e46 M3: aftermarket warranties experience.

[phatmanace]

folks,

doing some more research on M3 stuff & alas have more questions!

was reading about one of the long term test cars in 'car' magazine - which was an E46 M3. the guy testing it mentioned that he'd switched his warranty to warrantydirect as it was much cheaper than the BMW one.

If I could find the right car at a BMW dealer, then getting the BMW warranty would be great. I'm just thinking if the warrantydirect type places are ok, then it would allow me to extend my search to indy dealers, and even private cars.

I did a search across the PH forums - and general consensus seems to be that they are good, providing you don't go above £5k in a year.

any thoughts/comments? is this a folly and dangerous move? ;-)

Cheers
-Ace

[paoloh]

Won't cover Satnav, speakers, stereo, cd changer etc etc

On an M3, stick to BMW Warranty or don't bother really.

[Vixpy1]

The WD one has a 1K per claim limit, chocolate teapots are more usefull

[Rags]

WD actually has a £5k claim limit, however they will wriggle out of everything!

[phatmanace]

Interestingly, I just called them and had a chat. Stereo/Nav/Speakers etc can be covered for about £50 extra per year [about the amount of discount they give you for being a member of the owners club anyway]

Strangley, the VANOS unit is only covered if you are a member of the owners club - SMG box covered regardless.

As I mentioned, if I can find a good one at a BMW dealer, I'll go for it, just think that this way, I could buy a car from an indy dealer like imc-bmw (thereby giving me a bit more choice) and still have some peice of mind

Thanks Again for all your help.
-Ace

[drgav2005]

One other option remains...

If you buy privately and the seller has just extended their BMW warranty then they can transfer this over to you on the sale. New options have come out for the BMW warranty which have made the prices a little more realistic (less than £700 fully comp, £250XS, including European breakdown and assist on E46 M3's with less than 60k miles on the clock)...

Hope this helps!

[Vixpy1]

Rags said:

WD actually has a £5k claim limit, however they will wriggle out of everything!

Yes, over the coarse of the policy, however the claim limit PER claim is 1K.

[phatmanace]

Vixpy1 said:

Rags said:

WD actually has a £5k claim limit, however they will wriggle out of everything!

Yes, over the coarse of the policy, however the claim limit PER claim is 1K.

Actually, I specificially asked them about this, and they said that the single claim limit is the the value of the car.

-ace

[Vixpy1]

phatmanace said:

Vixpy1 said:

Rags said:

WD actually has a £5k claim limit, however they will wriggle out of everything!

Yes, over the coarse of the policy, however the claim limit PER claim is 1K.

Actually, I specificially asked them about this, and they said that the single claim limit is the the value of the car.

-ace

Is that the £750 Policy?

[phatmanace]

Vixpy1 said:

phatmanace said:

Vixpy1 said:

Rags said:

WD actually has a £5k claim limit, however they will wriggle out of everything!

Yes, over the coarse of the policy, however the claim limit PER claim is 1K.

Actually, I specificially asked them about this, and they said that the single claim limit is the the value of the car.

-ace

Is that the £750 Policy?

I will phone and double check but I believe so - £800 quid - discounted to £740 by being a member of the owners club - and bumped back up to £800 if you want cover for the Sat Nav/stereo/speakers etc.

-ace

[paoloh]

Two HUGE differences.

BMW warranty, you can kick and scream in the main dealers.

WD warranty, down the phone, not quite the same.

Try getting BMW labour rates out of WD.

[phatmanace]

paoloh said:

Two HUGE differences.

BMW warranty, you can kick and scream in the main dealers.

WD warranty, down the phone, not quite the same.

Try getting BMW labour rates out of WD.

Again, I asked them specifically about this "can I have car repaired at a bmw main dealer of my choice?" . Response was a "yes, of course"

Take your point about in person vs on phone though

[paoloh]

phatmanace said:

paoloh said:

Two HUGE differences.

BMW warranty, you can kick and scream in the main dealers.

WD warranty, down the phone, not quite the same.

Try getting BMW labour rates out of WD.

Again, I asked them specifically about this "can I have car repaired at a bmw main dealer of my choice?" . Response was a "yes, of course"

Take your point about in person vs on phone though

Hi Phat, ask them what their allowed per hour labour rate is??

[phatmanace]

paoloh said:

phatmanace said:

paoloh said:

Two HUGE differences.

BMW warranty, you can kick and scream in the main dealers.

WD warranty, down the phone, not quite the same.

Try getting BMW labour rates out of WD.

Again, I asked them specifically about this "can I have car repaired at a bmw main dealer of my choice?" . Response was a "yes, of course"

Take your point about in person vs on phone though

Hi Phat, ask them what their allowed per hour labour rate is??

will do - I'll call them again tommorow and try and clarify some of these points.

[Philrose]

WD claim limit is £5000 per year. Labour is based on your initial policy ie franchise or indy. Labour for franchise was about £96 per hour when I made a claim last year.

[paoloh]

I had a 3 onth old 54 reg M3 cab, big end bearing shells went. Result= New engine £14k

Pay the extra and be happy in the knowledge you are safe and sound!

This is coming from a Dealer who sells M3s!!!!!!!!!!!

[phatmanace]

paoloh said:

I had a 3 onth old 54 reg M3 cab, big end bearing shells went. Result= New engine £14k

Pay the extra and be happy in the knowledge you are safe and sound!

This is coming from a Dealer who sells M3s!!!!!!!!!!!

noted. Thanks - perhaps I should just pay the extra and go for the AUC warranty.