Keep in mind that the software that runs in a car is also generally considered to be safety-critical software (particularly if it interacts with the car in any way other than car audio), which means that QA testing and certification take longer than with app updates or operating system updates generally do.
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BMW Shipping New Cars Temporarily Without Apple CarPlay
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A couple of years back BMW was planning on charging $80/year for CarPlay support, but I'm not sure if they ever went through with it.
Well, I’ve never owned a BMW, so I don’t know all the features of their in-car entertainment system. I could certainly see some companies, though, decide “our users all have smartphones, let’s make CarPlay and Android Auto our only in-car entertainment options”, after all, that’s pretty much what the entire airline industry did in the US when they retired videotape in-flight entertainment.
After initially offering CarPlay as a standalone option for $300, BMW switched to a subscription for 2019 charging $80/year or $300 for 20 years. The latter was essentially the same as a standalone option since few new BMW buyers keep their cars for 20 years.
For 2020, they made CarPlay "free" although I imagine the cost was simply rolled into the base price.
According to this ^ fellow with inside info, the 3-series LCI will arrive this July.
Yes, they did. They were also going to charge an additional $80 per year to keep it, until the consumer backlash caused them to rethink that.
That makes more sense as the only way an OTA would be a solution.
In view of the 3 months delay and the hassle they made me go through, the dealership discounted 3 months payments worth of the price, and gave me an additional 1 month delay to start paying my X1.
This article is about Apple Car Play, but it also mentioned no Android Auto either, which is what I'd be using. Quite a bummer! I hope the OTA updates come soon, and will be relatively painless to get through
Curious, did your car come with a CD player? Mine didn't and I hear many others these days don't. While I get that we're in "new times" where they want to make the console less cluttered, make way for bigger screens, etc., I still have plenty of CDs on hand. I do have Sirius XM, and use music from internet, but I do go through areas at times where I don't have internet access.
Oh, as for navigation, some of the manufacturers (e.g. Honda) have long gotten rid of navigation on their vehicles. They just given up since especially these days, everybody has a phone that can do GPS navigation
This 2022 X1 didn't come with a CD slot. The 2019 I had, did have one.
Much ado about nothing…Yes, they did. They were also going to charge an additional $80 per year to keep it, until the consumer backlash caused them to rethink that.
Anyone who paid for a subscription will be refunded. And finally, anyone who buys a new BMW from this day on won't have to worry—it's standard on all vehicles with navigation.
A big nothing burger…
That’s very basic and necessary for a premium brand. Can’t imagine the local BMW dealer in hong kong still proactively removes Carplay on all their cars.
All? I thought the refund, if any, depended on when the customer had signed up and what subscription option was chosen e.g., if someone paid $300 for the 20 year subscription, they may have only gotten $220 back ($300 less $80 for first year).
I really don’t care.. how much did it cost YOU? or are you simply making argument for no reason?
Because CarPlay and Android Auto are not the be end and be all.
Tesla for example do perfectly fine without either.
At least over 99% of BMW's come with an exhaust pipe to kill as many people/kids as possible unlike Teslas that do have an exhaust pipe.
I was super annoyed that my Hyundai Santa Fe comes with a wireless charging slot for my phone, but CarPlay only works when the phone is connected via USB... which charges it, making the wireless charging slot useless.
Still... definite First World problem.
Yes, they did.
Apple CarPlay Is Free for BMW Owners, Starting Now
That whole $80-a-year charge for a thing other automakers don't charge for? It's over.
Pick up my approved used BMW tomorrow. It will have CarPlay and all the standard features that the new one I had on order no longer comes with.
I wonder how long all these shortages will last? Going to be next year at least I think.
I wonder how long all these shortages will last? Going to be next year at least I think.
This article is a bit misleading. It maybe referring to some models delivered to some parts of the world. Every X3 delivered for the past year has come with Car Play while some other options have falling off the list and come back on. The Digital key, rear hatch kick sensor and i-Drive Controller touch pad have been removed from the option list on the X3 models.
BMW is temporarily shipping new cars without Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality due to the automaker changing its chip supplier (via Automotive News Europe).
The new chips built into many BMWs manufactured this year require updated software to be able to run Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. BMW customers who receive a new car without CarPlay are being asked by dealerships to wait for an over-the-air update that will enable the functionality "by the end of June at the latest."
It is not clear how many BMW models are affected, but a large number of customers in the U.S., Italy, Spain, the UK, and France have posted online about their new vehicles being delivered without CarPlay. Affected models include the code "6P1" in their specification.
While some BMW owners will have to miss out on CarPlay functionality for a temporary period, BMW is switching chip suppliers to strengthen its supply chain in the long term amid the continued impact of the global chip shortage, which could reduce component shortages in the second half of the year.
BMW offers one of the most integrated experiences with Apple's ecosystem, with support for Digital Key, Ultra Wideband Digital Key Plus, and a feature-rich dual-screen wireless CarPlay experience. BMW only started offering CarPlay in 2016 and came under fire for charging a $80 per year fee for access to it, before reneging on the subscription following negative feedback.
Article Link: BMW Shipping New Cars Temporarily Without Apple CarPlay
