Just had a quick look at the Ford website to check for any new updates, it said up front that Sync is up to date, so I clicked on 'MAPS' to check for updates, only to be taken to what looks like a US website (Ford) that talks about a subscription?

I entered my VIN, and it said it was invalid (it is OK on the UK site).

Anyone else tried this?

TIA

It's for US only ignore that map link, this one checks both software and maps:

https://www.ford.co.uk/support/sync-maps-updates#/

Thought I'd check mine out of curiosity and interestingly Ford have removed the ability to download the updates for Sync 4. 

That is rather annoying because if you can't update via Wi-Fi for some reason, you'd have to go see a dealer (Oh the penny has dropped ha)

1 minute ago, LukeJQuinn said:

Thought I'd check mine out of curiosity and interestingly Ford have removed the ability to download the updates for Sync 4. 

That is rather annoying because if you can't update via Wi-Fi for some reason, you'd have to go see a dealer (Oh the penny has dropped ha)

It's so they can charge a subscription for it afaik.

They are not free updates like Sync 3.

It should use OTA though through the modem, not just Wifi.

Just now, alexp999 said:

It's so they can charge a subscription for it afaik.

They are not free updates like Sync 3.

It should use OTA though through the modem, not just Wifi.

Not a bad shout, everything is going subscription these days. My mate has to pay £9.99 a month for heated seats which I find hilarious. Just hope Ford don't get any ideas. 

6 hours ago, alexp999 said:

It's for US only ignore that map link, this one checks both software and maps:

https://www.ford.co.uk/support/sync-maps-updates#/

Thanks for that! Be useful if the Ford UK website actually pointed there and not the US link!

.. and it appeasr I am up to date!

 

Cheers!

1 hour ago, LukeJQuinn said:

Not a bad shout, everything is going subscription these days. My mate has to pay £9.99 a month for heated seats which I find hilarious. Just hope Ford don't get any ideas. 

What car do you PAYG for heated seats?

I didn't want to name drop but BMW. Merc are also doing something similar.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-62142208

However, Merc's is to give you better acceleration. Speechless.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-63743597

2 hours ago, LukeJQuinn said:

I didn't want to name drop but BMW. Merc are also doing something similar.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-62142208

However, Merc's is to give you better acceleration. Speechless.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-63743597

Not sure how that works, the cars either have heated seats or they don't. I wouldn't expect to buy a car with seat heating elements and heated seat switches on the dash that are non functioning and then subscribe to use them. Sure it's not an April 1st article?

100% sure. My mate has to buy it via an app then enter the code into the screen. This then unlocks the feature.  Madness I know. 

7 minutes ago, tomo2001 said:

Not sure how that works, the cars either have heated seats or they don't. I wouldn't expect to buy a car with seat heating elements and heated seat switches on the dash that are non functioning and then subscribe to use them. Sure it's not an April 1st article?

They will all have them and then you pay to access the features. Which makes sense for the manufacturer as they are only producing one set of items saving money on production costs.

Tesla are the leaders in this. You pay upwards of 20K to enable features on one, but soon as you sell it, they are automatically removed until the next person decides to pay the extra to enable the features. 

Pretty clever to be fair, but one of many reasons I avoided getting one. I respect the technology and they've given a very stale market a shake but this one business model I wish they didn't copy.

Life is becoming a subscription service!!!

1 hour ago, VFR800 said:

Life is becoming a subscription service!!!

Indeed !!

Only last week Rishi Sunak commissioned a study as to how they could charge people for breathing. A subscription service of 10,000 breaths per week seems to be finding favor with the government 🤣

[many a true word said in jest]

19 hours ago, shawty1984 said:

They will all have them and then you pay to access the features. Which makes sense for the manufacturer as they are only producing one set of items saving money on production costs.

Production costs yes but parts procurement costs will increase. There must be 3 prices for the cars with options then,

1) Cheapest - No parts fitted at all

2) Parts fitted and enabled (factory fitted)

3) More expensive than 2)....... Parts fitted but enabled after delivery

 

 

 

 

 

18 hours ago, LukeJQuinn said:

Tesla are the leaders in this. You pay upwards of 20K to enable features on one, but soon as you sell it, they are automatically removed until the next person decides to pay the extra to enable the features. 

Pretty clever to be fair, but one of many reasons I avoided getting one. I respect the technology and they've given a very stale market a shake but this one business model I wish they didn't copy.

Tesla's are very different as no physical buttons exist. Pretty much everything is through their big iPad jobby.

8 minutes ago, tomo2001 said:

Tesla's are very different as no physical buttons exist. Pretty much everything is through their big iPad jobby.

Mine with Sync 4 is pretty similar. All the climate and heating is done via the screen. Only get physical buttons for starting/stopping, ESC, parking sensors etc. 

get the usual ones on the steering wheel but it’s worrying they’ve already started moving buttons to a screen. 

5 hours ago, tomo2001 said:

Production costs yes but parts procurement costs will increase. There must be 3 prices for the cars with options then,

1) Cheapest - No parts fitted at all

2) Parts fitted and enabled (factory fitted)

3) More expensive than 2)....... Parts fitted but enabled after delivery

 

 

 

 

 

If they just have one standard seat which has everything added to it but not activated then it will save on having to buy separate materials by being able to order in bulk and will save on the production line by having one standard seat. They can then charge to use said features. It's win win for the manufacturer.

Can you imagine owning a car and never paid to have everything operational!!

Come in handy for the 2nd hand car spares market.

It will be a shame that most of these modules will be DEALER ONLY enabled/service devices and will lock out the likes of Snap On, Autel and Bosch etc.

And then once this is the norm we will have cars being hacked whilst being driven, holding the occupants' hostage!!!!

As Frazer used to say, "We're DOOOOOMEDDDD!!" 😉

I would, on principle. cut the wiring to the heaters   then hard wire in my own supply and there will be many more like me that will. This will be a short lived fad as the punters will not stand for it for long and just not enable the options.