[mandalyn]

Originally Posted by pruettfan

Sorry.

In reading your concerns my advice would be to just set aside some money in a savings account for the time that your car exceeds the 100,000 miles. My guess is between 100,000 and 150,000 you may be pretty safe. I am thinking that if a major component is going to fail it will likely do so before 100,000 or much later. Don't worry about all the dooms day scenarios of component failures. They are possible but at the same time are worst case scenarios.

Make sure when you are dealing with the dealership you understand what the maintenance plan will pay for and won't as it is not a warranty. Your car is CPO so you are well covered for repairs. Maintenance can be done much cheaper than at a dealership. Many of us change our own oil or order a kit from Tischer and pay a local shop 20 bucks to do the work. Air filters are a rip off at dealerships. They charge 140 bucks for a $30 filter my 10 year old could change in 10 minutes. I would take the 2 grand you would pay for the maintenance and put it in savings, add a 100 bucks a month and I am pretty sure you will be able to meet all of your needs for maintenance and repairs.

No worries =).

I've been reading different things about the extended warranties through BMW. I'm not really worried about the easy stuff. I've done basic stuff to my past vehicles like changing the oil, rotating the tires, etc. I've done a few other things like changing an alternator, but that was on a 97 Grand Cherokee. I'm sure my car is much different in that aspect. The extended powertrain that I already have seems to cover alot of the big ticket items. I do like the idea of the gold package, but if I can get coverage cheaper through an independent company for the second 50K then I may go that way. And the savings account for over 100K is definitely something I am going to do.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

I have the extended MAINTENANCE. Just past the 4 years I started having issue swith it starting. First time to the shop they said my battery was dead, charged me an hour of labor and charged the battery. Worked fine for about 10 days, then dead again. I wanted to replace teh battery, but couldn't get teh mess of positive terminal wires off, so returned the battery and got it to the dealer again. This time they replaced the positive side and charged the battery again, to the tune of $400. About a week later, dead again. I had AAA jump me, and the guy gave me a printout showing 11 volts charging (should be 14) so I KNEW the real problem all along was the alternator. But they convinced me it was the battery (not covered under extended maintenance) for about $350 installed. Worked great for about 2 weeks then it was back to teh dealer. They THEN finally found it was a bad alternator. My family friend is my SA, so he got BMWNA to cover that under warranty, or it was $1400 just for the part, plus probably 3 hours labor.

$1400 to replace an alternator?

I still have the file for my 1991 300ZX. That car cost $32K new. Alternator went and it cost me $265 for the part and $80 labor to install. In 18 years this has jumped 400%? I don't believe modern alternators are that much more sophisticated, but obvious labor rates are higher. I think its the book rate nonsense that gets us, BMW says 3 hours for a job that takes the tech 1 hour to complete. We pay for 3.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by asabesan

I have a 2007 328xi coupe with 42000 miles. I was able to get a extended warranty from carchex (alpha warranty service) for 7 years from now and 120000 miles total for $2800. Includeds everything even nav and electronics. Backed by BBB

I'm not sure "backed by BBB" is correct terminology. Maybe the BBB has recognized them and gave them some certification, but thats it. Anyway, I put little credence in the BBB as they have often been found to be worthless. I would ask who underwrites them in your state and check the rating of that company. All of these policies are insurance and the insurance companies are rated by various rating services such as AM Best.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by faz

If you read the terms of various warranties and what they cover and what they don't cover, and read stories of people who have had to deal with various warranty claims and the number of times they were refused or not paid in full, especially given you already have a CPO warranty that covers the 'expensive' stuff... you will probably want to forget about additional warranty on top of what you already have, and just save the money and find an honest independent BMW repair person in your area to work with if/when needed.

Definitely read the extended policy carefully. They typically have many exclusions and sometimes only cover certain expensive items if the failure occurred a certain way.....

I just came out of a 3 year Warranty Direct top of the line policy (Secure+ or whatever its called). Overall I would give them a C+ in their performance. The first 2 years went OK. A couple service visits and they agreed to repairs with the dealer via telephone authorization. The final year was pretty bad. Two visits to the dealer and both times the car sat for days while they waited for WD to send an adjuster to look at it. Neither repair was particularly expensive and both were fairly common items for the E46. Both times WD tried to nickel and dime and didn't want to cover certain things, wanted to use aftermarket parts (they actually wanted to send aftermarket lower control arm bushings and an aftermarket power window motor). They started to refuse dealer issued rental car payments even though they took days to send the adjuster. Lots of fighting with them and let me tell you when they decide NO, the answer is NO and won't change no matter how nice you are or persistent you become.

