Let’s flip it around: I’m buying a $42K car (the 428 I’ve had my eye on), and BMW is going to nickel-and-dime me on it?
The $80/yr... turns a boolean from false to true. One that much cheaper cars give away.
How would you feel if BMW decided to start charging $80/yr for heated seats? There is absolutely no reason that should have a yearly fee attached to it.
Um, have you looked at the BMW website? Gone to configure a car? The answer is a resounding YES!
Btw it's not like the BMW is the only one charging for the mobile connection in the car... it's basically another cell phone + monthly plan, they are not free.
I would like a company that just takes the old Apple approach - you’re going to pay more, but you get everything for two different prices. Now even Apple has lower prices and then extra for stuff.
I thought Tesla would be this cool company, but they mega upcharge you. My friend signed up for the “35k” model and got $15k in options, one is entirely software based.
CarPlay is some firmware, and whatever it costs to certify the unit through the Made for iPhone program. After that, everything comes off my phone including any data. IOW, the Pioneer head unit that has CarPlay I bought for one of our cars doesn't even have a slot for a SIM, because the phone takes care of all that.
So once the R&D is paid for, which I'm happy to pay for (with a suitable margin for BMW) once, CarPlay is essentially free of ongoing costs to the manufacturer.
A $40K car loan at 60 months is $600/month.
You could have got a Honda or Toyota for half that amount with the same features but without the prestige of owning a BMW.
Pay to play.
Pay to play.