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Privacy Technology

BMW Backtracks: 'We Do Not Draw on Warranty Status' For Targeted Ads (motoringresearch.com) 29

Posted by msmash from the how-about-that dept.
BMW has told Motoring Research its targeted billboard warranty adverts -- which are claimed to use number plate registration technology to tailor public adverts to BMW drivers -- do not actually draw upon vehicle warranty status. From a report: Rather, only publically available information is used. "There is no personalisation visible on the advert and no vehicle or customer data is stored or retained." The new initiative was originally claimed to focus on BMW drivers with an expired new or Approved Used warranty. Owners will receive personalised messages on electronic roadside billboards highlighting the fact they no longer have a valid warranty. They will be warned their vehicle is not covered for the cost of repairs, and invited to 'consider purchasing a BMW Insured warranty online.' The electronic billboards use Vehicle Detection Technology to pick out BMW owners with expired warranties.
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BMW Backtracks: 'We Do Not Draw on Warranty Status' For Targeted Ads More

BMW Backtracks: 'We Do Not Draw on Warranty Status' For Targeted Ads

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  • I have no reason to trust them.

    If it ends up being true, then I'm very glad for a small step in the right direction.

  • What's wrong with a notification in the mail, like every other car company does?


  • "You're vehicle is out of warranty, do you know how much it costs to maintain an older BMW? PS. it /WILL/ start breaking down".

  • BMW should call them with a friendly message like âoeweâ(TM)ve been trying to reach you to let you know that your vehicleâ(TM)s warranty has expired! Press 1 to be put on our do not call list or press two to speak with an operator to extend your vehicleâ(TM)s warranty. This is your final courtesy call.â

    Sounds like a great new idea that nobody has thought of.

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by PPH ( 736903 )

      BMW should call them

      In the car? While they are driving?

      These are BMW drivers we are talking about. Imagine the carnage.

  • For those who can add 1 plus 1, let me educate you on adding 1 plus 1 plus 1. Here is the future beyond what you are seeing today. Here is the advertisements of the future. "Hey Bob, you're neighbor's son using a Trojan Ribbed Tickler last night with your daughter. Don't you think it's good for you?" "Jill, your neighbors Cathy and Becky use our tampons. Why don't you?" "Dave, why did you visit Tuck-A-Buck Bills when the House of Dolls has Happy Hour bangers and mash?" "Nancy, your husband wasted mone

  • The future is now! (Score:4, Funny)

    by Impy the Impiuos Imp ( 442658 ) on Thursday December 24, 2020 @10:16AM (#60862560) Journal

    "Your viagra presciption is about to expire!"

    "You didn't vote in this election!"

    Any why not mobile billboards that can drive by your house?

    There is no end to this awesome technology!

  • They know when you bought it, and so guesstimate when it is going to expire based on miles probably driven. Anyone who buys a new car gets letters and phone calls from third parties about this.

    That BMW itself is doing this, being very careful to suggest they are not using secret info but, apparently, this process themselves, is the lawyers keeping them safe.

    Still, there is tons of public info about people that, with a little analysis to coordinate and cross reference it, can be misused in this way by publi

    • There is no guess (Score:5, Informative)

      by bagofbeans ( 567926 ) on Thursday December 24, 2020 @11:14AM (#60862714)

      The on-board telemetry phones this home on all modern cars.

      Eg. VW privacy policy for Car-Net users:

      Services Vehicle data transmitted from your vehicle, such as general status data (e.g., warning lights, upcoming service schedule, fuel level, battery level, tire pressure); service history and fault or trouble codes; ambient data (e.g. outside temperature and brightness); vehicle performance data; other data about your vehicle including its identification, condition, equipment status, or collision information; vehicle/technology usage data (e.g. usage of start/stop and remote start technology); driver behavior data (e.g. vehicle speed, seat belt use, and information about braking habits); and GPS location data.

      • https://www.gao.gov/assets/690/686284.pdf [gao.gov]

        What GAO Found
        Thirteen of the 16 selected automakers in GAO's review offer connected vehicles, and those 13 reported collecting, using, and sharing data from connected vehicles, such as data on a car's location and its operations (e.g., tire pressure). All 13 automakers described doing so on a relatively limited basis. For example, they reported using data to provide requested services to consumers and for research and development. None of the 13 reported sharing or

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by PPH ( 736903 )

      They know when you bought it

      They read my license plate. They shouldn't even know what brand of car it is.

  • That's as good as admitting you're using vehicle or customer data, just not storing or retaining it.

  • They already know (Score:4, Interesting)

    by speedlaw ( 878924 ) on Thursday December 24, 2020 @10:47AM (#60862640) Homepage
    I buy new and drive them into rust, so I'm not a good customer...I can DIY about half of the things...Having nursed a few cars, BMW too, out of the shiny new stage, past the warranty stage, past the second owner stage, and into the "rational people have tossed this" phase. The OEM has a huge database of when and how things break...if a supplier cheaps out, or the design is flawed, they see the warranty bills. If a part dies outside warranty, they track that as well-so yes often you see there is a TSB on a problem, but no warranty help (We know it breaks and what needs to be done, but no goodwill, sorry-not sorry). They don't need to have your personal data to do this. The other discovery is that parts prices are all designed vs. the cost of new or lease....which is why a brake job for a Chevy vs a BMW is so different, even though the parts are commodity....GM is best for this, the same bits go Chev - to Caddy and the prices go up accordingly. They are so good at this that GM will build Cadillac cheap, and be super generous with warranty to first owners, whereas the same part that dies in the Chevy is your problem at the same mileage....but it's cheaper for GM to build cheap and warranty the good customer than to upgrade all the parts. (Source - owned a CTS, wonderful design, horrid execution)
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion

  • So public shaming then. (Score:3)

    by BAReFO0t ( 6240524 ) on Thursday December 24, 2020 @11:02AM (#60862674)

    Wait until hack their CEO's car, and have billboards display "Du bist der Sohn von Tausend VÃtern! Und deine Mutter... eine Hure! Der Blitz soll dich beim Scheißen treffen! [Pay $5000 to make this message go away.]" whenever he passes. Especially with German colleagues sitting next to him. ;)

  • Aside from the warranty you get when you buy a new vehicle, aren't they as much of a scam as, say, dental insurance? Or for that matter the 'replacement warranty' that so many stores try to sell you when you buy some small appliance or piece of electronics?

  • Do the exact same thing but change the adds from:

    "Your BMW is out of warrantry. Buy a new one"

    to

    "Is your BMW's warrantry coming to a close? BMW sells add ons!"

    Huge difference in result.

  • Who reads billboards anyway? There's not enough time at highway speeds to read a message much less realize that it it directed at me.

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