BMW Insured Warranty on M Cars

[JC 73]

Not sure if people have looked into this in detail previously.

Reading the small print on the BMW insured warranty, any track day use invalidates the warranty despite M cars and particularly specific models being marketed as track day weapons.

Anyone fallen foul of this when making a claim?

[mmm-five]

IIRC, it's been in there for as long as I've had a BMW Insured Warranty.

I had no problem claiming on my warranty (multiple times over 20 years) despite the dealer discussing track days with me - and even attending a BMW dealer organised one in the early 2000s.

However, I believe they're enforcing it more now....especially since it stopped being run by Mondial. They're also getting more picky on aftermarket modifications.

[nickfrog]

mmm-five said:

IIRC, it's been in there for as long as I've had a BMW Insured Warranty.

I had no problem claiming on my warranty (multiple times over 20 years) despite the dealer discussing track days with me - and even attending a BMW dealer organised one in the early 2000s.

However, I believe they're enforcing it more now....especially since it stopped being run by Mondial. They're also getting more picky on aftermarket modifications.

I think it's important to have a good relationship with the dealer as they have delegated authority. But the ideal would be if even the dealer didn't know as I reckon they have tightened things up a bit of late as you said. It's still underwritten by Allianz btw.

[nickfrog]

JC 73 said:

despite M cars and particularly specific models being marketed as track day weapons.

I agree it's a bit naughty but I don't think they're explicitly marketed as such (although the M2 collateral is pretty obvious). At the end of the day (pardon the pun) they're not really track day weapons, they're road cars with some track ability.

[JC 73]

I think the CS somewhat and very much the GTS models were marketed at enthusiasts and as suitable for use on track and coming with Cup2 tyres which can't genuinely be exploited on the road safely / legally

Edited by JC 73 on Wednesday 24th March 08:22

[darreni]

Track use is specifically excluded under the insured warranty. Allianz will void the entire warranty if they discover the car has been used on track.

[Mark83]

nickfrog said:

I think it's important to have a good relationship with the dealer as they have delegated authority.

I hear this a lot. How does one have a good relationship with the service department with 18,000 mile / 2 year service intervals?

[curvature]

Mark83 said:

I hear this a lot. How does one have a good relationship with the service department with 18,000 mile / 2 year service intervals?

Drive more miles! Before COVID I was doing 25k miles a year so even with my 330d I was in 2-3 times a year if you include an MOT visit.

[VeeTenM]

Mark83 said:

I hear this a lot. How does one have a good relationship with the service department with 18,000 mile / 2 year service intervals?

Use them for everything, MOT, servicing etc

Although I buy my own (OEM) parts for service then get them to do the work, specially the oil in the M6!

Avoid Sytner ones....

[nickfrog]

Mark83 said:

I hear this a lot. How does one have a good relationship with the service department with 18,000 mile / 2 year service intervals?

I see them once a year now that the brake fluid is in alternance with the service, plus the MOT. They really looked after me well recently and discounted the major service by 20% so I got them a box of 6 bottles of wine. I know their names, I have actually known them for 10 years or so. It's not part of a large Sytner type group so they kind of have a family run business type vibe and they are genuinely excellent in a way the best indies are.

Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 23 March 22:01

[mmm-five]

Mark83 said:

I hear this a lot. How does one have a good relationship with the service department with 18,000 mile / 2 year service intervals?

My e34 M5 was 6,000 mile intervals - and I was doing almost 30,000 miles a year, so got to know the dealer network very well.

The Z4M was about 14,000 miles, but I'd have an interim oil service at 7,000 miles.

Don't a lot of the newer vehicles have condition-based servicing, so that you have to go to the dealer every couple of weeks when something new pops up on the dash?

[Mark83]

mmm-five said:

Don't a lot of the newer vehicles have condition-based servicing, so that you have to go to the dealer every couple of weeks when something new pops up on the dash?

My 2003 M3 and my 2019 M4 have condition based servicing so that's not new. I've never had anything pop up on the dash. Even a few track days isn't bringing down the condition based servicing fast enough to increase the service intervals.

If it makes people feel better to buy service agents wine and have more frequent work, then who am I to disagree. I don't have, nor want , that relationship, I swap between marques. I won't be buying the next M3/4.

From my perspective, franchised service centres will only ever carry out warranty work they know they can recharge to BMW AG. It's not in their interest to defraud the hand that feeds for a customer who brings their car in for an mid-service schedule oil change.

Edited by Mark83 on Wednesday 24th March 11:57

[nickfrog]

Mark83 said:

If it makes people feel better to buy service agents wine and have more frequent work, then who am I to disagree. I don't have, not want , that relationship, I swap between marques. I won't be buying the next M3/4.

It wasn't to make myself feel better at all. They gave me 20% off the (already discounted) value pricing and were very accommodating on other stuff. That saved me £120 so I thought £30 was a small token to thank them. If it helps the relationshio then brilliant, if it doesn't then I'd still do it.