As the article says, the car already comes with the heated seats, BMW just wants you to pay extra to use them. Something about this just rubs me the wrong way. I am sure they are not discounting the car to start out with. I see this as charging me to use something the car already has. Want to roll your window down, that will cost you $5. Want to use your horn...$5. Want to turn your AC on ...$5.

I do not think I am buying a car from a manufacture that is going to do this. Seems like a money grab to me and I would not support it.

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

I had to Google this as I surely thought it was a late April Fool's joke!

What a horrible business model, reminds me of the airlines and look at all the problems they have.

I too would NOT support it!!!

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1973 280SEL 4.5
2021 E450S4 AT/Wagon

R.I.p. bmw

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1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

I recall reading Toyota was doing the same for the remote start capability.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Yup and my wife’s new Subaru has the same “feature”. It was listed on the option list because they give you a free few months . Subaru though gives you the option to buya special fob which then unlocks the feature on all key fobs for like $400. Remote start is highly over rated but heated seats are super nice if you live somewhere with cold winters.

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I'd rather argue against a hundred idiots, than have one agree with me. — Winston Churchill

Mercedes is doing something similar with their new all electric EQS. Neither BMW nor Mercedes are known as being cheap rides......if you wanna play, you gotta pay!!

https://insideevs.com/news/596076/mercedes-eqs-rear-steer-china-subscription/

The success or failure of these money making schemes will depend upon whether enough people buy into it or not. My bet is that it will be a success.

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

I'm old enough to remember when water and television were both free. When the idea of selling bottled water began, many people believed it wouldn't work. Today, the bottled water business is a billion dollar business.

Then along came cable and satellite television. Yes, it took several years for people to buy into paying for television but ultimately, they did.

I have an immediate family member who worked for years in one of the Nation's top advertising agency. This family member has shared with me many of their methodologies.....believe me, an advertising agency can create an advertising campaign to convince you to pay for gift wrapped cow poop!!

I once bought a '79 VW Rabbit diesel.
It had 2 speed wipers, only. I bought the wiper "intermittent" relay for the Scirocco, plugged it into a socket under the dash, and then dug out of the steering column a little plug that limited the wiper switch movement.

I had asked at the dealership about getting this optionally in my Rabbit, they told me it was NOT an option.

I guess upgrade to a Scirocco to get this??

'79 Rabbit Diesels, last, best, "made in Germany" models.

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"I applaud your elaborate system of denial"

I was thinking about all of this and was like..... Why not just wire around it?

During the 70s I was knocking down some pretty serious cash. But once I bypassed a seat belt interlock for a guy and he paid me five bucks. Somehow that five was some of the nicests money I ever made. It was just the feeling of knowing I could outsmart the gooberment and the dealers.

I doubt its that easy. Its likely integrated into a robust CANBUS system and will cause all sorts of havoc. I had a bmw where the idrive crapped out and it was caused by a small microcontroller in the shift console. They had to replace a ton of stuff to recalibrate the system, and it took 4 weeks. Youd be better off buying an aftermarket heater pad and plugging it into the socket.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth