Won't be buying a BMW anytime soon if they're going to do this

I am on this RAM forum because I want to hear and read about RAM trucks not any other brand. To post about other brands is an insult. So fo to the brand forum that you want to post about. Keep this RAM forum about RAM trucks not BMW's!

This post is in a section called OTHER VEHICLE DISCUSSION. Seems to me that it's fair game to post the subject here (I didn't make the first post). I could easily become a post about RAM trucks in a year or two if Stellantis follows BMWs lead on this, which is not unlikely.

farout75 said:

I am on this RAM forum because I want to hear and read about RAM trucks not any other brand. To post about other brands is an insult. So fo to the brand forum that you want to post about. Keep this RAM forum about RAM trucks not BMW's!

Click to expand...

There is always the option of skipping a thread if the subject doesn't interest you. And yes, this was posted in 'Other Vehicles' (not by me)

I am not into subscription anything. I have cable and internet at home, and SXM in the truck, and that is all. When the free trial runs out on the supplemental vehicle subscription (can’t remember the name right now) then it will be gone as well. I have no subscriptions on my phone or computer.
I have payed as I go my whole life and if I want a service just tell me how much it is for me to buy the license (as we do with a computer) and I will either buy it or not. But I won’t be needing any monthly fee scams - eeerh - structures.

Is this really any different than Ram charging for the U-Connect feature?

Rekdreation said:

Aside from not wanting to be associated with the overwhelming majority people that drive white BMWs are ***** bags, it's a matter of principal for me. I don't like subscription based anything and will not participate in it if I have literally any choice to use something else.

Click to expand...

Oh, I agree. That's why I posted what I posted earlier on. I'm not paying for heated seats or heated steering wheels.
And yes, most of the people that drive these cars are douche bags. Same with Audi cars I have found. Rest assured my man, I am not one of them. I actually use my blinkers as well. lol

KC Kevin said:

Is this really any different than Ram charging for the U-Connect feature?

Click to expand...

Yes, it's completely different. You are getting an ongoing services such as a call center to answer your SOS call and a data signal for your truck. It's the equivalent of a telephone bill or monitored business alarm, you are paying for the use of the infrastructure and support personnel to provide you with that ongoing service.

This isn't that. This is paying a monthly fee for higher quality audio in your vehicle or for heated seats. The hardware is already in place and there is no infrastructure required to keep it running. The company is providing nothing but a coded message that says "turn on this feature" to use it. The system is capable of doing it out of the gate, there is no ongoing service, just the electronic equivalent of a switch being thrown to turn the feature on or off.

I agree with Docwagon1776's assessment. The first buyer of a vehicle would be faced with a high price and want to save some coin by going easy on the programmable options, follow on buyers could get into a depreciated vehicle and be enticed to having options enabled. Looks like a stab at getting ~1k monthly payments for new and used.

farout75 said:

I am on this RAM forum because I want to hear and read about RAM trucks not any other brand. To post about other brands is an insult. So fo to the brand forum that you want to post about. Keep this RAM forum about RAM trucks not BMW's!

Click to expand...

You read every post on this thread,then at post #41 you decided you didn't like the thread. BTW where were you on the 20 pages about GM wanting to electrify their trucks.By the looks of your likes and sad emojee's on this thread,it looks like you might be a BMW fan,sorry if the thread upset you,but i'd suggest you should of quit reading the thread 5 pages ago.

farout75 said:

I am on this RAM forum because I want to hear and read about RAM trucks not any other brand.

Click to expand...

Then if you see a thread mentioning another brand feel free to keep your distance from it, mkthanks.

I have no idea what you’re talking about: activating heated seats at a later time. Maybe now everything is software driven but when I was a tech @Ford the vehicle either had such an option assembly line installed or not. I’ve installed PS on one Maverick once & we did A/C in the dealer on Mazdas but nothing was of course monthly charged for. I know today’s vehicles have black boxes so maybe you are getting monitored on accessories

njjeff201 said:

I have no idea what you’re talking about: activating heated seats at a later time. Maybe now everything is software driven but when I was a tech @Ford the vehicle either had such an option assembly line installed or not. I’ve installed PS on one Maverick once & we did A/C in the dealer on Mazdas but nothing was of course monthly charged for. I know today’s vehicles have black boxes so maybe you are getting monitored on accessories

Click to expand...

It's a thing with cars now. Been a thing with other equipment for years.

Since almost everything on new vehicles is electronically controlled it can be electronically locked out until a code is entered. The CNC manufacturers realized decades ago that they had to have different unlock codes for every unit sold or they would be copied. Same concept with cars now, I suppose.

njjeff201 said:

I have no idea what you’re talking about: activating heated seats at a later time. Maybe now everything is software driven but when I was a tech @Ford the vehicle either had such an option assembly line installed or not. I’ve installed PS on one Maverick once & we did A/C in the dealer on Mazdas but nothing was of course monthly charged for. I know today’s vehicles have black boxes so maybe you are getting monitored on accessories

Click to expand...

It's a move by certain automakers to turn features into subscriptions or optional purchases. In a nutshell:

The car is built with all the hardware capabilities already in place.
The onboard computer limits certain features. Focus groups are being asked about things like increased HP, extra drive modes, increased stereo sound quality, etc.

When you buy the car, you can pay to turn on that feature. A motor that is capable of 300hp is detuned/regulated to 250hp unless you pay for the 50hp upgrade package. The stereo purposefully reduces the fidelity of the sound quality if you don't pay for the premium audio package. Etc.

You can activate the feature at any time. You get tired of 250hp, you send some $ to the mothership and they tell your car to unlock the other 50hp.

Activation is done either via a one time payment (now the 50hp is there for you to keep for as long as you own the car) or a month-to-month fee. You can then turn it back off whenever you like.

Features bought at the time of purchase or via one time payment, currently, will likely stay active for the next owner if you sell the car. Subscriptions end, of course. If the subscription model catches on, expect companies to experiment with features staying with the owner instead of the car as a way to enforce brand loyalty and encourage new car purchases. You already have the premium audio package, we'll include that in your next car for you and turn it off in your old car...

I just got notification that my RamConnect subscription that came with the vehicle will expire shortly.
What, if any, are the consequences of refusing renewal and have others here cancelled the service?Does it affect any vehicle functions negatively?
Thanks

Awokenotwoke said:

I just got notification that my RamConnect subscription that came with the vehicle will expire shortly.
What, if any, are the consequences of refusing renewal and have others here cancelled the service?Does it affect any vehicle functions negatively?
Thanks

Click to expand...

You'll just lose connected functions, basically things that require sending data out of the truck and back to the truck (or vice versa, obviously) to function. Nothing like key fobs, heated seats, etc are affected. See: https://www.ramtrucks.com/connectivity.html

Docwagon1776 said:

You'll just lose connected functions, basically things that require sending data out of the truck and back to the truck (or vice versa, obviously) to function. Nothing like key fobs, heated seats, etc are affected. See: https://www.ramtrucks.com/connectivity.html

Click to expand...

Thank you sir.

BMW 's are junk.

However.......does this mean you wont get charged on the sticker from these features in the car and only have to pay for them if you subscribe? They cant be allowed to charge you twice can they?

farout75 said:

I am on this RAM forum because I want to hear and read about RAM trucks not any other brand. To post about other brands is an insult. So fo to the brand forum that you want to post about. Keep this RAM forum about RAM trucks not BMW's!

Click to expand...

Yet you clicked on a thread that says BMW. It isnt mandatory to click on every thread in here. You chose to click on this one from a "Other Vehicles Discussion" thread lol.

What a FCA plans for 5G?