BMW Extended Warranty - Who Can Claim and What For?

[anonymous-user]

Hi,
Thinking of buying a 2012-14 BMW F31 320i or 320d (haven't decided yet), and would ideally like to take out BMW's extended warranty. Their website's provided me with some info but not total clarification, so I'd like to pose a question here:

1. If I buy a car privately or from a general used car trader outside the BMW main dealer network, can I still buy BMW's "insured warranty", and would I still be able to take out their "comprehensive" cover?

2. To qualify, would I have to buy a car that's never been outside of the dealer network for servicing and maintenance?

3. Would it be sufficient for me to have the car serviced at a BMW indy in order to continue qualifying, or would I need to go main dealer going forward?

4. Will they actually pay out when it comes time to claim and they discover the above (bought car elsewhere; had car serviced elsewhere)?

Thanks

Edit: 5. Would I have to continue running the car on runflats?

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 7th February 16:28

[d_a_n1979]

Johnny5hoods said:

Hi,
Thinking of buying a 2012-14 BMW F31 320i or 320d (haven't decided yet), and would ideally like to take out BMW's extended warranty. Their website's provided me with some info but not total clarification, so I'd like to pose a question here:

1. If I buy a car privately or from a general used car trader outside the BMW main dealer network, can I still buy BMW's "insured warranty", and would I still be able to take out their "comprehensive" cover?

2. To qualify, would I have to buy a car that's never been outside of the dealer network for servicing and maintenance?

3. Would it be sufficient for me to have the car serviced at a BMW indy in order to continue qualifying, or would I need to go main dealer going forward?

4. Will they actually pay out when it comes time to claim and they discover the above (bought car elsewhere; had car serviced elsewhere)?

Thanks

Edit: 5. Would I have to continue running the car on runflats?

Edited by Johnny5hoods on Wednesday 7th February 16:28

I bought my F31 in Dec 2022 (collected it Jan 2023) and took BMWs warranty out on it... It's under 10 years old and was under 100k miles; so I got the full cover. I think over 100k miles, there are only certain parts of the warranty you can get

My f31 has had a mix of OEM BMW and indy servicing before me and has since; yet I've had zero issues making 2 warranty claims with Bowker BMW; in which I've had engine work, suspension work and electrical work completed under warranty (tailgate issues and horn issues specifically).

All this work has added up to a fair whack money-wise, more so when you include BMWs labour costs etc; but this is the very reason why I took out extended warranty as it's the youngest BMW I've ever owned and wanted that peace of mind for the first 12 months.

My F31 is on 2 sets of 18" OEM BMW wheels; but I run non RFTs for summers and non RFT 'all seasons' for winters and zero issues' no comments at all

I've had no problems, no quibbles etc - all the works been done faultlessly and in good time and I've been sent the receipts/invoices etc for my service history also

As long as the car is original (you may get away with some simple mods etc) and kept in good running order; there shouldn't be any issues...

Some folk have had issues when it comes to warranty claims; where they've fallen foul of mods (remaps etc) or they've declared they've been doing diagnostics themselves etc... So worth bearing in mind.

Other than that I'd highly recommend the extended warranty; it's paid out in dividends for me fortunately

[MitchT]

To the best of my knowledge...

1: Yes.

2: No, but it will have had to be serviced using OEM parts at a VAT registered garage.

3: Yes, as long as the garage is VAT registered and OEM parts are used.

4: They should.

5: Don't know.

Caveat: They won't pay out if the car has been modified in any way. As far as I know they don't check before they let you buy the warranty - it's on you to make 100% sure that there are no modifications, remaps, etc. before purchasing the warranty.

NB. The BMW Warranty website has a downloadable handbook with all the terms and conditions in it.

[anonymous-user]

d_a_n1979 said:

Johnny5hoods said:

Hi,
Thinking of buying a 2012-14 BMW F31 320i or 320d (haven't decided yet), and would ideally like to take out BMW's extended warranty. Their website's provided me with some info but not total clarification, so I'd like to pose a question here:

1. If I buy a car privately or from a general used car trader outside the BMW main dealer network, can I still buy BMW's "insured warranty", and would I still be able to take out their "comprehensive" cover?

2. To qualify, would I have to buy a car that's never been outside of the dealer network for servicing and maintenance?

3. Would it be sufficient for me to have the car serviced at a BMW indy in order to continue qualifying, or would I need to go main dealer going forward?

4. Will they actually pay out when it comes time to claim and they discover the above (bought car elsewhere; had car serviced elsewhere)?

