BMW Plans to Turn CarPlay Into Subscription-Based Service Next Year

[SRLMJ23]

This was to be expected. The German luxury cars (Audi, BMW, Mercedes) option everything to death with very high prices. While I want CarPlay added to my 2017 Mazda6 I will certainly not pay for it. I suspect this will be one step too far for most. However, most of the cars from these three are leased and not purchased so I can see many not caring.

Slap an aftermarket head unit in your Mazda. I posted a beautiful Alpine CarPlay (also supports Android Auto) and you can control your smart lights, garage doors, home security systems, and smart thermostat. It also has tons more features. Has bluetooth which sounds pretty darn good and hands free calling, but also has a USB cable for iPod/iPhone which sounds decently better than bluetooth. Supports FLAC as well, which truly sounds AMAZING. Also has an optical audio port, HDMI etc. You could literally hook an Apple TV up to these Alpine head units and use the Siri Remote to change your music, haha.

Here is a link if you want: https://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/ine-w977hd

That is the most expensive one, or one of the most expensive because it is a brand new head unit. Cheers!

 

[Chupa Chupa]

A subcription cost for what exactly? They don't need to update Carplay at all. That's the whole point of it.

Sounds like rather than paying upfront for the software license the customer will license it annually. Think Photoshop CS4 vs Photoshop CC. You are not paying for the updates, just the license to use whatever the current version is.

 

[Captain Brainstorm]

BMW, can I pay for a subscription for the steering wheel, air conditioning, floor mats, and engine, as well?

 

[cmaier]

Sounds like rather than paying upfront for the software license the customer will license it annually. Think Photoshop CS4 vs Photoshop CC. You are not paying for the updates, just the license to use whatever the current version is.

And you never receive any updates and you have to pay forever until you sell the car. And the software does little more than grant your phone access to the speakers and screen (the real software runs on your phone).

With photoshop cc you pay a subscription and get real updates that add value. BMW has never once updated the crappy software in my x5.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

This subscription comes with a free iPhone X right? Right!? Volkswage,Chevy, Cadillac and Hundai give you car play for free. Audi as well it seems BMW’s now come standard with a loot box.

No company is giving anything away for free. The cost is baked into everyone of these make's wholesale price.

 

[Ramchi]

Next, subscription for Car A/C & Heater !!! Innovation indeed!

 

[Chupa Chupa]

And you never receive any updates and you have to pay forever until you sell the car. And the software does little more than grant your phone access to the speakers and screen (the real software runs on your phone).

With photoshop cc you pay a subscription and get real updates that add value. BMW has never once updated the crappy software in my x5.

My case scenario is my case scenario. I keep my car 4 years and trade. No way is my garage hosting an out-of-warranty BMW. So this licensing scheme works well for me. Probably a lot of others too as most people lease BMWs.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

BMW wasn't satisfied with how quickly Tesla was killing them and wanted to die faster?

Edit: Before people start suggesting BMW isn't about to die and look at how large they are, that's exactly why they'll die. GM didn't go bankrupt because their sales went from 10M per year to 0. They went bankrupt because their sales went from 10M per year to 9M per year, and they couldn't afford all their overheard costs on just 9M per year because their margins were so thin.

BMW currently has 2M sales per year. Their margins are better than GM's were, so they can take a bit more of a hit, percentage wise. They can drop to around 1.6M per year. Tesla is talking about producing 1M cars per year by 2020 - a large portion of those buyers will be switching from BMW. So I expect BMW is going to be in a lot of trouble sometime between 2020 and 2022 if they don't find some way to fend off Tesla.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

No company is giving anything away for free. The cost is baked into everyone of these make's wholesale price.

Did you read somewhere that the list price of all BMW's are dropping by $300 so that you aren't paying for Carplay upfront? It's a scam that you are playing into just as they hope you would.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It’s VERY different than your xm tuner. BMW isn’t charging you for xm. Xm is. And xm has annual costs of providing the xm service whereas bmw has no annual costs to provide you CarPlay.

You had to buy the hardware and then discover if it was useful or not. If not then you wasted about $300 on the option. Currently it's packages in a basic package. So you can test it out at no extra cost and if you don't like it don't have to cry you wasted $300 on nothing.
[doublepost=1516202297][/doublepost]

Did you read somewhere that the list price of all BMW's are dropping by $300 so that you aren't paying for Carplay upfront? It's a scam that you are playing into just as they hope you would.

CarPlay isn't standard. It's a $300 option. So this has zero affect on the base MSRP one way or the other.

 

[Alan Wynn]

I doubt apple will allow this. Either way, I won’t be buying any more bmw’s. Our X5 sucks.

Apple is unlikely to get involved, as it is not their problem. Either BMW has done research and knows its customers do not care, or the market will simply fix this. Given it has taken them this long to add it, my guess is that they do not feel it is a critical need for their customers.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Access to CarPlay and Android Auto should be free in BMWs like it is in other vehicles. Comparing what BMW is doing to Apple's music subscription is absurd considering that they aren't anywhere close to the same thing.

I wasn't comparing them directly. I was pointing out how much we abhor a cheap subscription offering from BMW vs. how hard we argue for one- and against a free subscription model- from Apple.

I'm guessing this is just an OPTION for consumers. Nothing wrong with options.

