Automakers not giving customers access to the full potential of their vehicles is also not new. Back in the 1960s, the American car market was so competitive that automakers released updated models every year. New paint and trim colors are possible, and there will always be more performance. They achieve this by building a 300 hp engine but adding a baffle and limiter and possibly a smaller carburetor to throttle it down to 250 bhp, which would be the starter motor’s tune. . Then, each subsequent model year, they will remove one of the constraints, each time gaining power.
The same thing happens today, in a modern way. “When the Nissan GTR hit the market, it had about 480 hp and final versions had around 560 hp,” said Litchfield. “All Nissan does is keep increasing the turbo, 0.1 bar at a time. They say the exhaust or intercooler has been changed constantly and they might be a little different, but really that’s the dynamic that brought the sublimation.” Sometimes it’s even simpler than that. “If someone gets in touch wanting to tune their Audi R8 or Mercedes C63 AMG, the first thing I ask them is if it’s an R8 Plus or a C63 S. They’ve limited power on non-Plus R8s and not the S C63 just by giving those models 60 percent throttle. Probably the easiest performance upgrade ever. “
However, the retrospective adjustment business is changing since Dieselgate, Litchfield said, and this can also affect aftermarket feature hacks. “Previously, with the Bosch engine ECU (Electronic Control Unit), there were three ways to access it, so if Bosch changed the passcode on one you still had two other ways. Since the emissions defeat code that led to Dieselgate was discovered, Bosch has created ECUs that can only be accessed with encrypted keys. The latest BMW Ms are among the first to use these new ECUs.”
Another problem is over-the-air updates. The connected modern car contacts the factory to receive updates for sat nav and the like. In theory, the ECU and its activated features could also be reset to manufacturer specifications, overriding any engine tuning or optional unlocking that didn’t come through the manufacturer. export or their subscription service.
However, what is it with BMW heated seat registration? Check out the specs of even the most affordable BMWs and you’ll find that only a few lack heated seats as standard. Meanwhile, if you check the box for the heated steering wheel on the 1-series, it will only cost £150 ($180), as opposed to £150 for a three-year retroactive subscription.
Since the announcement of the heated seats, BMW UK has released a statement: “The ConnectedDrive UK store offers customers the opportunity to add selected features that they did not order when the vehicle was built… Functions This feature is particularly useful for secondary owners, as they now have the opportunity to add features that the original owner did not choose… Drivers can also experiment with a feature by activating it. a short-term trial before committing to a full purchase. “
Maybe BMW is evaluating what they can charge or perhaps they see this as a first step towards normalizing the idea of paying for hardware. and Software features. Some predict that in the future we will not own a car but will have a car registry that will allow us to have a suitable car daily and require a larger one for long trips, vacation, etc. or a sports car for leisure. This is where the idea of choosing — and paying for — just the features you want doesn’t seem to go wrong.
