Warranty Dilemma (yes this is spelt right!!)

S

Smudgers

Member
Firstly apparently we have to spell dilemma like that not like dilemna as most of us were taught but that's another post!

I would really appreciate some advice around Warranty Direct. I have spent a reasonable time reading the warranty related posts but am unsure about the following - so please advise!

I have been shopping around and umming and arrring about getting a warranty for my Z4M and my Range Rover Sport.

I've only just bought the Z4M (26,500 miles 07 plate) and it appears to be in very good condition. My other car is a Range Rover Sport 06 plate with 65,000 miles on the clock,

After some discussions with Warranty Direct here is the 'deal' I've negotiated.

1) £1,368 for a 2 year warranty on Z4M or £720 for 1 year (this started as £775 for 1 year)
2) £1,197 for a 2 year warranty on Range Rover Sport or £630 for 1 year (this started as £675 for 1 year)

On top of this they will do an independent inspection of both vehicles FOC (supposedly worth around £135 each) via a company called http://www.scotiavehicleinspection.com I think this of more value to them than me? But anyway I suppose it's piece of mind if nothing else?

According to the warranty Direct website see http://bmw.warrantydirect.co.uk/BMW-extended-warranty.html?gclid=CJv487P6nLICFcYMfAodai0AMA they cover more including wear and tear and faults found of any parts required to pass at MOT that have failed or broken down.

So my questions are:

1) Has anybody got a policy with Warranty Direct for their BMW or any other car for that matter? If so has your experience been great or bad? Any claims?
2) Has anybody else considered taking out a warranty recently and had same or better cover for cheaper either via warranty direct or another company?
3) Across two performance/prestige vehicles, what are the chances in 2 years of some stuff going wrong costing £2,565 to repair (the total cost for two warranties for a 2 year policy)
4) Are the 'more common' faults expensive and worthj being insured against for piece of mind?
5) Any specific questions I should ask relating to coverage of the Z4M?

All advice gratefully received :thumbsup:
 
Smudgers said:
Firstly apparently we have to spell dilemma like that not like dilemna as most of us were taught but that's another post!
Click to expand...
Never seen it spelt with an 'n' in before - and have always spelt it as 'dilemma' - but that's for another post :P

Only ever had warranty on my M5 and Z4m, but they were both BMW warranties as I couldn't get a straight answer out of the warranty companies of what would/would not be covered as the mileage increased. This may have changed in the last couple of year, but I've never bothered trying again. My assumption has always been that after 60,000 miles the warranty is of half as much use as at 59,999, and then the cover decreases again at 100k miles (to almost nothing).

Mine's almost at 70k miles, and it's getting harder to get the dealer (I've tried few) to spend any time diagnosing niggling faults (such as a seeping cam chest seal that was supposedly fine, but still loses a teaspoon full over the course of 6 months or so). Once I've got this oil leak fixed I'll be stopping my £80/month insured warranty and keeping the cash in my pocket for some little mods (maybe some suspension first - depending on how much the insurance industry decides to rape me for having a flash, modified car in Liverpool).

Edited to add:
Just had a call from the dealer, and the seeping gasket was actually a loose VANOS bolt on the back of the engine (which they fitted 40k miles ago) :headbang:
On the plus side they've also said my diff is a bit noisy and they're applying for warranty authorisation to replace it :thumbsup:
 
I've had warranty direct on my old 3series. Pretty good but they don't half get pissy with you if you make a few claims. They still paid up nicely though
 
it's an insurance policy and as with any other policy, they will not want to pay out unless they really have to.

you're planning on giving them £1350 per year to cover unexpected repairs so you have to ask yourself, what's the chances of you needing anything done.

maybe to help answer that question you should ask yourself what has had to be repaired over the last couple of years (if anything) and use that as a yardstick.

although my experience is just an example, but the mondeo (2007 model year that I had owned for virtually it's whole life) I recently got rid of only ever had servicing done and the clutch replaced (which wouldn't be covered under most extended warranties) so if I had taken out a warranty, I would have been down quite a few quid over the time I had it.

it comes down to the simple fact - are you willing to take a risk on the first year? if you can put the £1350 in the bank and not touch it and leave it there, at the end of twelve months if you've not had to pay for anything, you'll have £1350 towards next years bills and if you add the premium that you would pay that year as well, you'll have £2700 for repair costs and so on and so on.
 
In retrospect I wish I hadn't paid £1k for the bmw warantee, I ended up fixing my engine hestitation problems myself using the forum - my experiences of main dealers is that they don't take the time and care to research a problem and put it right before handing the car back (ie check its fixed).
 
I bought my car recently with a 6 month warranty.
The alarm failed a few weeks ago.
Paid out of my pocket (not cheap) as it wasn't covered under the warranty. :headbang:
Makes me dislike warranties even more.
 
My father in law has warranty direct cover on his e93. I think it only cost him about £300 per year and has paid out 3 times for a recurring fault even though they say they won't pay more than once for the same fault. He seems to be very happy with them.
 
Are you really going to spend £2,500 on repairs on two cars over two years?

TBH I would risk it without, in fact I have. The ///M is a fairly basic car at the end of the day and is fairly DIY friendly. The Range Rover maybe not so but put the cash in the bank and use it if you have to carry out any repairs.
 
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