card number.

      This joke would have worked better if you had used "turn signals".

    • Special offer of the day. Discount provided if you bundle it with ABS as well. Limited time offer.

      • Special offer of the day. Discount provided if you bundle it with ABS as well. Limited time offer.

        "Discount provided if you bundle it with Power Brakes as well". FTFY.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Dunbal ( 464142 ) *
      You are purchasing 50 minutes of headlight time or 15 minutes of high beam time. (fine print) please check this box if you do not wish your headlight time to be renewed automatically when your headlight time expires...
      • Actually, if you're driving, you should probably NOT check that box. You're going to need the automatic renewal or you're going to be in grave danger if you miscalculate the time and your lights shut off in the middle of the highway.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by gtall ( 79522 )

      More like: Hi There, your friendly neighborhood hacker here....I've rooted your car, and I see from its sensors it is dark outside...please insert your credit card that I may charge you a mere $15 so you can drive home safely....or not, your choice...bye-bye now.

  • Reminds me of (Score:3)

    by TuballoyThunder ( 534063 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @10:48AM (#60267162)
    ...IBM mainframes and license DEC's license PAKs. I know the submitter and editor is trying to stir up outrage, but I don't really see the problem. If I don't want adaptive cruise control when I purchase the vehicle and change my mind 4 years later, I can pay to enable the feature. That avoids having to perform a costly hardware upgrade or purchasing a new vehicle.

    • They will work with subscriptions, for instance Apple Car or Android Auto is $300/year, etc. Your adaptative CC may be on a monthly basic too.

    • If I don't want adaptive cruise control when I purchase the vehicle and change my mind 4 years later, I can pay to enable the feature. That avoids having to perform a costly hardware upgrade or purchasing a new vehicle.

      Problem is BMW already does annual subscriptions for head unit features in it's "connecteddrive" system. Maybe you're happy to pay a one off fee. Are you happy to pay annually to keep that hardware operating?

    • Re:Reminds me of (Score:5, Interesting)

      by tragedy ( 27079 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @11:51AM (#60267440)

      The problem is, this sort of thing can leads to a lock nightmare. I would use the computer analogy of general purpose PCs versus gaming consoles, but that doesn't quite track. Car parts usually aren't actually as standardized as PC parts. However, there are lots of manufacturers and vendors making parts for most makes and models of automobile. If, when you buy your car, you don't opt for fog lamps, for example, you can add after-market fog lamps. More importantly, if you're sold a car without buying the fog lamp option, but it actually has fog lamps, but they're just not hooked up, you can hook up those fog lamps yourself. With a vehicle based on "microtransactions" it might become criminal DRM circumvention to enable the existing fog lamps and the car might automatically report you for it. Even replacing the physical fog lamp hardware and putting in your own aftermarket ones might become a criminal act.

      Consider the eternal fight against piracy in the computer software market. It's certainly feasible that care manufacturers could run a campaign to rebrand modifying your own car as a form of piracy. After all, you've agreed to a Eula to buy your new car. They can specify pretty much anything in there. They can also make changes to the hardware to force you to circumvent software protections to use "unauthorized" components. For example, they could close off the power system by making power only available through a combined power/data bus from a central power controller. It's not like there aren't good technical reasons to justify doing this in the first place, they would just have to abuse it to seize more control. Integrate the power control system right into the battery and the alternator so that you can't siphon power off for other devices. In order to add other devices, you would have to add an entire separate power system in parallel, and there are numerous ways that could be detected. Then they could start shutting off features that you have paid for, and possibly even preventing the car from even starting because you've voided the terms of your EULA..

      That is, of course, something of a worst-case scenario. It certainly may not get that bad. Predictions like this have come true often enough for this to be a real concern.

      • Stop saying they're buying something.

        If they have to agree to a license on how it's used, that's leasing some rights. There's no ownership, no first sale doctrine, no ability to re-sell what you "bought" at a later date.

        You can't even claim you own the hunk of metal your leased "rights" run on as your own possession if the act of modifying it, in and of itself, is a crime.

        As one wise woman said [youtube.com] on a street corner recently, "It's not ours. We don't own anything."

