BMW warranties

BMW warranties

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Discussion

DrDaveWatford

Original Poster:

140 posts

232 months

Sunday 3rd July 2005
quotequote all
UK-sourced M3s have a 3-year warranty, but I've been told by BMW UK that if you own an imported UK-spec M3 from France, BMW UK will not honour this 3 warranty as "it's only a 2 year warranty in France". Other (non-BMW) people tell me however that this is rubbish and they're obliged to honour the full 3 years.

Can anyone shed any light on this ?

Cheers,

Dr. D.

Philrose

478 posts

248 months

Monday 4th July 2005
quotequote all
I believe you have to buy the third year warranty from BMW.
Dont let it expire because once expired you can never restart it. After the 3 years you will be invited to buy further years warranties which can be done up to 100k miles

Broccers

3,236 posts

259 months

Monday 4th July 2005
quotequote all
Philrose said:
I believe you have to buy the third year warranty from BMW.
Dont let it expire because once expired you can never restart it. After the 3 years you will be invited to buy further years warranties which can be done up to 100k miles


I used to think that too but in actual fact its unlimited miles.

Badapple

2,265 posts

260 months

Monday 4th July 2005
quotequote all
What ive always wondered is, say you have a car under the extended warranty with about 100K. Surely actually being able to claim for anyting is going to be hard work as they will argue wear & tear for mileage???

Pickled Piper

6,381 posts

241 months

Monday 4th July 2005
quotequote all
Badapple said:
What ive always wondered is, say you have a car under the extended warranty with about 100K. Surely actually being able to claim for anyting is going to be hard work as they will argue wear & tear for mileage???


The level of cover decreases as the vehicle mileage increases. No one will tell you exactly how this works and what the thresholds are, in some cases the warranty will cover part of the cost eg shock absorbers. I tried to get BMW to clarify what was and wasn't covered ( my car is now six year sold and coming up to 75K)but they were very vague and just refered me to the dealer. The dealer was also very vague. It appears that the dealer makes a claim online with the mileage details of the vehicle and the system defines how much of a contribution the warranty cover will make.

Perhaps someone who works at a dealership can shine some light o this.

pp

DrDaveWatford

Original Poster:

140 posts

232 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Thanx for the info, folks.

maxf

8,420 posts

247 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Badapple said:
What ive always wondered is, say you have a car under the extended warranty with about 100K. Surely actually being able to claim for anyting is going to be hard work as they will argue wear & tear for mileage???


I was told it was *very* comprehensive and covered almost anything. Since digging (and buyign a car) I have found out that this *used* to be the case, when BMW ran the warranty scheme themselves. Last year (IIRC) BMW sold the warranty business off - since the change prices have risen and cover is not as good.

My car has 96k miles on and I recently had some gaskets done without any problem (rear engine and rocker cover gaskets). I have heard that suspension parts are now only 100% covered up to 60,000 miles.

Everyone still says the cover is the best you can buy - its just not a case of £0 maintenance costs anymore.

scoobz

6,578 posts

254 months

Tuesday 5th July 2005
quotequote all
Pickled Piper said:

The level of cover decreases as the vehicle mileage increases. No one will tell you exactly how this works and what the thresholds are, in some cases the warranty will cover part of the cost eg shock absorbers. I tried to get BMW to clarify what was and wasn't covered ( my car is now six year sold and coming up to 75K)but they were very vague and just refered me to the dealer. The dealer was also very vague. It appears that the dealer makes a claim online with the mileage details of the vehicle and the system defines how much of a contribution the warranty cover will make.

Perhaps someone who works at a dealership can shine some light o this.

pp


The reason they were all a bit vague is because warranty cover is a bit vague.. Sorry to be vague.

If something is covered its black and white. BMW pay for the lot. If its simply worn out through time you're scuppered.

However, the level of contribution you refer too is 'goodwill' offered by BMW. Even if an item breaks that realistically isnt covered by warranty BMW will quite often pick up the cost of parts or labour as a gesture.

Something is usually sorted by warranty if it malfunctions due to improper manufacter. If it just wears out and gives up its down to you..

Hope that kind of explains some of it...

I'll try and come up with some sort of example..

But the question of two year and three year cover is easy - You bought a car in France, the warranty cover is the same as you'd get in France - two years. It didn't used to have roadside assistance for the 2nd year either. If you want 3 yrs then you have to pay for it.

