BMW Introduces New Heated Seat Subscription in UK

[pharvey]

had to double check this wasn't a late April Fool's windup or then whether I should post in News of the Weird....

A Pi$$take it is, but very true!! Guess there's a monthly subscription for AC in Thailand!!

BMW Introduces New Heated Seat Subscription in UK

"BMW has sparked debate after offering an online subscription to turn on heated front seats in its cars in the UK for £15 per month.

A monthly heated steering wheel subscription costs £10.

Subscriptions have been available for features on BMW cars for some time in the UK, but the heated seat offer started this month.

The company says customers can enable all hardware features for a one-time payment if they prefer.

The features are available via BMW's ConnectedDrive online store and are activated remotely, with no need to visit a dealer.

The heated seat offer is available in the UK, but the subscriptions that are available vary by country.

The manufacturer told the BBC that "where heated seats, or any feature available in the ConnectedDrive store have been purchased when a customer vehicle is ordered, no subsequent subscription or payment is necessary".

But the company argues that the ability to add new features can be helpful for owners who change their minds after purchase.

And it is particularly useful, BMW wrote, for second-hand car owners, "as they now have the opportunity to add features the original owner did not choose"."

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

Add to the thread with other WTF moments/ideas from car manufacturers....

[lindosfan1]

I had a Mitsubisi Pajero which had individually heated and sprung front seats it was on the car when I bought it.
Now we know some BMW drivers,drive like twunts, but surely not even they would pay a subscription for heated front seats or steering wheel, what else are they paying subscription for? Wheels $10 amonth each I will have 3 lol.
BMW are taking the p***
Thanks for the laugh pharvey

[pharvey]

I had a Mitsubisi Pajero which had individually heated and sprung front seats it was on the car when I bought it.
Now we know some BMW drivers,drive like twunts, but surely not even they would pay a subscription for heated front seats or steering wheel, what else are they paying subscription for? Wheels $10 amonth each I will have 3 lol.
BMW are taking the p***
Thanks for the laugh pharvey

In all seriousness, what get's me is that the (BMW) cars already have the hardware installed (obviously), they are just saying that you need to pay a "subscription" to have it enabled!! Now, if that isn't a pi$$take, what is?

As a comment in the report says, it's like buying a coffee cup but having to pay extra for the handle!!

Couldn't say I would go for a BMW anyway, but I guarantee this stunt will lose them a few potential customers!!

[bigston]

Plus also their reliability of late has been a bit off the mark, depending the country of origin
i can just imagine turning up the heated seat and getting frostbite
too many of those incidents might result in a cl ass action....

[Dannie Boy]

As you might imagine, there’s an awful lot of negative press regarding this decision - it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if they backtrack very soon, but it might be too late and they’ve already alienated a lot of customers - on the other hand, maybe Mercedes, Audi and some of the others will try and follow in their footsteps?

[pharvey]

on the other hand, maybe Mercedes, Audi and some of the others will try and follow in their footsteps?

Very biased towards Mercs, so I would hope not!!

[handdrummer]

I envision the thermostat going out of control and the seats catching on fire and burning the arses off the arses that bought the service.

[bigston]

Come on HD you can do better than that
and its not a Samsung on trial here....

[handdrummer]

Come on HD you can do better than that
and its not a Samsung on trial here....

It's the middle of summer, the temperature is 40 degrees C outside, the air conditioner fails, the seat heats up, you pull over to the curb and the seat belt won't unfasten. When you are discovered, hours later, there's nothing but a puddle of water & and a melted Samsung mobile phone sizzling on the seat.

Your turn.

[STEVE G]

"BMW has sparked debate after offering an online subscription to turn on heated front seats in its cars in the UK for £15 per month.

Can you just pay for a couple of months in the winter?

[Dannie Boy]

"BMW has sparked debate after offering an online subscription to turn on heated front seats in its cars in the UK for £15 per month.

Can you just pay for a couple of months in the winter?

“While in some instances a monthly subscription might make sense for seasonal features, such as only needing heated front seats in the winter months rather than during the current heatwave, it does raise questions about why a driver might want others on a non-permanent basis”.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/car ... month.html

[bigston]

FFS you are paying thru the nose for one of them anyway, and i bet their bottom line is still pretty healthy
just another insipid stupid way to rip off the needy ...
as for air in the tyres its 2 quid per PSI.
but id be happy to pay 10 quid a month for an ejector seat
coming for a drive HD...

[Big Boy]

Many, many years ago, when I was young, free and single (1984) I was looking for a brand new car to replace my Mk IV Cortina. I didn't even consider a BMW until I went to see my mechanic. I remember it well, he was working on a Porsche at the time, and he was really saying what a bag of old bolts it was. I said something like, "OK, that's a Porsche off my wanted list then." We then got into the conversation that I was looking at buying a new car, and I wasn't sure what I wanted.

My mechanic started extolling the virtues of the BMW, and the fact they were no more expensive than the other possibilities.

Well, I followed it through, and he was right, the basic car was very competitively priced, but it was the Ryan Air of the car world. What you got for your money was a very basic car, and to make it recognisable as a BMW, it would have cost a small fortune in extras.

I guess what the OP is describing is an extension of what was happening back in 1984.

[Dannie Boy]

I’m certainly not trying to defend BMW but they point out that most/all of these “extras” can be bought for a lump sum payment as well as/ instead of a monthly fee. I guess they are trying to find ways to keep the cash price lower but the negative publicity won’t do them many favours assuming this Forum is a benchmark (I guess that’s debatable)!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bigston]

Not that ive had the joy of ever buying many new cars, but from memory there was always the "base model ' and the incremental step ups, in features ,luxury ?? all of course at an extra cost
even back in the 70's the great Australian contribution to fine motoring , Holden came with numerous upgrades available
some higher spec ones even had brakes but they didn't work particularly well........
when one orders a new car these days it seems you can specify anything, everything or the basic 4 wheels and thats all
Its seems that BMW are in a blatant cash grab, as all these features that we all need..
are already "Built In".
if you dont need or want your bum scratched, ears cleaned, hair straightened,teeth polished, you should pay less for the car, unspecify them, and get them to take the goddam things out ........ ..