Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards

thedrive.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

341–350 of 351 posts

Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards

#341

Post by jjgreen »

mkl wrote: post #311
jjgreen wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being "called John Smith, living at 12 High Street and having an interest in titty bars" is a boolean too. I'm not sure I'd want that to leak out though, ..., aw crap.

Boolean means there are only two possible values, so the name and address mean that isn't boolean. Only the last bit is, by itself.

I was trying to demonstrate that any information can be trivially encoded as booleans -- "my name is John Smilh", "My name is John Brown", ... and so on gives a series of boolean valued statements, and if you know the answer to all of them, then you know the name of the subject. Booleaness is no barrier to information leakage.

Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards

#342

Post by durnygbur »

markus_zhang wrote: post #134
durnygbur wrote: post #14

I remember reading an interview with BMW designer that the obnoxiously huge front grills are a nod to the Chinese customers. Chinese customers wanted the drivers in front of them to feel intimidated, as if the car and driver behind wanted to eat them. Other premium brands like Lexus followed with this trend.

Please send me the address of that interview and I'll post it on Weibo and see how the Chinese react to it...

I think it was around the premiere of BMW 7 facelift in 2019. I don't care about or follow automotive news but this was so ridiculous that it imprinted in my memory, it could be one of the awful British tabloids though. All I can find in G search right now are modest claims that indeed some design choices of the 2019 facelift were on request of Chinese customers as they are the major client base of this segment.

Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards

#343

Post by walleeee »

offtop5 wrote: post #290
walleeee wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed, although it will be an uphill battle. We are rapidly outsourcing governance to data brokers who will vigorously defend their core business model. Boycotts are likely a good place to start, at least until public institutions can be reclaimed, if they can be.

I saw an article here where a dating app was actually selling it's data to a broker , and then that data was being resold to the US military. Even more alarming , this appeared to target a specific demographic. I dislike online dating for an array of reasons, not being able to control my personal data is the top one. The only thing you can do is be mindful of how much data you give out.

I think this is basically the norm now, not the exception. Very much share your alarm.

> The only thing you can do is be mindful of how much data you give out.

This is important, but I don't think it's all we can do.

Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards

#344

Post by manigandham »

chrisseaton wrote: post #172
amaccuish wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I look forward to paying a monthly fee for using Bluetooth in my car.

Without sarcasm, I think cars as a subscription has some interesting possibility and I wouldn't object to it. Land Rover has a new subscription product but doesn't seem to have a lot of momentum behind it. You pay a monthly fee that isn't more than if you financed the whole car at the moment, and you can keep getting new vehicles and absolutely everything (servicing etc) is covered because they're motivated to keep r…

People don't need new vehicles constantly. They buy one that fits their usage and personality and become familiar with it while they keep it for years. What is the purpose of switching out so often? Especially with the limited choice of a single make like Land Rover? How many different SUVs are you going to drive and why?

Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards

#345

Post by whydoineedthis »

moooo99 wrote: post #324
whydoineedthis wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Idk, I was in a new bmw recently and thought it was cool. Driver assist to stay in lanes. Full touch dash across the entire dashboard. Verbal assistant worked well and was able to adjust settings intuitively. I'm still too poor to buy one new, but it didn't seem completely without innovation.

My 2017 Seat Leon costs significantly less than a comparable BMW 1. I have a decent navigation system, voice controls, Android Auto and CarPlay, touch infotainment (not a fan), and lane assist, emergency break assist and several others. A friend of mine bought a BMW 1 which cost 12k more than my car (MSRP) and, excluding the gps navigation, has none of those features. Those aren't innovations, those are almost standa…

Lol. I just looked at that car online. Comparing it to a bmw is laughable in every sense. Performance, not comparable. Safety rating, not comparable. Exterior and interior styling, laughably non existent in the Leon. Give me a break.

Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards

#346

Post by adav »

patrulo wrote: post #78
adav wrote: post #57

I used to really like BMWs but they have lost their way in my opinion. Front wheel drive models, charging a subscription for Apple CarPlay, that 4-series grill, increasingly horrific customer service at dealers and foregoing their position as the market leader in handling and dynamics really rub me up the wrong way.

M2cs or M5c are still by far the best cars in their class. While I'm not a fan of BMW's new design language (think the 4-series, or the iX), nor their move to subscription-based features, it's still my go-to brand. Other (non-exotic) brands are either downsizing (2.0 engine in the new C63 AMG for gods sake) or going fully electric – and I like my v8 rumble in the morning.

The M2CS may be a great driver’s car in its class but not the best in its price bracket (at UK prices).

Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards

#347

Post by radu_floricica »

volta87 wrote: post #314
radu_floricica wrote: post #297

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I currently own a 23 yo and a 10 yo BMW. The first is a fun fun fun car to drive, and the reason I haven't sold it yet. The second is an awesome car... and cost me an ungodly amount of money to get and keep in shape. They definitely were a car enthusiast company, at some point. My next car will be Japanese.

which 23yo bmw do you own?

316i, 2 door.

Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards

#348

Post by ppetty »

That’s a really hard sell, meaning difficult. Should I buy a BMW that seems — according to the manufacturer — to need an extended warranty? This also seems like a privacy issue, but only if you and one other car pass by the sign at the exact same time. The most prevalent spam calls on my cell phone are for extended warranties... this seems to cast BMW in the same light unless you really should get the warranty. But, full circle, if that’s right there must be a more reliable comparable car, right? I’m sure BMWs are great but I’d certainly shop alternatives knowing this looms after year 3 of ownership. I also wonder what this means for their certified pre-owned cars.

Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards

#349

Post by Klais »

leokennis wrote: post #52
whalesalad wrote: post #34

BMW is the most user-hostile car brand there is. They’re constantly seeking ways to squeeze revenue from their owners in slimy ways. (They charge an annual fee for access to car play, for instance)

Eugh. I dread the day my 2010 car needs replacement. It's deliciously dumb: I put petrol in it, and in return, it gets me places.

Yes it can be, but then again there are ways to keep the car longer, I myself drive a 2008 Honda, but at the same time I think it is easy for another 10 years. You should definitely think about taking care of the engine. I hope I can help if I tell you to read about the same transmission fluid for honda https://carfluidsexpert.com/best-transmission-fluid-for-hond... , take a look, I think you will find a lot of universal options. It's worth starting to take care of your car with at least that. I hope I was able to help.

Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards

#350

Post by asciimike »

enos_feedler wrote: post #325
asciimike wrote: post #269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking as an M2 owner (and an E36 owner before that), can confirm it's an excellent looking and performing car--arguably the last "enthusiast" car BMW has produced. I'm also pretty annoyed with the current direction, and if I get another car (performance or otherwise) it's very unlikely to be a BMW.

Likewise, I just picked up a 2021 M2 which I heard will switch to something new in 2022. I love the car. You can feel all of the engineering and craft in the driving experience.

The G87 will be bigger, heavier, and more powerful (B58 or S58 likely), but will definitely lose the feel the F87 platform has. It's a shame :(
Post reply on HN