drdigital1

Both Lexus App Suite and SiriusXM services (such as SiriusXM NavTraffic which adds real time traffic info to the navigation system) are shown under ADDITIONAL MONTHLY services at PRICING tab at http://www.lexus.com/enform/.
I just got a confirmation from Lexus that
1. One can subscribe to SiriusXM services without subscribing to Enform
2. One cannot subscribe to the apps suite without subscribing to Enform which in turn requires to subscribe to Safety connect.
So a Lexus driver who wants to use the apps suite will have to pay $349/year ($265 + 12 * $7); a BMW driver only has to make a one-time payment of $250 for BMW apps without having to subscribe to any other service (and they have similar services to Lexus Enform with Safety Connect).

faifai83

Thanks for the comparison...

rominl

iTrader: (4)

if that's the case, expensive. one time cost i might consider (just like i'd pay for nav feature), but i personally always hate subscription cost. that's why i never care about xm subscription as much as i want the nav traffic feature.

Rexus300

iTrader: (1)

The first year is free so you pay after the first year.

OP, you are wrong in terms of the cost for BMW. The BMW application $250 one time fee for the Iphone dock in middle of arm rest but not everyone has iphone and I had one and hated it and got the new 4G motorola Razr Droid so is not benefical for me to be restricted to the Iphone dock. I have to pay $199 yearly for the connected drive to get internet, news, etc and concierge service in which I bought on my 2011 BMW 535i xdrive. Not worth the $199 price alone. As for sirius XM, everyone has to pay beyond first year no matter what car you have.

As for the Lexus, It is $506 dollars for 2 years extension of the subscription to Enform that includes safety connect beyond the first free year.The Lexus apps and features are a huge leap forward than the BMW.
So for 3 years on my BMW it is 250 plus 3*(199) = $847. DO the math.

3 years
BMW: $847 including 250 for the iphone app dock and $199 per year for connected drive (conceirge, BMW Search
Directions, Traffic, Weather, Critical Calling)
Lexus: $503 including 1st free year
4 years
BMW: $1047
Lexus $743
5 years
BMW: $1250
Lexus: $947

Hope this helps and makes everyone happier!!!!
So, its cheaper with the Lexus!!!!. : )

See attached pdf of subscription plan.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

so with the bmw, the internet access is through their proprietary service, and not through your phone provider?

seems like it's expensive vs even more expensive

drdigital1

Rexus300, as you clearly indicate, your analysis relates to the Lexus drivers subscribing to Enform and Safety Connect. For these people, the additional $7/month for the mobile apps suite is extremely reasonable.
My analysis refers to the Lexus drivers that have no interest in destination assistance and concierge services i.e., Enform with Safety Connect (which, I suspect, are a majority of the Lexus drivers) but that are interested in technology and gadgets and would like to subscribe and experiment with the mobile apps suite. I am such a driver as I have never subscribed to destination assistance and concierge services during my 12 years of driving Lexus LS cars and 3 years of Cadillac STS. For these drivers, the cost of subscribing to the mobile apps suite alone is exactly as I described i.e., $349/year for Lexus vs. $250 (one time) for BMW apps.
This is not cheaper for Lexus and it’ll not make this group of drivers happy!

Rexus300

iTrader: (1)

So why do I have to buy Iphone only to use the $250 BMW feature? Most people have Androids or Blackberry so this feature is useless whereas in Lexus it is nicely integrated with the Enform and allows any phone to be used.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

really? how do you know most luxury car owners have droid or bb over iphones?

i don't know about you, but i know plenty of people driving luxury brands. interesting enough, when we get together, it's almost all iphones

Rexus300

iTrader: (1)

Haha, maybe my demographics is different. To be honest its all about the flexibility of having a phone and apps in car that matters the most. So at the end Lexus offers alot of application choices which are more than BMW but you end up paying a bit more.

I had Iphone 4S but switched to the new 4G Motorola Droid Razr Maxx and wow its leaps ahead of Iphone 4S in speed, battery life, features, call quality, and customization so I am happy with it. Everything else in my house is Apple. : )

drdigital1

My comment is about the obscene price for Lexus mobile apps suite. I am quite confident that the Lexus business people will realize the huge missed opportunity for an additional revenue stream and, in time, will decouple the apps suite from the $265/year Enform and Safety Connect package.
And BTW, BMW has promised Android support to the BMW apps customers (which makes sense given the Android market share).

Ay-nako

iTrader: (25)

I dont think its too obsure when people will buy a song from itunes or another music provider for $0.99. If you're about to buy a 55-60k car what is the additional $300.00 (lets round up here) for ADDITIONAL services? Why should they be included when lexus does not own these apps? they are run by other people other than lexus....

Ay-nako

iTrader: (25)

... before I forget ive got sirius on both my GS300 and LS430 I use it I dont mind the extra charge to listen to uncensored music and much much much less commercials....

benbuilt4u

iTrader: (5)

everyone owns a iphone dont they?! ive never seen the very rare BB or droids you speak of

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

that's way too logical.

don't you know people drive $50+k cars miles out of their way to save 3c on a gallon of gas.

Ay-nako

iTrader: (25)

Thank you!!!! I can't tell you how many times I've seen this! Let me buy regular instead of premium and save 4 dollars but buy a $12.00 Starbucks coffee.. Smh man this gets out of control sometime...


I can talk I ordered one of these bad boys!!!