Manufacturers getting lazy with adding features?

[Visionist]

I'm after an E89 and I can't help but notice the two blank switches inboard of the ones for the heated seats.

Clearly they're meant for ventilated seats, but none were ever available as an option. Shame as they'd be extremely useful in 40 degree sun, a lot more than heated seats anyway.

Why do manufacturers do this? It's like videogame developers removing features from a game before releasing it (happens all the time)...

[Alpaca]

Offered in other markets maybe?

[Crafty_]

They make one part for the car, worldwide. Saves on production costs, if that means you end up with a blanking switch, tough st.

Vauxhall did a better job with the old astra.
Poverty spec (ignore the screen, just a hazard lights button and door lock button):


High spec (right to left: driver 3 stage heated seat, TPMS reset, disable reversing sensors, next one in the uk is the "sport" button, not sure on LHD and the passenger heated seat.


IIRC the panel is one and the same, with punch outs that are removed as required.

Edited by Crafty_ on Thursday 9th October 22:47

[JakeT]

The Z4 always got pitiful levels of equipment compared to other BMWs anyway. But blanking switches to make me feel sad. One or two and its okay, but a load and you feel like a right pauper. But also as mentioned different options for different regions.

[Visionist]

That's the thing: as far as I know, ventilated seats were never offered, anywhere.

Strange.

[Monty Python]

It's a ploy to make you buy all the options.

[Mr E]

I have only ever had one car that didn't have any blanking switches/plated.

[Triumph Man]

Didn't the Mercedes W124 have no blanking plates, and holes for any additional switches were cut out of the wood?

[Cliftonite]

.
My poverty spec Audi A6 had no blanking plates. Instead switches for the missing expensive gubbins were replaced with handy little (damped!) storage drawers or mini compartments.

Neat!

[Snollygoster]

It's not being lazy. A lot more to do with managing costs and running a profitable business.

The products are priced accordingly to what other manufacture's offer and what the customer wants.

Considering the amount of options available, they cannot simply make them all standard unless making the list price far to high, thus pricing it out of the market.

If someone wanted ventilated seats that badly, the buyer of the vehicle when new would have specced it. Simples.

[Visionist]

Wow. Did anybody actually read what I typed?

This has nothing to do with standard equipment. Ventilated seats are never standard. But on the E89 they aren't optional, either. They're plain unavailable, yet their switches are on the dashboard.

What's the point.

[joebongo]

Triumph Man said:

Didn't the Mercedes W124 have no blanking plates, and holes for any additional switches were cut out of the wood?

Yes just what I was thinking. Only had twotwo or three holes cut in my one.

[dxg]

Visionist said:

Wow. Did anybody actually read what I typed?

This has nothing to do with standard equipment. Ventilated seats are never standard. But on the E89 they aren't optional, either. They're plain unavailable, yet their switches are on the dashboard.

What's the point.

Perhaps they were meant to be available, but we're removed from the product range after the design of the switchgear had been finalised. Perhaps there also wasn't the time or budget to redesign the switchgear.

There's an old but interesting book called "managing the Design Factory" which basically points out that, due to iterations like that, the design process never finishes. It just stops when budget or time run out.

[DaveH23]

Features add weight. Weight is bad.