BMW extended warranty expired

[Argyll Andy]

Hi, I’ve tried searching for an answer on the forum to save asking this but couldn’t find an answer to my question.

The car I’ve recently purchased has been under BMW extended warranty since it could be and that has expired.

I’m unsure whether to renew it, replace it or do nothing and stick the money in the bank.

One of my main concerns is the roof on my E89. This style of roof is completely new to me and my worry is if something goes wrong with it and how expensive that may be to fix.

Realistically my nearest roof specialist/Indy would be in Glasgow which is 2 hrs away. Got RAC so could get it transported ok.

While searching on here I’ve seen people say BMW warranty a no brainier/so-so/don’t touch/ use private warranty company.

There’s a current thread running about problem with an E89 roof and BMW warranty.

Is this a regular thing? Is the roof not fully covered under BMW warranty?

I’ve seen Warranty Direct being proposed as an alternative quite a few times but their reviews on the net didn’t look great and I can’t see any mention of the roof being covered in any of their blurb.

Warranty from BMW is £613 p.a. £100 excess

Car is a 59 plate 23i (no iDrive) pretty well stock so nothing concerning me about not complying with warranty T&C’s. Has FSH and just been fully serviced.

Will do between 6-10k a year and it will be driven as it’s meant to be when getting used. Won’t be my daily.

Thanks in advance

 

[Smartbear]

Hi, the level of service seems to vary massively depending on the competence of the dealer concerned.
If you’re roof/indi guy seems to know what he’s doing I’d be sticking with him & saving the bmw warranty money down the back of the sofa
Rob

 

[maxman]

I have the same car as you have,the only complicated bit is the roof as you say.I had a Hall sensor replaced at a bmw indie ,cost was £360.Personally I would save the money for a rainy day if needed.

 

[Jembo]

Warranties on new cars in my experience have been excellent, though have all been for very minor things.

However, I take the view any extended warranty work which is normally more extensive, irrespective where done, will have the provider under pressure to do as cheaply as possible by the warranty co.

I’d suggest if your car is garaged, you do a little preventative medicine yourself (rustblocker, extra lubrication etc...) then save the money & employ a recommended Indy to fix anything that happens... if it’s left outside, then a warranty may be money well spent

 

[ronk]

I bought the BMW insured warranty it was £425 with a £250 excess.
I wasn't sure if to buy or not but it includes a pan Euro cover so i put it all down to an an additional holiday expense.

 

[Argyll Andy]

Warranties on new cars in my experience have been excellent, though have all been for very minor things.

However, I take the view any extended warranty work which is normally more extensive, irrespective where done, will have the provider under pressure to do as cheaply as possible by the warranty co.

I’d suggest if your car is garaged, you do a little preventative medicine yourself (rustblocker, extra lubrication etc...) then save the money & employ a recommended Indy to fix anything that happens... if it’s left outside, then a warranty may be money well spent

Car will definitely be kept outside in all the glorious things Scottish weather has to throw at it!! It’s also been outside for the last 4years at least I believe.

Hi, the level of service seems to vary massively depending on the competence of the dealer concerned.
If you’re roof/indi guy seems to know what he’s doing I’d be sticking with him & saving the bmw warranty money down the back of the sofa
Rob

I don’t have an Indy yet for BMW. The one I used previously for roof issues was in Glasgow but was a SAAB specialist only. All SAAB techs don’t know if they’d do E89 or more importantly have any experience with them.

There is a company called B 4 BMW who seem to get decent reviews and are a Celtic Tuning agent but not used them personally before.

I bought the BMW insured warranty it was £425 with a £250 excess.
I wasn't sure if to buy or not but it includes a pan Euro cover so i put it all down to an an additional holiday expense.

That’s may something to consider. Higher excess only then relevant if I do need to use it

 

[Argyll Andy]

I have the same car as you have,the only complicated bit is the roof as you say.I had a Hall sensor replaced at a bmw indie ,cost was £360.Personally I would save the money for a rainy day if needed.

Is that one of the more expensive/regular to go items?

My main concern is absolutely no one locally to even attempt looking at a roof issue

 

[Silverstar]

Personally I would put the 600 odd quid in my pocket and save it in case one day the car needs a repair and if it does go to a good indie and not a franchised dealer. If you think about it, if nothing goes wrong in 2 years you will have around 1200 quid in 3 years 1800 which at an Indie would be more then enough for most repairs and if nothing goes wrong then you are quids in. Extended warranties are like insurance, most of the time you won't need it. Also take into account the number of things not covered by a warranty and how they try to escape paying and in many cases the excess on each claim you have to pay.

