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Comment by jak92 | Hacker News Reader

I'd like a tesla but not comfortable with their data policy. If tesla provides a way to opt out I may consider a base model 3 in the future.

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I own a BMW i3 and the Tesla Model 3. Both have cellular connections and are constantly pinging their motherships. At least on the Tesla I have the option of opting out. No such ability is available on the BMW.

> No such ability is available on the BMW.

Does the CEO of BMW tweet that it's your fault after you wreck your car?

No. But the CEO of Tesla doesn't do that either.

(They can't tell the reason for the crash remotely, they extract the data directly, in person, with physical access to the car.)

You most certainly can prevent it from paging home to BMW. Either thru the settings menu or hacking it via ODB2 port and coding it off with software like E-Sys.

Yeah, like any normal customer would do. /s

I mean, it's the same software the a BMW dealership uses when they code your car. I was easily able to learn how to code my own BMW using it within a day. It's not hard.

Interesting. Can't you wrap the antenna in a Faraday cage, or simply disconnect it?

There is a way to opt out. It's a setting within the vehicle.

Is it an actual opt-out or is it a Google-esque not-actually-off opt-out?

I've met [Phil Sadow](https://www.fastcompany.com/90209541/meet-the-renegade-whos-...) the other day in Berkeley, he's pretty fully p0wned the S,3,X systems and replaced the tesla endpoints up with his own server. If you're really worried about this enough then there may be a way.

Agreed. There's a lot to like about the cars, but they're very invasive.

Luckily you can get a service manual in Massachusetts (or at least electronic access)

If I were to buy one my first move would be to remove the modem and WiFi.

Even then I don't like the amount of data it records internally.

I don't think you understand the car if you want to turn off the ability for the car to improve the software.

Fair enough - I think understand their model, but I don't really agree with it :)

I don't think my car needs internet access, or anyone needs the ability to check in on it.

Unless there's a safety recall, I'd personally prefer my car to keep the OS and configuration throughout it's lifecycle.

But I love their batteries in particular, and I think they're very nice cars in many ways.

What exactly is their data policy that makes you uncomfortable? How does it compare with the mandatory "eCall" system that all new cars in Europe must have (SIM card and microphone that the car user(s) have no control over)?

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