Thanks

Edit: 5. Would I have to continue running the car on runflats?

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 7th February 16:28

I bought my F31 in Dec 2022 (collected it Jan 2023) and took BMWs warranty out on it... It's under 10 years old and was under 100k miles; so I got the full cover. I think over 100k miles, there are only certain parts of the warranty you can get

My f31 has had a mix of OEM BMW and indy servicing before me and has since; yet I've had zero issues making 2 warranty claims with Bowker BMW; in which I've had engine work, suspension work and electrical work completed under warranty (tailgate issues and horn issues specifically).

All this work has added up to a fair whack money-wise, more so when you include BMWs labour costs etc; but this is the very reason why I took out extended warranty as it's the youngest BMW I've ever owned and wanted that peace of mind for the first 12 months.

My F31 is on 2 sets of 18" OEM BMW wheels; but I run non RFTs for summers and non RFT 'all seasons' for winters and zero issues' no comments at all

I've had no problems, no quibbles etc - all the works been done faultlessly and in good time and I've been sent the receipts/invoices etc for my service history also

As long as the car is original (you may get away with some simple mods etc) and kept in good running order; there shouldn't be any issues...

Some folk have had issues when it comes to warranty claims; where they've fallen foul of mods (remaps etc) or they've declared they've been doing diagnostics themselves etc... So worth bearing in mind.

Other than that I'd highly recommend the extended warranty; it's paid out in dividends for me fortunately

Good to know. Thanks

[Uncle Meat]

A couple of other things (to questions you didn't ask!).

If it's not currently in a BMW warranty, because it's more than 3 years old and/or it's not an AUC car, your first year BMW warranty will be more expensive than subsequent years.
If it's done more than 60lk miles it will also cost quite a bit more than a car that has done less than 60k miles.

Put the reg in the BMW warranty website to find out how much the first year will be.

[anonymous-user]

Uncle Meat said:

A couple of other things (to questions you didn't ask!).

If it's not currently in a BMW warranty, because it's more than 3 years old and/or it's not an AUC car, your first year BMW warranty will be more expensive than subsequent years.
If it's done more than 60lk miles it will also cost quite a bit more than a car that has done less than 60k miles.

Put the reg in the BMW warranty website to find out how much the first year will be.

Good tips. Thanks

[Riggie]

MitchT said:

To the best of my knowledge...

1: Yes.

2: No, but it will have had to be serviced using OEM parts at a VAT registered garage.

3: Yes, as long as the garage is VAT registered and OEM parts are used.

4: They should.

5: Don't know.

Caveat: They won't pay out if the car has been modified in any way. As far as I know they don't check before they let you buy the warranty - it's on you to make 100% sure that there are no modifications, remaps, etc. before purchasing the warranty.

NB. The BMW Warranty website has a downloadable handbook with all the terms and conditions in it.

I checked with BMW insured warranty about OEM parts. I was told that they don't have to be BMW parts, but have to be of 'reputable quality'. He went on to explain that well known names in service parts, filters etc would suffice.

[anonymous-user]

Riggie said:

I checked with BMW insured warranty about OEM parts. I was told that they don't have to be BMW parts, but have to be of 'reputable quality'. He went on to explain that well known names in service parts, filters etc would suffice.

Cool. Thanks

[VeeTenM]

Get receipts for everything you do, BMW will try and wiggle out of anything these days!

[Court_S]

Riggie said:

I checked with BMW insured warranty about OEM parts. I was told that they don't have to be BMW parts, but have to be of 'reputable quality'. He went on to explain that well known names in service parts, filters etc would suffice.

I can’t help think that those accessing any claims will be difficult about things like that.

I naively assumed that the insured warranty would be similar to the warranty you get with a new car or an AUC but it’s not. My experience with those warranties are that you can get away with a few mods but expect to have claims related to those mods rejected. My M140i had different springs dampers plus the underbody brace from a three door car and the dealer didn’t bay an eyelid.

My 335i was stock in terms of engine but not suspension (B4S dampers, Eibachs and M3 arms) which caused be no end of grief trying to make a claim for an engine issue. The insured warranty team refused to speak to me and just referred me to the dealer who were useless too.

I paid £730 for my warranty which felt like good value especially when BMW said my issue was going to be £3.8k to sort. It felt like the starting point was how can they now cover the cost of the work, which I obviously opened the door with suspension mods and CSL rep wheels.

If you’re car is as it left the factory and with a full dealer history you’ll probably be ok.

[Jamescrs]

VeeTenM said:

Get receipts for everything you do, BMW will try and wiggle out of anything these days!

