BMW Warranty Changes

That explanation is, quite frankly, a load of old ----. Of course M cars cost more to repair, of course older cars are more likely to require repair, of course higher mileage cars are more likely to go wrong. Then again cars with additional optional equipment are more likely to need repair, convertibles have complex power roof mechanisms, 6 cylinder engines cost more to repair than 4 cylinder engines. How much further do you go? There are not that many M cars compared to others and, as such, the level of 'subsidy' from owners of non M cars will be relatively very low. Not all M cars need expensive repairs. I do more than average annual mileage (app 20K), I have had both M and non M BMW's over the last 8 years or so and generally reckon that the cost/benefit of the extended warranty has been about cost neutral to both parties. I am in the minority, by definition most vehicels cover average mileage, thus tipping the cost/benefit equation in favour of the warranty provider. The whole point of the warranty is to provide customers with an overall evening out of the costs of ownership. Both parties take a risk. Owners risk that their vehicles may cost significantly less than the cost of the warranty (generally the case), but are willing to take that risk as catastrophic failures tend to be expensive. Warranty company risks that occasional individual vehicles cost significantly more than the cost of the warranty to repair, but most don't hence the potential for profit. Also, the more vehicles in the warranty scheme, the less exposed the warranty company is to individual high costs. Oh well.

Edited by rvbush

Robstar wrote :- If only it were that easy. For an E39 M5 the vast majority of companies won't cover the VANOS, for instance. You need a tailor made policy which people are trying to organise, but progress is very slow. Most 3rd party warranties aren't worth the paper they're written on.

I didnt say it was easy did i, i simply said that you can get your own warranty to suit what you want covering, obviously it is going to take time to find the right one and they are out there, as for third party warranties i wouldnt say all off them are not worth the paper they are written on, as one i had quite a few years ago coverd my engine replacement and ecu on a Peugeout 406, like i said you have to shop around, but as i dont deal with stealers and finance as they are the biggest rip off going, then it dont apply to me anyhow.

"I acknowledge your request that I should respond to your email personally." Pull the other one!!! That reply is exactly the same reply as I received from a customer services manager. Perhaps they're so in tune with themselves that their replies are identical without even knowing it.

PPP/PPPP cheers for your efforts. Had downloaded the text from BM3W and intend to send it shortly.

Apologies to indies then. If that is the case then you should be able to clean up with looking after 3 year old cars, and since euro legislation changed where you can have a car serviced anywhere and maintain the warranty, then maybe you can get those within warranty too.

Depends on your hourly rate I guess. I spoke to my local BMW dealer the other day and they are on £82 plus VAT, i.e. £96.35 per hour.

Who can beat that then?

M3Nally wrote: With the latest M car engines now so technically complicated with the electronics et al, they are completely out of the realms of home or even "independent" repairers IMO.

Oh thats not the case (with us anyway). We have all the diagnostic equipment to service even the most modern BMW's and possess all the specialist BMW tooling for doing things like cam swaps in E46 M3's and E39 M5's. The investment is huge (over £10k just for tooling) so most tuners don't have them I grant you but if you're working on these cars you need to replicate a full dealer level IMO.

However, I agree with the comments on the warranty, whilst as an indpendant tuner/servicer this is potentially good news for us I fundamentally disagree with what they've done (we have our own CSl so are directly effected anyway).

 

 

 

Hell, why not? 

Potential gain of £330 a year, or £1150 a year if you are over 60,000 miles (and that's not counting the excess), for the price of a 30p stamp or the electricity for an email. 

AND it will improve residual values substantially when we come to sell.

The more of us who contact BMW the better the chance of victory.

No Brainer !!!

ultegra wrote: I agree with it all. The new warranty is hardly worth the paper it is written on - the dealers are going to claim that any and all failures are 'wear and tear' [ I have this on good authority from a source in the dealer network]. Better off banking the money and paying a reputable independant to fix things when they go wrong. Oh, and if I need to labour the point, get EVERYTHING fixed before the old warranty expires. I have.

 

What should I get done to my car which is still under warranty. To my knowledge everything seems to be ok, but will they charge me for 'getting them to check it over'?

I would like a few things replaced as preventative, but how should I approach it.......I mean, I would like the smg checked and the diff replaced with a new one, the tappets adjusted etc etc

Also, what are these third party warranties *actually* like?

 

ultegra wrote: No good. Warranty would have lapsed by then.

Ultegra

We can still influence them - have you written and made your views known?