        Perpetual rent society.

  • Like turning your airbags on.

    Or all your vehicle purchase navigation taking you to the BMW dealership instead of the local AutoZone.

    Want to go faster than 60 MPH? Pay up sucker.

  • Accident avoidance (Score:3)

    by backslashdot ( 95548 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @10:52AM (#60267178)

    How many people are killed by BMW drivers every year? Why don't they invest some money in accident avoidance features?

    • But BMW drivers are according to their self-assessment the best drivers on the planet, why would they need accident avoidance features?

      And since it would be them that buy them... well, why supply something when there is no demand?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dfghjk ( 711126 )

      How do you know that they don't?

      Why the association between "BMW drivers" (whatever that is) and BMW? Is the company responsible for the implied lack of safety of their customers? How many people ARE "killed by BMW drivers" every year? Do you know? Do you care?

      • I specified it because this article is about BMW, you'll see I ask why other car manufacturers except Tesla aren't investing in advanced safety features either. And yes of course I care about human lives, not sure why you'd ask that.

  • like cuba (Score:3)

    by jmccue ( 834797 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @10:54AM (#60267194) Homepage

    This will make lots of countries (esp US) like Cuba, old autos will be maintained forever and hardly anyone will by new. Right now new cars are so expensive I doubt I will ever by one.

  • Tesla (Score:3)

    by bagofbeans ( 567926 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @10:54AM (#60267196)

    Tesla, which pioneered them and currently sells access to a variety of features after purchase. It even used to ship cars with battery packs that had their range limited by software

    Curious whether the battery would have a longer life if forbibly not over-discharged this way... hauling around a heavier pack than necessary though.

  • It sounds like my 2019 will be my last new BMW then. This won't hurt them too much since the car I replaced I purchased in 2006, which is pretty average for me. I can only hope others take this same view if it really does include things like "heated seats and automatic high beams." My understanding though is that for vehicles already sold, it only affects new functions that the car doesn't already have. Like I'm guessing I would have to pay to upgrade the self driving mode with new capabilities.

  • So the hardware will already be present.... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Kitkoan ( 1719118 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @10:56AM (#60267210)
    If the software will let me access functions like heated seats, it means the hardware to do this is already there. And I don't see BMW selling the car without making sure they recoup their cost for that hardware, which tells me that these microtransactions will be an extra charge for the sake of an extra charge. What improvement will these transactions be giving me, as a paying consumer, beyond being able to use what I've already paid for? Or will buying these microtransactions include a free trip to a dealership to have the hardware installed so it's not to activate hardware already paid for?

    • It's probably cheaper for BMW to install the hardware and turn it off in software than to have two different physical build processes. There are no costs to recoup.

      • It should be like receiving unasked for books in the mail. Yours to keep, for free, and you don't owe anyone anything. (At least in this state. )

        If they want to pull a scam by giving you something and then asking you you pay for it, they should be treated like the book club scams. You get it for free.

        The difference here is only in degree, not kind. It's actually worse, because in this case, you did ostensibly pay for the hardware already.

  • Great... BMW is going to make driving one of their cars as annoying as trying to play an ad supported game on an iOS device. I can imagine it now...

    "Hey Siri, please turn up the temperature by two degrees"

    The car responds, "Sure, I can do that, but first I want to tell you about the amazing new climate control system on the new 2026 BMW 7 series..."

    "Stop, just change the damn cabin temperature already!"

    The car responds, "Sorry, but you already used your allocation of free voice control sessions this month.

  • Dear Bee Emm Double-yew ... (Score:3, Informative)

    by the bluebrain ( 443451 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @10:58AM (#60267222)
    ... you're essentially being slaughtered by Tesla, with Chinese companies looming, and *this* is the you've time for? Kick out the business optimisers who came up with this shit, and replace them with some engineers. Your stockholders want returns from a company that actually still exists, rearranging the fucking deck chairs is not the right thing to do right now.
  • to permanently unlock these features? On the one hand there's DMCA, on the other hand there's right to repair laws.

    Or what if I start a side business unlocking these features for people? Or selling devices that do it (and undo it in case you need Warranty work done)?