 

[ronk]

The excess is per claim so it's yet another gamble.
The insurance company obviously and necessarily sets the betting odds in their favour so it depends on how lucky or not you feel.

We all buy motor insurance but hope never to use it - I tend to view warranty cover in the same light. Nothing more than back up if the worse happens on a cold wet night miles away from home.

 

[TitanTim]

I wonder though when people advise to save the money than take out a warranty how many would actually do that unless fairly self diciplined and actually save a regular amount to cover potential repairs etc, I doubt many people would and there's always other things to spend spare cash on. The probem is when the gearbox goes, new turbo, etc you think hmmmm wished Id taken a warranty out :roll: . I took BMW's extended warranty out which is £38 a month as I just think anything major is going to be pricey to fix. Of course modern cars profess to be more reiable but their complexity means ££££s to repair. White goods like a TV, fridge etc I would never bother extending a warranty but a car you takes your gamble. if repair costs aren't an issue then why bother with a warranty

Tim.

 

[ronk]

I wonder though when people advise to save the money than take out a warranty how many would actually do that unless fairly self diciplined and actually save a regular amount to cover potential repairs etc,

Tim.

I have to admit to having a “Car Slush Fund”
I bung £100 a month into a Building Society Account - and when I get dribs and drabs of cheques they get dropped in as well - I sends my wife bonkers! She always says why do you bother? I suppose it’s really just a big boys piggy bank. When it comes to buying non Runflats in the spring time that’s where I’ll take the cash from, then it’s not like spending money!

 

[step_change]

These extended warranty "should I/shouldn't I" threads often do the rounds. Only you can decide if you want to take the risk. You may pay for the warranty for five years and never need it once. On the other hand you may take the warranty out and need it straight away.

Last year my extended warranty paid for a suspension electronic damper which would have cost me well in excess of £1000 and also the oil filter housing that cracked, another £480. I thought I had a gearbox leak which is a couple of grand to fix but fortunately it wasn't. It is reassuring to know I have the warranty for £51.50 per month on this complex car, full of [expensive] electronics. I amortise this into my total cost of ownership.

My previous E85 I did not have a warranty and I had crank and camshaft sensors fail, idling sensor and windshield wipers fail (on the M6 at night). Also side window stopped working. Those cost me £880 to put right in the first year. I flogged that car since gremlins started to creep in. A turbo or gearbox failure can run into thousands to put right.

You and you alone have to weight this up. You may be lucky. Maybe not.

 

[step_change]

I wonder though when people advise to save the money than take out a warranty how many would actually do that unless fairly self diciplined and actually save a regular amount to cover potential repairs etc,

Tim.

I have to admit to having a “Car Slush Fund”
I bung £100 a month into a Building Society Account - and when I get dribs and drabs of cheques they get dropped in as well - I sends my wife bonkers! She always says why do you bother? I suppose it’s really just a big boys piggy bank. When it comes to buying non Runflats in the spring time that’s where I’ll take the cash from, then it’s not like spending money!

And when you've spent the money on said tyres that's when you'll have a mechanical and your wife will say good job you have your slush fund Tim, and you'll have to reply that you spent it. Then, my friend, she really will go bonkers....!

 

[maxman]

I have the same car as you have,the only complicated bit is the roof as you say.I had a Hall sensor replaced at a bmw indie ,cost was £360.Personally I would save the money for a rainy day if needed.

Is that one of the more expensive/regular to go items?

My main concern is absolutely no one locally to even attempt looking at a roof issue

Changing the 2 salmon colouerd relays in the boot,cost for the two is about £32 is a little bit of insurance,because if these go wrong then you can have big problems.
I have no info on the cost of pumps etc.

 

[maxman]

Maybe we should have a pole on who has a extended warranty and who has not.

 

[RobbiZ4]

 

[Argyll Andy]

Maybe we should have a pole on who has a extended warranty and who has not.

 

[Silverstar]

My main concern is absolutely no one locally to even attempt looking at a roof issue

Keep the money and invest it in a cheap flight ticket to Glasgow. On that trip all potential and expectable roof issues should be solved in one shot for the next years.

What about flights to Spain, would you come out here if I ever need the roof repaired?

 

[RobbiZ4]

 

[Silverstar]

Keep the money and invest it in a cheap flight ticket to Glasgow. On that trip all potential and expectable roof issues should be solved in one shot for the next years.

What about flights to Spain, would you come out here if I ever need the roof repaired?

Yes, of course. I dont see a bigger difference between driving 8-10 hours in Germany an a flight to spain. Should be an easy negotiation.

Excellent, good to know for the future!