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The Drive also pointed out that making owners pay subscription feesfor already equipped hardware features is lunacy.
Twitter was also awash with criticism of BMWs plans.Many highlighted the slippery slope that BMW is now perched atop.
In the new BMW you better pay for a subscription on the luxury options.
What’s next, pay monthly fee to be able to start your engine?
How about 49.99$/m to use reverse?
Sorry, but if this catches on, I will never buy another new car.
Which kind of hits the nail on the head.
Youve always been able to personalize your car, at point of purchase and afterwards with third-party parts.
But dont worry, BMWs got your back and will let you pay a fee to enable it!
But where is that going to stop?
Will we start getting charged by the minute for the air conditioning?
What about using the indicators: 10 cents for every turn?
Most would say that last one wont affect BMW drivers, though.
But even so, it doesnt sound good.
Im not averse to change, far from it, but I am averse to things that are anti-consumer.
Itll also make it a headache when you come to sell your vehicle.
Are you supposed to disable your subscriptions?
Or do you leave them running for the next owner?
Or do you ask them to pay you for them, because you added them as an option?
The whole thing is not consumer oriented, not simple, and sounds like too much of a headache.
There might be a few tenuous benefits.
It also might be a boon for those that lease their car.
When it comes to features that are purely software-based, like cruise control, it makes sense.
Because every car has the capability to offer that anyway.
BMW should steer well-clear of messing with what have always been hardware focused features.
If optional extras get your motor running, something like a Kia or Hyundai might be a better option.
After much furor, the companyu-turned on the ideaand made the feature free.
BMW told Jalopnik that its not going to do anything drastic too soon, though.
Hopefully, the company is taking note of this feedback and will act accordingly.
And of course, how much it costs to enable certain features, and for how long.
Thats unlikely, though.
I just hope it has learned from the last time it tried something like this.
Story byMatthew Beedham
Matthew is the editor of SHIFT.
He likes electric cars, and other things with wheels, wings, or hulls.
