You pay monthly for service subscriptions like Spotify and Netflix, and BMW figures you may be happy doing the same for features like heated seats.
With its in-car technology supporting over-the-air updates, this has opened the door for BMW Australia to offer features that can be added after purchase on its ConnectedDrive store.
UPDATE, 12/07/2022 3:40pm: BMW Australia has confirmed the features recently added to the ConnectedDrive store will not be available via subscription on its current range.
BMW has a slew of new models arriving this year, including mid-cycle updates for the 3 Series and X7, and new generations of the 7 Series and X1 and their i7 and iX1 electric counterparts. Our headline has been updated to reflect this development.
BMW i7 
BMW X7
The store currently features heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and BMW Drive Recorder, which can be added to your vehicle provided it has the hardware. These can be activated and subscribed to for a set period of time.
These subscriptions first appeared on the ConnectedDrive store earlier in July.
That gives you the option, for example, to only pay for a heated steering wheel for the coldest part of the year.
All of these features are also available for a free one-month trial.
BMW iX1 
BMW 3 Series
One month of heated front seats is listed at $29, while a month’s use of a heated steering wheel or BMW Drive Recorder costs $19.
Other subscription prices are as follows:
- BMW Drive Recorder – 1 year: $79
- Heated steering wheel – 1 year: $169
- Heated front seats – 1 year: $289
- BMW Drive Recorder – 3 years: $189
- Heated steering wheel – 3 years: $259
- Heated front seats – 3 years: $419
You can also add these features permanently, with heated front seats costing $589, a heated steering wheel costing $349, and BMW Drive Recorder costing $429.
BMW Drive Recorder can automatically or manually record the last 40 seconds of footage from outside your vehicle, whether you’re capturing memories from a scenic road trip or obtaining evidence to send to your insurance company.
These new features join a range of features already available on the ConnectedDrive store, but only as one-off purchases.
These include adaptive M suspension ($650) and automatic high-beam ($259).