    They cynic in me thinks the car companies will just buy laws.

    Also, it's not a good sign that car companies are turning to these sorts of things for increased revenue. This is a really bad experience for car owners. This kind of nickl
    • Your examples arent considered part of right to repair. They all fall under DMCA violations. It's like modding a console, it's illegal to tamper with the software so it can do more thing, but you can legally repair the optical lens.

      • Re: What happens when I hack my car (Score:4, Interesting)

        by weilawei ( 897823 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @02:59PM (#60268322)

        And this gives the lie to the idea that it was a sale in the first place.

        If I buy a hammer, I can drill a damn hole in the face of it to make it hold a nail for setting (not sure why you'd do that, but I needed an example) or create a new kind of handgrip--or do anything else I feel like with it.

        Now, if that hammer had some software lock to prevent me from swinging it with my left hand instead of my right, and it were illegal to disable that software lock or work around it or add features making it irrelevant, that would give the lie to the idea of a "sale".

        First sale doctrine. It's either yours or it isn't. Make up your mind, but don't claim that a lease is a sale.

  • Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @11:08AM (#60267256)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • Re:NO. (Score:4, Interesting)

      by pr0t0 ( 216378 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @12:23PM (#60267606)

      Adding to this, I just purchased a Lexus. I was told it had remote start and the salesperson showed me how to do it from the key fob. I was also told that if I signed up for their Enform service, I could remote start it from my phone. Enform wants to know my vehicle's location at all times. No thanks, I value my privacy, even if I'm only going to the grocery store. They also indicate that they share this data with unnamed third parties, and I have no idea how it's being used, controlled, or protected. HARD PASS.

      I just found out yesterday, the remote start from the fob does not work with out subscribing to Enform. DO NOT BUY A LEXUS. Apparently, they feel their customers have not earned an expectation or right of privacy. I was told remote start was included in the price I was paying. In truth, I only get remote start if I also pay with my privacy, a price not disclosed at the point of sale.

    • Oh, you wanted to drive it off the lot. I'm sorry, it's a self-driving car. It'll take care of that for you. Then it'll come back here after it has dropped you off because, honestly, it cannot trust you to take care of it. We've seen what happened to your last vehicle. You can call it whenever you want until your service agreement runs out.

  • They want to simply make a single model of car.
    Then, depending on what you pay for, they turn on/off various features.

    #NoThankYou

  • They charge to much ... (Score:3)

    by PPH ( 736903 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @11:20AM (#60267298)

    ... for using the turn signals. Explains a lot.

  • I'm reminded of this DLC pic. [wordpress.com]

    --
    Carrie Lam became China's Bitch when she didn't allow the full draft of the National Security Law to be public until after passing. WTF! Fuck you Xi Pooh's Lackey.

    • Whats sad is that the picture makes it look like its finally getting better. The tomorrow side would cost base game + $65, where the next Gen side is base game + $220 (and not including the exclusive parts)

      • Yeah, next gen games are shaping up to cost $70, er, $69.99 if rumors are correct.

        Probably going to sit this generation out.

  • Resale (Score:2)

    by mattr ( 78516 )

    So after resale the next owner must purchase the virtual Adonis again huh. I liked the brand even though after riding an Audi I was impressed. Worked on a BMW project and wanted one of my own. This however would totally turn me away from BMW because I no longer feel the integrity I would expect to pay for. Itâ(TM)s a pitiful idea unworthy of the brand. It lowers the perceived value of the brand everywhere as far as Iâ(TM)m concerned. I get that business is tough but they really should get rid of e

  • Why these people expect anybody to pay full price of defective-by-design trash like that is pretty astonishing. Probably enough morons with money that will buy anyways.

    • Well, considering who drives BMWs around here, the target market is morons without money...

      They are already not owning "their" car, so not owning it twice doesn't matter that much. But I think it will backfire because people will just buy the cars and then have cousin Murat figure out how to crack the software.

    • Becaise they don't have a choice.

