[bimmer456]

What do you think is it worth paying for? Are you paying for it and how much are you paying? I got offered $30 for 6 months of the select package after my trial expires. It will auto renew at regular rates unless I cancel. Can I call to cancel auto renew but keep it active until then?

[ooshnoo]

Whether it's worth it or not is based on one's wants/needs and budget. I got all the music I need on my iPhone, therefore I don't think it's worth paying a monthly fee for shit music that I'll never listen to. Your call.

[enjoythemusic]

Your call, yet the sound quality is severely lacking. Hi-Res Audio is on the brink of going mainstream, which is better than CD sound quality from decades ago. Why would you want to go backwards with mp3, which is worse than CD, or compromise with even lower quality with XM Radio would be the logical question. Even the comoany that created mp3 has recently abandoned licensing mp3 as it is just too low a sound quality given today's possibilities.

[Bob in IL]

Strictly a personal call. If you use it, it's worth it. If not, don't renew. Your call. We use it in our car. I like it for long road trips and we're able to check out a variety of music etc. If you renew, never pay the asking price you can always get it for a lot less.

[vtown]

Meh. Of all the stations it has, I can tolerate 2-3 at best.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

What do you think is it worth paying for? Are you paying for it and how much are you paying? I got offered $30 for 6 months of the select package after my trial expires. It will auto renew at regular rates unless I cancel. Can I call to cancel auto renew but keep it active until then?

Not to me. Quality sucks. Expensive.

If you are an Amazon Prime member, try Amazon Music. It's free with Amazon Prime and the quality is much better. The interface is frustrating. If they get that part right it will be awesome.

Good luck.

[chiefneil]

Doesn't BMW still provide a year for free? If not then check the stations online and if you find some you like then sign up.

Personally, I never used it all even during the free period.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

Not to me. Quality sucks. Expensive.

If you are an Amazon Prime member, try Amazon Music. It's free with Amazon Prime and the quality is much better. The interface is frustrating. If they get that part right it will be awesome.

Good luck.

Yes I have amazon prime and use amazon music. It is convenient to have XM be on right away when you turn on the car vs. sometimes the Bluetooth doesn't always work right away and you have to at least press play on the app to get the music going. Sometimes I just rely on good old fashioned FM radio since it has better reception in places like parking garages. I had XM in my old car and never paid for a subscription. There were promotional periods that would occur where they would just turn on the service for free for a couple of weeks but never did I feel compelled to subscribe.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

Yes I have amazon prime and use amazon music. It is convenient to have XM be on right away when you turn on the car vs. sometimes the Bluetooth doesn't always work right away and you have to at least press play on the app to get the music going. Sometimes I just rely on good old fashioned FM radio since it has better reception in places like parking garages. I had XM in my old car and never paid for a subscription. There were promotional periods that would occur where they would just turn on the service for free for a couple of weeks but never did I feel compelled to subscribe.

What you described is exactly what is wrong with the Amazon Music interface. You really never know exactly what you are going to get when you turn on the car. Sometimes nothing. Sometimes it simply picks up where it left off. What passes as okay for software and interfaces is really frustrating. Having had a career in complex financial systems that must work right or everybody dies, what's considered acceptable in the consumer market is tragic.

What BMW should do is develop an amazing iPhone and Android interface and let the smart phones rule the car, at least for entertainment-related content. There's no way a car company is going to keep up, especially a car company like BMW who is never close to the lead in electronics. They make to much money on these options to give it up so we all live with inferior result. Mini rant over.

[GarlicBread]

I personally think it?s a huge waste of money. Why pay that much for awful quality sound? Get Apple Music or Spotify for $10

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by GarlicBread

I personally think it?s a huge waste of money. Why pay that much for awful quality sound? Get Apple Music or Spotify for $10

That's twice as much as XM for $5 a month.

[jgoens]

I use it and like about 10 stations. The sound quality is not as good as other sources but not so bad to whine about to me. The thing I like best is I can hear stuff that I don't have or forgot about. Just gives more diversity than my saved music and FM.

[GarlicBread]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

That's twice as much as XM for $5 a month.