 

[Tsuchiya]

Seems like a miserly response to those who would just be content with CarPlay instead of paying for one of their widescreen systems. Mercedes did something similar with the vehicle we ended up leasing. The standard infotainment system had navigation and Bluetooth, but CarPlay was only included in the £2000+ Comand system. Whereas my fathers A Class came with it as standard.

I don’t think manufacturers know how to deal with CarPlay tbh.

 

[chiefsilverback]

To me the beauty of CarPlay and Android Auto is that your device does all the work, not the car. All the manufacturer needs to do is put in a touch screen, amp and speakers and you phone does the rest. Save all that money on developing OEM infotainment systems!

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Ever bought a bmw? No way they will give it for free to get the sale. And since there is nothing in the story about an option to buy outright, we can only comment on what the story actually says. It’s also not cheaper unless you are in s short term lease.

And, finally, the difference between an Apple music subscription and a CarPlay subscription is obvious. Apple Music costs Apple money to provide - when you listen to a song they have to pay a license fee, and they have to pay for servers and infrastructure to keep the service running. BMW could vanish off the face of the earth tomorrow and the CarPlay functionality in their cars would be unaffected. It’s a one time cost for them.

And again, it's not a comparison of CarPlay vs. Apple Music. The point was how hard we are railing against THIS subscription offering while arguing so passionately for Apples AND so passionately against the Spotify free option. It come off that only Apple is justified in offering something via subscription.
[doublepost=1516202696][/doublepost]

The easy solution would be for BMW to offer both options - either $80/year or $300 for life of the car.

And I fully expect that to be the case. They already offer the latter option. I suspect they are only adding the former as an option.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

CarPlay isn't standard. It's a $300 option. So this has zero affect on the base MSRP one way or the other.

Which is the point. The fact that you can say that without blinking says something...

Watch TV much? Notice how many car models are now including as standard (FREE) in base models with lane departure warning, backup cameras, collision braking, etc? You think those didn't cost them anything to include? yet they come free as standard.

The fact that BMW is charging for Carplay (while no one else does) is ridiculous.

 

[robT9]

The article is INCORRECT about the leasing cost being less this way. While it now costs $300 as an option, a lessee only pays a fraction of that. So if the car for example has a 58% residual after 3 years, you would pay $300-(.58*300)=$126+interest(lease money factor), so about an extra $3.75 per month ($45/yr for 3 years). $80 per year would not be better, even with a free year ($160 vs $135). However, the bigger issue is having to pony up over $2000 for the navigation system that they make you get in order to even have the option of CarPlay. That is a complete joke!

 

[tdar]

This is great. I always do 3 year leases on my BMW's, I just paid $300 up front for carplay on my wife's X3.... under this new method I will only pay $160 for 2 years if you include the first year free. Alot fairer for leasers.... Buyers might get screwed over though.

You know what would be fairer for leasers and for buyers? If they just did it like most every other car company and just included it for free. As already in the price of the car. Standard.

 

[tzm41]

For something that doesn't incur constant cost to service provider, charging for subscription is basically a crime...

Imagine in the future you have to pay a subscription to use the oven in your smart stove...

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Which is the point. The fact that you can say that without blinking says something...

I think you need to look in the mirror yourself.

BMW now charges $300 for CarPlay. So today if the buyer decides he or she doesn't like CarPlay after taking possession tough. $300 in the trash can.

If BMW uses a subscription model: CarPlay for $80/year, cancelable at any time, first year free = IF I like CarPlay I end up paying 3 years x $80 = $240. Last I checked $240 was less than $300.

OTOH If after a year I don't like CarPlay then I pay $0. $0 is definitely less than $300.
[doublepost=1516203284][/doublepost]

For something that doesn't incur constant cost to service provider, charging for subscription is basically a crime...

It's not. It's like a ground lease for software.

 

[jav6454]

I think you need to look in the mirror yourself.

BMW now charges $300 for CarPlay. So today if the buyer decides he or she doesn't like CarPlay after taking possession tough. $300 in the trash can.

If BMW uses a subscription model: CarPlay for $80/year, cancelable at any time, first year free = IF I like CarPlay I end up paying 3 years x $80 = $240. Last I checked $240 was less than $300.

OTOH If after a year I don't like CarPlay then I pay $0. $0 is definitely less than $300.

However, as has been stated, if you buy the car not lease, then it means a continuous payment which outweighs the benefit. I for one, won't pay for any subsription in my car.

 

[Return Zero]

Honey bunches of nope.

Either way, I will never own another BMW. Our X5 was nothing but problems. Honda for life! (& Acura...)

 

[76morgan]

So BMW is effectively saying “play by my rules or I’m crippling the hardware.” BMW will be acting like CVS and other stores turning off their NFC so they don’t have to accept ApplePay (unless you pay more). To the people saying this is a good thing: would you feel the same way if a store added a fee for you to use ApplePay?

 

[Chupa Chupa]

However, as has been stated, if you buy the car not lease, then it means a continuous payment which outweighs the benefit. I for one, won't pay for any subsription in my car.

Depends on how long you keep the car. I buy my cars and keep them for 4 years -- until the warranty expires. So this does work out less expensive for me. I mentioned leasing because that is how most people obtain BMWs.

 

[jav6454]

Depends on how long you keep the car. I buy my cars and keep them for 4 years -- until the warranty expires. So this does work out less expensive for me. I mentioned leasing because that is how most people obtain BMWs.

Well, I tend to keep my cars for 5 years. If it were a luxury car, 7 years. Hence, makes no sense to go subscrption.