Whomever told you BMW 'have' to honour it is wrong.

Stub

6,695 posts

245 months

Wednesday 6th July 2005
quotequote all
In the last week or 2 I've had my car in with corrosion on the aluminium bar that sits at the fornt of the fabric hood, which attaches it to the windscreen surround.

The dealer and BMW have both said they will not cover this under warranty and offer no goodwill. I am very disappointed as I think it's Corrosion of the Body (which the dealer disagrees with) and should be covered by the warranty IMO.

I'll be going to the small claims court as I believe they have mis-sold the warranty as 6 yeas anti-corrosion of body panels (which the roof is one) is specifically covered, no vagueness there.

My experience tells me I will not take up the offer of the BMW aftermarket warranty on this car or the 2 others and I am also cancelling an order as I've had enough of the stealer. It's probably off back to Honda for me, where the local dealers (De Vries Honda, Hull) service was far beyond my expectations and should make BMW totally embarrassed.

Unfortunately, they seem to have a long enough list of punters to keep them happy & busy without repeat customers like me. So all I'll be doing is letting people know what I have experienced.

Sorry for the whinge.

scoobz

6,578 posts

254 months

Wednesday 6th July 2005
quotequote all
seems like a fair enough whinge to me...

i can't believe its not covered. i'm embarrassed for them.

burwoodman

18,718 posts

252 months

Wednesday 6th July 2005
quotequote all
how you going scoobz-you still in the states

scoobz

6,578 posts

254 months

Wednesday 6th July 2005
quotequote all
indeed I am sir!

Thaks for asking.

No plans to leave yet...

burwoodman

18,718 posts

252 months

Thursday 7th July 2005
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I'll be chopping in the M3 in 4 months-told you it wouldn't stay in my stable for long-It's been a great car and never missed a beat. I've probably taken a bath on it though lol

johnrs4

304 posts

252 months

Thursday 7th July 2005
quotequote all
New BMWs sourced via BMW UK come with a 3 year warranty. The first 2 years are a BMW factory warranty and the 3rd year is a BMW UK dealer warranty. All cars sourced from outside the UK have the standard 2 year factory warranty and so if you import one to the UK it will only have a 2 year warranty which will be supported by your UK dealer but if you wish to extend this you will need to buy the 3rd year warranty from your dealer.

mondeoman

11,430 posts

272 months

Thursday 7th July 2005
quotequote all
As an example: just had a rear coil spring break, 4 years old, 63k miles and it was repaired at no cost to me as "goodwill". Also had air-con resistor pack replaced, and that was a warranty item, no question.

True though, suspension and exhaust are no longer covered over 60k miles. Dealer told me that just a week ago.

Scoobz

6,578 posts

254 months

Thursday 7th July 2005
quotequote all
johnrs4 said:
New BMWs sourced via BMW UK come with a 3 year warranty. The first 2 years are a BMW factory warranty and the 3rd year is a BMW UK dealer warranty.


The third year is nothing to do with the dealer. Its still a factory warranty.

The dealers contribute to it by giving BMW some money for every car sold. Like a back hander if you will.

But it still is a factory warranty valid everywhere - Europe wide.

johnrs4

304 posts

252 months

Friday 8th July 2005
quotequote all
Scoobz said:

The third year is nothing to do with the dealer. Its still a factory warranty.

The dealers contribute to it by giving BMW some money for every car sold. Like a back hander if you will.

But it still is a factory warranty valid everywhere - Europe wide.


Sorry but you are wrong. He3re is a cut and paste from the BMW UK website:

Every new vehicle supplied by a BMW (UK) Limited authorised dealer carries a worldwide warranty. For the first 24 months, should your car need to be repaired under warranty outside the UK then it must be taken to the most convenient BMW Dealer in that country and the work will be carried out under warranty, provided you can show that the vehicle is still within the 24* month warranty period. This can easily be done by producing the service booklet and showing the 'FREE PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION' box stamped by the selling dealer.

The 3rd Year is only valid in the UK. If you travel abroad on holiday, however, and warranty work needs to be carried out, please retain all invoices and any replaced parts where possible and on your return to Great Britain contact your local dealer who will process your claim for you.

Scoobz

6,578 posts

254 months

Friday 8th July 2005
quotequote all
well bugger me...

Thats changed in the last 6 months, I haven't worked there for that long.

Sorry for doubting you...