BMW: Difference between revisions - Consumer Rights Wiki

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{{CompanyCargo

|Description=German automotive company known for producing luxury vehicles.

|Founded=1913-10-27

|Industry=Automotive

|Logo=BMW logo.png

|ParentCompany=

|Type=Public

|Website=https://www.bmw.com,https://www.bmw.se

}}

'''~~[[Wikipedia:~~BMW|Bayerische Motoren Werke AG]]''' (usually abbreviated '''BMW''', sometimes anglicized as '''Bavarian Motor Works''') is a German car company.

'''{{Wplink|BMW|Bayerische Motoren Werke AG}}''' (usually abbreviated '''BMW''', sometimes anglicized as '''Bavarian Motor Works''') is a German car company.

==Consumer impact summary==

BMW has come under fire for requiring subscription charges to access hardware features already built into its vehicles. This requires consumers to pay extra to enable features they possess in a technical capacity.

==Incidents==

* [[BMW feature lockout scandal]] (2023) BMW ~~included~~ the hardware for its M adaptive suspension in many vehicles, while requiring customers to pay extra to activate the software that enables the feature

This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===BMW's high beam assistant (''2019'')===

Since 2019, BMW includes the hardware for its auto-dimming headlights in its vehicles, but requires customers to pay a subscription fee, or an exorbitant one-time fee, to activate the function.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=29 Mar 2021 |title=Today I learned BMW charges extra for a ‘don’t blind other people’ software update |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/28/22351901/bmw-high-beam-assist-assistant-dlc-paid-update-ota |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204083814/https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/28/22351901/bmw-high-beam-assist-assistant-dlc-paid-update-ota |archive-date=4 Dec 2024 |access-date=21 Jul 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>

===BMW's heated seat subscription (''2022'')===

Since 2022, BMW includes the hardware for its heated seats in its vehicles, but requires customer to pay a subscription fee to activate the function. Heated steering wheels, dash cams, and remote start functions are also a subscription. Due to heavy criticism, BMW has decided to drop the heated seats subscription, making them available for everyone. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Charlton |first=Alistair |date=7 Sep 2023 |title=BMW Drops Controversial Heated Seats Subscription, To Refocus On Software Services |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alistaircharlton/2023/09/07/bmw-drops-controversial-heated-seats-subscription-to-refocus-on-software-services/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250423192651/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alistaircharlton/2023/09/07/bmw-drops-controversial-heated-seats-subscription-to-refocus-on-software-services/ |archive-date=23 Apr 2025 |access-date=21 Jul 2025 |work=Forbes}}</ref>

===BMW feature lockout scandal (''2023'')===

Since 2023, BMW includes the hardware for its M adaptive suspension in many vehicles, while requiring customers to pay extra to activate the software that enables the feature.

===BMW API restrictions (''2025'')===

Since August 2025, BMW implemented strict rate limits for third-party apps, breaking automations like Home Assistant for many users, which effectively forced them to use their subscription-based service. BMW cited "security" & "safety" as justification, although this appears contradictory given their documented failures to secure data through proper technical measures.

==See also==

*[[Ferrari]]

*[[Ford]]

*[[Honda]]

*[[Mercedes-Benz]]

*[[Tesla]]

*[[Toyota]]

==References==

[[Category:~~Car manufacturers]]~~

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

~~[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers~~]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{StubNotice}}
+{{CompanyCargo
+|Description=German automotive company known for producing luxury vehicles.
+|Founded=1913-10-27
+|Industry=Automotive
+|Logo=BMW logo.png
+|ParentCompany=
+|Type=Public
+|Website=https://www.bmw.com,https://www.bmw.se
+}}
-'''[[Wikipedia:BMW|Bayerische Motoren Werke AG]]''' (usually abbreviated '''BMW''', sometimes anglicized as '''Bavarian Motor Works''') is a German car company.
+'''{{Wplink|BMW|Bayerische Motoren Werke AG}}''' (usually abbreviated '''BMW''', sometimes anglicized as '''Bavarian Motor Works''') is a German car company.
+==Consumer impact summary==
+{{Ph-C-CIS}}
+BMW has come under fire for requiring subscription charges to access hardware features already built into its vehicles. This requires consumers to pay extra to enable features they possess in a technical capacity.
 ==Incidents==
-* [[BMW feature lockout scandal]] (2023) BMW included the hardware for its M adaptive suspension in many vehicles, while requiring customers to pay extra to activate the software that enables the feature
+This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
+===BMW's high beam assistant (''2019'')===
+{{Main|BMW's high beam assistant (HBA)}}
+Since 2019, BMW includes the hardware for its auto-dimming headlights in its vehicles, but requires customers to pay a subscription fee, or an exorbitant one-time fee, to activate the function.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=29 Mar 2021 |title=Today I learned BMW charges extra for a ‘don’t blind other people’ software update |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/28/22351901/bmw-high-beam-assist-assistant-dlc-paid-update-ota |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204083814/https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/28/22351901/bmw-high-beam-assist-assistant-dlc-paid-update-ota |archive-date=4 Dec 2024 |access-date=21 Jul 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>
+===BMW's heated seat subscription (''2022'')===
+{{Main|BMW's heated seat subscription}}
+Since 2022, BMW includes the hardware for its heated seats in its vehicles, but requires customer to pay a subscription fee to activate the function. Heated steering wheels, dash cams, and remote start functions are also a subscription. Due to heavy criticism, BMW has decided to drop the heated seats subscription, making them available for everyone. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Charlton |first=Alistair |date=7 Sep 2023 |title=BMW Drops Controversial Heated Seats Subscription, To Refocus On Software Services |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alistaircharlton/2023/09/07/bmw-drops-controversial-heated-seats-subscription-to-refocus-on-software-services/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250423192651/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alistaircharlton/2023/09/07/bmw-drops-controversial-heated-seats-subscription-to-refocus-on-software-services/ |archive-date=23 Apr 2025 |access-date=21 Jul 2025 |work=Forbes}}</ref>
+===BMW feature lockout scandal (''2023'')===
+{{Main|BMW feature lockout scandal}}
+Since 2023, BMW includes the hardware for its M adaptive suspension in many vehicles, while requiring customers to pay extra to activate the software that enables the feature.
+===BMW API restrictions (''2025'')===
+{{Main|BMW API restrictions}}
+Since August 2025, BMW implemented strict rate limits for third-party apps, breaking automations like Home Assistant for many users, which effectively forced them to use their subscription-based service. BMW cited "security" & "safety" as justification, although this appears contradictory given their documented failures to secure data through proper technical measures.
+==See also==
+*[[Ferrari]]
+*[[Ford]]
+*[[Honda]]
+*[[Mercedes-Benz]]
+*[[Tesla]]
+*[[Toyota]]
+==References==
+{{Reflist}}
-[[Category:Car manufacturers]]
+[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
-[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers]]