used car bmw warrenty + mods

[noodle rising]

Hi,

In process of buying a used m240i, 2017 40k miles. Mechanics pre inspection report done and on phone mention it had a Baf back box and poly subframe bushings..?

Do these mean off the bat I cant get a bmw warranty? That it will easily be void? Or could it only void associated works if they were noticed. Ive got nothing in writing so its only the phone call with the mech that highlighted it. I would never have noticed on my own and been completely oblivious.

I was pretty keen on getting the warranty...alternatively warranty is only 500 odd so I could get it for first yr ownership as a backup.

[danb79]

noodle rising said:

Hi,

In process of buying a used m240i, 2017 40k miles. Mechanics pre inspection report done and on phone mention it had a Baf back box and poly subframe bushings..?

Do these mean off the bat I cant get a bmw warranty? That it will easily be void? Or could it only void associated works if they were noticed. Ive got nothing in writing so its only the phone call with the mech that highlighted it. I would never have noticed on my own and been completely oblivious.

I was pretty keen on getting the warranty...alternatively warranty is only 500 odd so I could get it for first yr ownership as a backup.

BMW warranty doesn't cover mods and won't cover them if you add them to your car; more than likely void it

Really it needs to be absolutely OEM for their warranty; more so if it goes in for warranty work, as they'll see mods and then void it

Some folk have had no issues; others have only had issues. It's luck of the draw really re the dealer/who you deal with

My F31 had extended fully comp BMW warranty for the 1st 2 years of ownership; had 3 lots of work done over 2 claims and then nothing after that. 3rd, final lot of work was done after I'd done a full suspension overhaul with all OE spec arms/bushes etc - but I fitted Bilstein B4S shocks with Eibach pro kit springs (OEM top mounts, bump stops, dust boots etc used) and Bowker BMW didn't blink an eye

[MitchT]

There's no mechnicam in place to stop you buying a BMW warranty for a modded car, but the Ts&Cs suggest that it wouldn't pay out, even if your claim is unrelated to the mods. I'm after a 440i and I've been researching it carefully in case the right car comes up outside the BMW network. I definitely want the BMW warranty so any mods at all and I'm out.

The BMW Insured Warranty handbooks can be downloaded here: https://www.bmw-warranty.co.uk/policy-information#...

[noodle rising]

thanks guys.

funnily enough, i just got as call back from bmw warranty department. the guy said basically they were okay mods and to just click the button saying it hadn't been modified.

Obviously he stated any related issues to those mods that are not approved bmw parts wouldn't be covered, but it wouldn't affect other works. Appears they're most concerned about engine mods, tuning, turbos etc. He said there's bits about it in the manual but strange they give such a black and white option when trying to buy.

[D4MJT]

noodle rising said:

thanks guys.

funnily enough, i just got as call back from bmw warranty department. the guy said basically they were okay mods and to just click the button saying it hadn't been modified.

Obviously he stated any related issues to those mods that are not approved bmw parts wouldn't be covered, but it wouldn't affect other works. Appears they're most concerned about engine mods, tuning, turbos etc. He said there's bits about it in the manual but strange they give such a black and white option when trying to buy.

I’d be very very wary of this advice. The guy is basically saying tick a box to say the car is unmodified and then pay for the warranty, whilst also saying that any issues related to those mods wouldn’t be covered. In the event of any parts failure on the rear subframe BMW will say that increased wear has occurred due to harsher bushings being fitted etc.

I would also suggest that it’s very unlikely the car hasn’t been mapped if the previous owner has gone to the effort of having polybushes fitted to the subframe etc. These are ridiculously easy cars to get an extra 100bhp from with a simple flash map.

You can get them to do a health check on the car and determine if it’s been mapped, as soon as it’s plugged into BMW’s ISTA diagnostics software it will flag up immediately if it’s been mapped.

With all of that said, I wouldn’t let it put me off buying the car, I just personally wouldn’t waste the money on the warranty. They’re pretty much bulletproof drivetrain wise. I have a 2017 M140i that’s been sat at 630bhp for some time now, I’ve had it from new and it’s got 95k miles on the clock, engine still hasn’t been opened. They’re very strong.

I’d save your money and put it away for potential repairs rather than go the warranty route.

[noodle rising]

appreciate the advice. Ill have to think about it. Luckily I can afford repairs etc and not stretching myself to buy this so its not the end of the world if something does go wrong but would prefer to be covered!

[noodle rising]

Im just wondering re distance selling rules and rights.

I had a mechanic check it over but he was unable to test drive due to not having proof of his insurance. My intention had been to get it delivered following mechanic test drive. So I then though id have to go up, test drive it and drive it back. Its 5hrs away.

Would I actually be better protected under distance selling regs if I still got them to deliver it? What exactly does the distance selling allow me to do? Return within X days, within which i could have got it inspected and driven by a local specialist on their ramps?