The insured warranty is not actually managed by BMW, it is Allianz Insurance who run the warranty, they have a designated contact at each main dealer who puts the claims in to them.

[VeeTenM]

Jamescrs said:

The insured warranty is not actually managed by BMW, it is Allianz Insurance who run the warranty, they have a designated contact at each main dealer who puts the claims in to them.

Yeah what is who I meant.

[MitchT]

I've noticed there's some mention of 60k miles in this discussion. When I look at the documentation for the BMW warranty when purchased independently, it talks about 100k miles so, would it be reasonable of me to make the following assumptions...

• If you buy a brand new or approved used BMW you get a manufacturer's warranty which can be renewed on expiry until the car has done 60k miles, then any subsequent renewals will be the insurance backed warranty which can be renewed up to 100k miles.

• If you buy a BMW from outside the BMW dealer network you can buy the insurance backed warranty for it and this can be renewed up to 100k miles.

Can anyone confirm?

[d_a_n1979]

MitchT said:

I've noticed there's some mention of 60k miles in this discussion. When I look at the documentation for the BMW warranty when purchased independently, it talks about 100k miles so, would it be reasonable of me to make the following assumptions...

• If you buy a brand new or approved used BMW you get a manufacturer's warranty which can be renewed on expiry until the car has done 60k miles, then any subsequent renewals will be the insurance backed warranty which can be renewed up to 100k miles.

• If you buy a BMW from outside the BMW dealer network you can buy the insurance backed warranty for it and this can be renewed up to 100k miles.

Can anyone confirm?

I took out extended warranty for 12 months in Jan 2023 at 96k miles on my 2015 F31

I now pay monthly and its continuous until I stop it; the F31 is just over 100k miles now, and I confirmed this when I spoke to them last month when discussing the renewal

You can take out FULL comprehensive warranty as long as the BMW is under 10 years old and under 100k miles; you can take out other sections of the warranty if age/mileage is different IIRC

[sortedcossie]

Mines an AUC car so I've kept up the Manufacturers Warranty, this year will be it's last as it'll hit 60k in the coming months. It'll then revert to the extended version (the insurance based one).

[MitchT]

Does that effectively mean that you'll get another year of manufacturer's warranty as long as it hasn't ticked past 60k come renewal time, even if it's not far off 60k? I've seen an approved used BMW with 44k miles on it. If I do 5k miles per year then I'll be on 59k miles when the third renewal comes up.

[edthefed]

60k miles is the point at which the one off annual premium can go up.

The wife's X1 has cost the same £403 fully comp / breakdown cover / £250 excess for the last two years. Ive just renewed it and the mileage is 59100. Price is still £403 for the same cover.
Next renewal it is likely to be an increase as it will have done 70,000 miles on it.

The annual premium is considerably cheaper than paying monthly

It used to be the case that if you paid monthly before reaching 60,000 miles then you simply kept paying the same amount ad infinitum once over 60,000 however some people are reporting that the monthly premium increases after 60,000 now a days

[sortedcossie]

MitchT said:

Does that effectively mean that you'll get another year of manufacturer's warranty as long as it hasn't ticked past 60k come renewal time, even if it's not far off 60k? I've seen an approved used BMW with 44k miles on it. If I do 5k miles per year then I'll be on 59k miles when the third renewal comes up.

yeah, that's correct it'll get another year of manufacturers warranty. Oddly mines just done 59,100 like the reply above.

[Fox-]

MitchT said:

I've noticed there's some mention of 60k miles in this discussion. When I look at the documentation for the BMW warranty when purchased independently, it talks about 100k miles so, would it be reasonable of me to make the following assumptions...

• If you buy a brand new or approved used BMW you get a manufacturer's warranty which can be renewed on expiry until the car has done 60k miles, then any subsequent renewals will be the insurance backed warranty which can be renewed up to 100k miles.

• If you buy a BMW from outside the BMW dealer network you can buy the insurance backed warranty for it and this can be renewed up to 100k miles.

Can anyone confirm?

The only significance of 60k miles is the price changes.

From my experience, all renewals to either an expiring 3 year new car or an approved used car warranty have been the insurance based product, the product was the same regardless of mileage until 100k miles.

[nickfrog]

If the car is outside BMW warranty (either original or extended/Allianz) then you can't claim for the first 30 days.

It will be significantly more expensive than if it had been uninterrupted too.

I didn't know the price went down in the second year though (presumably to the price of cars with uninterrupted cover). This hasn't been my experience but I only did it once and a few years ago.