      You also bought your defective by design thinks-it-is-smarter-than-you-phone. It has no replaceable parts. No keyboard. No way to add in a battery maybe even no ports for any cards, headphones, chargers... But it does have a shitton of unremovable spying bloatware, maybe even ads right in the dialery, is locked up *against* you, and probably has a fingerprint skimmer and creates a 3D model of your face to sell off.

      Yet you bought this living nightmare.
      Or went through major ha

  • Many of the extra 'pay for' features are tied to hardware in the vehicle. If the vehicles' computer is switching off functionality (such as a heated steering wheel), remember that you paid for that heated steering wheel already. Why would I want a car full of hardware (extra weight) that I can't use? ...whilst paying for fuel to move said useless hardware around? This is very different from licensing software that provides a different function not necessarily relying on additional peripheral hardware. I
  • "And the company unsurprisingly plans to use this ability to make money." Should they be using this ability to try lose (more) money, instead?

    • No, to EARN money.

      Like, to do actual work for me for this instance of a payment! No, not a copy, or I will also pay with a copy of money by the exact same line of reasoning, down to the last detail. ("Those $100 are my labor property, you pirate! I'll sue you for $100 trillion under the DMCA!")

      Not force people into paying arbitrary prices due to a localized monopoly ("lock-in", also "copyright"), which is a major crime normally, and artificial scarcity (also "copyright"), also usually a major crime.

      Or, for

  • Car owner sued for p0wning his car.
    No mod for you !! and
    BMW sued by car owners who crashed car while imputing credit card number.

  • Class action lawsuit against BMW by NASCAR, who claim to own the copyright for turning left... BMW cars crippled to only turn right
  • Maybe I shouldn't say "my car" anymore. BMW seems to be heading into the lease-only business.
  • What the hell? Has BMW decided to ape Elon Musk from the paypal days?

    Just do a good serious BEV. The market is big enough for all of you, BMW, Volvo, Nissan, Toyota, and yes Tesla too.

    First unlearn ICEV design rules. Weight reduction does not have the same bang for the buck in BEV for energy economy. Regenerative braking is that effective. Carbon panels to reduce weight for an EV? Dumb.

  • This needs to become a major crime, right fuckin' NOW. Somewhere between taking ALL the profits, like for conspiring to a monopoly, and every single damn employee who conspired to this going to prison!

    Those degenerates are not good enough to receive my spit to the face!

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by hey! ( 33014 )

      You'd better get used to it. It's only going to get worse.

      One of the universal principles of running any business is that getting new customers is expensive. It's usually easier to make profit selling small things to existing customers than it is to sell big things to people who aren't your customer yet.

      A competently run business will always try to jujutsu you from making a onetime purchase to having some kind of ongoing relationship in which you send them money regularly. A car dealership would rather y

  • This would seem to be similar to the XM Radios in many cars. It is added hardware that provides an enhanced functionality for a fee. If you want it, you pay extra. This model has been around for almost 2 decades. Would the outrage be the same if your extra capability/hardware was "owned" by a third party?

  • I'm not interested in paying an upgrade price to add a feature to my car, but not for the reasons everyone else is mentioning.

    When I buy a car, I spend a long time debating which features I need. Sure, this would mean that I don't need to make those decisions in-advance, but instead I get to make them every day!

    To quote Ray Romano, in reference to one-upping dad's birthday gift next year: "It's not that I don't have to worry about it for a year, it's that I have a year to worry about it!"

    By definition, we'

  • Your option for - brakes - has expired.
    Renew - brakes - now for $1000 for two months.

  • As if the BMW "tax" on repairs wasn't enough, microtransactions on a car?!?!
    Let's see, $9.99/month for A/C
    $4.99/month for a horn, etc, etc.
    I think the idea is extra stupid and, although BMW's aren't on my usual list of potential cars, I wouldn't even consider one now.

  • Non dealer oil change $24.99 to reset light!

  • Just wait until someone injects ransomware (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Applehu Akbar ( 2968043 ) on Monday July 06, 2020 @01:52PM (#60268028)

    "For a monthly payment of one Bitcoin, I promise not to trigger all your airbags or lock the transmission in first gear at some random time of my choosing..."

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