[rottenegg]

Don't waste your money on the warranty. A 2017 plate with only 40K on it won't need any cover. Just wait until it has 99,999 miles on it and THEN get the comprehensive warranty.

Just don't blow it up with a dog sheet map in the meantime. It's a Gen 1 B58 on a 2017 isn't it? Or is it Gen 2? Just injectors to worry about on Gen 1s.

As above, don't trust the "those mods are fine" advice. As Dan says, no mods at all. Same with BMW Flex insurance. They just will not entertain ANY mods what so ever, not even electrical ones, so no iDrive upgrades, no ghost immobilisers, nothing.

[mmm-five]

My previous AUC from BMW came with non-BMW mods (some aftermarket gearbox coding and aftermarket towbar)...but they still put the AUC warranty on it and paid out when it needed something doing.

However, for my latest AUC BMW, I mentioned the low level nav system it has and suggested I might want to swap it out for a higher tier BMW system (that was offered on that age of vehicle), and I was told that as long as it was genuine BMW parts they wouldn't have an issue...not sure I'd want to test it though.

[rottenegg]

It generally goes one of two ways..... 1) You get lucky and the dealer just does the work and bills BMW, or 2) a jobsworth dealer looks up the factory build sheet, spots something not on it, then declines the claim. And then you have a battle on your hands.

[noodle rising]

yeah he went a bit quiet when I asked for it in writing!

good news the mech is going back tomorrow to test drive so if all good Ill purchase and have it delivered. I may get it up on a lift at local specialist and see if they can find what mods are on it first!

thanks all.

[VeeTenM]

If there is an exhaust issue then this wont be covered by the warranty....then again they might say such and such was caused by the exhaust to wriggle out of a claim or just get you to pay for a new back box. I doubt the bushes will do much.

If the car is an AUC car and give you a warranty then I guess they should cover everything in that, if its non-BMW then guess different story.

Edited by VeeTenM on Wednesday 5th March 21:47

[Dannbodge]

When I had BMW warranty on my 335i, I was told that mods were allowed but if they contributed to the failure or were part of a failure then it wouldn't be covered by warranty.

EG coilovers and polybushes wouldn't affect a turbocharger claim.

[noodle rising]

Thanks all, car arrived!

Quick question, Ive got it booked in at an indy mechanic on Monday to check over and some precautionary service items. Does it look like its been lowered/ not stock suspension to anyone?

Cheers

[D4MJT]

noodle rising said:

Thanks all, car arrived!

Quick question, Ive got it booked in at an indy mechanic on Monday to check over and some precautionary service items. Does it look like its been lowered/ not stock suspension to anyone?

Cheers

Congrats, looks a nice car, the best colour although I'm biased..

Hard to say as it doesn't look like the grounds particuarly level where it's parked. The front potentially looks slightly low to me but not a million miles away. If it's useful I'll dig out a photo of mine from collection day, as stock as a stock thing.

[D4MJT]

I'd say it's slightly lowered yeah. Has it got spacers fitted?







If you are concerned about warranty, I would absolutely get a decent independent to check the car on ISTA, it will immediately pop up and tell you if it's had engine tuning at any point, even if it's been put back to standard for sale. If that's the case then any drivetrain claims would be void immediately so you may as well save your money on paying for a warranty.

I only say that as subframe bushes / inserts and suspension stuff would usually indicate other fettling as well, especially when it's so easy to get a good chunk more performance from these engines.

[noodle rising]

thanks, yeah, looks slightly lowered to me also. Yep, i'm gonna ask the garage to check all that so i know where im at insurance wise as well!

[D4MJT]

noodle rising said:

thanks, yeah, looks slightly lowered to me also. Yep, i'm gonna ask the garage to check all that so i know where im at insurance wise as well!

Good plan. An easy indicator if the car has been mapped is often to check the sport displays on the iDrive, the stock gauges show a peak of 400hp, however if it's been mapped these are normally (not always) increased to reflect the extra power on top.

If yours show anything more than 400 it's been tuned. You may need to fiddle with "units" in the iDrive settings to get HP, as I think they're KW by default iirc.

[noodle rising]

D4MJT said:

Good plan. An easy indicator if the car has been mapped is often to check the sport displays on the iDrive, the stock gauges show a peak of 400hp, however if it's been mapped these are normally (not always) increased to reflect the extra power on top.

amazing thanks, got some photos from underneath, assume the black band next to disc is a spacer?

Looks like its got eibach springs as well

Nice of the dealer to not spot or highlight ANY of these!

odd the front spark plug coil pack is so clean vs others.

Edited by noodle rising on Friday 14th March 11:07

[noodle rising]

D4MJT said:

sport displays on the iDrive, the stock gauges show a peak of 400hp,

Do you mean this screen?