Yes but the quality of the radio is awful.

[bueller]

I liked it for CNBC, but their music sounds like AM radio, the quality is awful. Unless you are using it for live content, or enjoy DJs (which I don't understand) it seems pointless.

I think that other streaming services you can access via your phone are far more useful as you can use them outside your car, offer better quality and selection and are cheaper.

B.

[c0nrad]

do the cheap trial then ask for a better rate when renewal time is up, they have to sell subscriptions. personally, i like radio/dj shows and at a discounted rate it's worth it for me.

[DrifterX]

I've had my car for 15 months and only ever used it once last month - I was surprised how low quality it was and only a couple channels were of interest. Was also surprised that I could even use it lol - maybe the free subscription starts when it's first used? Who knows

I usually listen to podcasts on my phone which are downloaded on a weekly basis. I stream Spotify sometimes but gotta keep an eye on data usage as it can rack up sometimes.

Personally, I don't think XM is worth it based on the quality alone.

[DC X3M40i]

sound quality is not the best.. but if you take long drives/roadtrips..it can come in handy. I personally cannot stand some of the music on the airwaves right now... so its nice to be able to listen to stuff form the 90s (commercial free) I never pay more than 5 bucks a month tho. when the trial is about to end (or whatever promo you are on right now) call them up and tell them you want to cancel... might take about five minutes of back and forth before they will lock you in at 5 bucks a month again for 5 or 6 months.
never EVER pay full price for their service.. you will always be able to get it for about 5 bucks a month.
on the other hand..i do pay 10 bucks a month as well for spotify premium. Only because i work in manhattan and rely on mass transit to get to and fro. so its nice to be able to download the music to my iphone at my leisure.
its only a call that you can make OP. yes the sound quality is not great.. but it gives you additional options to listen to.. but as long as you remember to NOT PAY MORE THAN 5 BUCKS A MONTH =o)

[cfm56d7b]

My experience echoes the experience of others: tend to listen to a few channels, quality is subpar.

[otay]

Stopped using it quite a while ago. Quality is the worst of any of the choices. With all the streaming services now available, I honestly don't understand how they're still in business.

I go between Spotify and an old iPod connected to USB in the armrest. On the occasion I want to listen to sports, there's an app for that...ESPN, for example.

[BMW11]

do not ever give them your credit card because they will keep billing you forever once the sub ends. and if you pay by check then they will sneaky re-subscribe you and not tell you and send you a bill like 6 months later saying you owe blah blah for the last 6 months! they are so sneaky lol

[LiquidMercury]

Had it on trial for a few months then cancelled. Geesus, the sales reps are relentless with hounding you after you cancel with follow up calls, or sending mail your way.

Quality aside, the most offensive part of cancelling was their tactic of offering to charge me LESS than I initially paid; like wtf, lol. So if I'd never have cancelled, they'd be fine taking my monthly fees at a higher rate. *shakes head*

During my subscription, I really only listened to the comedy channels as all the music I listen to is already on my phone (like most have stated) and I have control over my music vs. listening to 'x' amount of shitty songs before they randomly play a tune I like.

In the end it simply wasn't worth the cost and as my commute is all freeway, I tend to just tune into the traffic feed off my AM radio anyhow.

[COKen]

Originally Posted by DC F15

... I never pay more than 5 bucks a month tho. when the trial is about to end (or whatever promo you are on right now) call them up and tell them you want to cancel... might take about five minutes of back and forth before they will lock you in at 5 bucks a month again for 5 or 6 months.
never EVER pay full price for their service.. you will always be able to get it for about 5 bucks a month. ...

Originally Posted by BMW11

do not ever give them your credit card because they will keep billing you forever once the sub ends. and if you pay by check then they will sneaky re-subscribe you and not tell you and send you a bill like 6 months later saying you owe blah blah for the last 6 months! they are so sneaky lol

The sound may not be the best but the reason I don't use them is because I will not do business with a company which is as unscrupulous as this company is. If they would deal honestly with their customers and charge a fair price without the customer needing to know all of the tricks and secrets in order to get a reasonable price I think they would get more customers.