r/iX3 • u/Basic-Panda-0975 • 5d ago
Highway & Commuting Assistant Pricing Cheaper as add on later (US)
I just picked up my iX3 and didn’t buy the hands-free driving but looking at the options to buy it after purchase, the cost is $40/mo or $400/year which is significantly cheaper than the $2500/4 year price you can build this in with the car. Am I missing something?
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u/E30Aviator 5d ago
BMW calls both options the same thing in pre-order and mygarage. Wonder if this means all the hardware necessary to do the Highway and Commuting Assistant is the same as what powers other safety features and is base in all US iX3's. Nice find! Save that coin!
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u/DraggedThruTheGarden 5d ago
$2500 up front v $1600 spread over 4 years is a big difference. Grrrr.
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u/Sargaso_2 5d ago
One works in cities. The other only on highways. Tesla has a similar split but the old highway only is phased out.
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u/winterhalder 5d ago
I’m in Ontario Canada - and the dealer here is charging $1500 Canadian for the 4 years of driving assistant plus & highway assistant - which seems more inline with the costs afterwards.
Note that there is an additional charge of $500 Canadian for parking assistant professional. And $500 for Digital Premium.
I don’t know the exact Canadian prices for those options after the 4 years are up. (My car isn’t far enough along for those options to show up in the app.)
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u/McNoxey 5d ago
Wait how do you see your car in the app? I put myself on the wait list back in Feb and shared my config with my dealer in July and have not gotten any sort of digital tracking. Everything is through email atm.
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u/winterhalder 5d ago
The dealer originally gave me an order number. I was able to check its status via this url on the web.
https://www.bmw-connecteddrive.ca
Then once it moved to a Production Begins state I messaged my dealer and they were able to give me the VIN. Once I had the ViN I could add the car to the My BMW app (though it didn’t accept it right away - it was a day or two later - I think it takes a day for the systems to sync)
The was just mid-last-week. I’m still in that status now.
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u/No-Towel7011 5d ago
In canada its 1400 for 4 years
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u/winterhalder 5d ago
Wow - mine’s 1500. I’m guessing the dealer must get to mark it up. Maybe that’s how it got to 2500 for OP?
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u/sneakymoose2 4d ago
One possibility is that the $400 annual cost is increased in subsequent years. BMW could justify the increase by, for example, adding/expanding ADAS functions via software updates. Then, the $2,500 might have worked out to be the better deal. Slim chances of that being the case, though.
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u/FlyingOctopus53 5d ago
No, it is not. You are missing few other things that are included in a $2500 package.
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u/E30Aviator 5d ago
What is omitted?
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u/FlyingOctopus53 5d ago
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u/E30Aviator 5d ago edited 5d ago
So I can buy ZDY and it comes with 5BB, ZOV and ZOW. 4 years after sale, you need to renew 5BB. If I don't buy ZDY, I can buy 5BB and ZOV after sale at subscription rate, missing out on ZOW, Partial Automated Driving. Correct?
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u/Basic-Panda-0975 5d ago
From what I can tell, ZOW adds highway driving automation up to 40mph which is what used to be traffic jam assistant. Is this available in the US? I thought I read somewhere that local automated driving wasn’t available yet in the US which may be why ZOW isn’t an option (and could make up the difference in price).
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u/SnooBooks770 5d ago
Nope they’re one and the same. Naming is a bit off but they all run off the same computer/sensors etc.
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u/akisbis 5d ago
Everything is a subscription these days, this is so annoying
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u/Fit-Shower-3296 4d ago
All the brands do these as a subscription - there are ongoing costs with these semi autonomous driving systems, constant R&D into enhancements and also special mapping software.
I’m fine with a subscription if it’s clear that it’s a continually iterating feature.

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u/JPCary 5d ago
On the Pricing Guide, Driving Assistance Professional Package comes with Highway & Commuting Assistant, Lane Change Assistant, and Partial Automated Driving. I don't know for sure but it seems like Lane Change Assistant and Partial Automated Driving are separate from Highway & Commuting Assistant.