And, from what I understand from my SA, WD is one of the better companies to deal with.
My 2 cents.

[mandalyn]

Originally Posted by claykin

Definitely read the extended policy carefully. They typically have many exclusions and sometimes only cover certain expensive items if the failure occurred a certain way.....

I just came out of a 3 year Warranty Direct top of the line policy (Secure+ or whatever its called). Overall I would give them a C+ in their performance. The first 2 years went OK. A couple service visits and they agreed to repairs with the dealer via telephone authorization. The final year was pretty bad. Two visits to the dealer and both times the car sat for days while they waited for WD to send an adjuster to look at it. Neither repair was particularly expensive and both were fairly common items for the E46. Both times WD tried to nickel and dime and didn't want to cover certain things, wanted to use aftermarket parts (they actually wanted to send aftermarket lower control arm bushings and an aftermarket power window motor). They started to refuse dealer issued rental car payments even though they took days to send the adjuster. Lots of fighting with them and let me tell you when they decide NO, the answer is NO and won't change no matter how nice you are or persistent you become.

And, from what I understand from my SA, WD is one of the better companies to deal with.
My 2 cents.

See this is exactly what I was wanting to know about WD. Everything I read is that they are the #1 rated, but I don't want to deal with a company that is going to try to skimp out on a claim. I know they are in the business to make money, but if I shell out money for a service I expect to get my money's worth. Do you think if I called around to some of the independent mechanics and talked to them about warranty companies that they would be honest about what it is like dealing with them from their end of the spectrum?

[I335]

mandalyn, don't confuse an extended warranty program with an extended maintenance program - they are 2 different things. With an extended warranty, no maintenance is covered (brakes, oil changes, wiper blades, fluids, etc.) - those are the types of things covered by extended maintenance. The extended warranty basically covers you for things that break, not things that wear out or have regular replacement intervals. IMHO, an extended warranty may be worth the money as it could end up saving you a lot if you have a major transmission or engine problem. The extended maintenance program is only valuable if you can be sure that you'll need some of the big ticket maintenance items done in the near future such as brakes. However, you can get your maintenance done at an independent BMW repair shop for MUCH less than the dealer would charge (including bigger maintenance items such as brakes) and I'd recommend having the maintenance done that way and simply pay as you go instead of paying up front. Always remember that dealers sell these extended plans because they make money on them. It's highly unlikely that'll be cheaper for you in the long run. But again, the only exception would be if you buy the extended warranty and you have a major failure within that time. Good luck in your research and let us know what you decide!

[punky8d]

Originally Posted by asabesan

I have a 2007 328xi coupe with 42000 miles. I was able to get a extended warranty from carchex (alpha warranty service) for 7 years from now and 120000 miles total for $2800. Includeds everything even nav and electronics. Backed by BBB

Sorry for OP resurrection.....

WarrantyDirect is also BBB backed.. I don't know what to get..
So, have you tried any claims with them??
Are they any good at all..
I'm currently 49,200mi.. Need to have one before I go beyond 50k..

Help..

[John 070]

Originally Posted by claykin

$1400 to replace an alternator?

I still have the file for my 1991 300ZX. That car cost $32K new. Alternator went and it cost me $265 for the part and $80 labor to install. In 18 years this has jumped 400%? I don't believe modern alternators are that much more sophisticated, but obvious labor rates are higher. I think its the book rate nonsense that gets us, BMW says 3 hours for a job that takes the tech 1 hour to complete. We pay for 3.

I'm planning on doing a 7/100 like I've said, just too much potential for $$$ repairs....

I have a 12 y.o. Nissan and I've seen prices steadily rise (I used to always use OEM with a 25-30% discount I could live with it). But stuff like a foglight was $185 list, so I went eBay new for $47 shipped. Aftermarket water pump (priced out in advance although it's still fine knock on wood) is about $48. Brake pads OEM front were once $37 discount, but I believe they're pushing $58 now--that's not a small increase either.

BMW is just outrageously priced for everything, c'mon we've seen oil changes for over $160 on the forum, and batteries for $500?

again, I think extended warranties and maintenance are part of the business model--these are items that are a tough sell on a Japanese car. BMW makes sure they're easy to sell as dealership associates' livelihoods depend on service and the need for it....

p.s.--guess what, I just went to the web to see what the price on the fog lamp is today--it's $226 or $241 depending on right or left. This means that with a discount today, we pay what the list price was just 2 years ago. Nissan has got game! Brake pads are $82 list now, up $30 in about 5 years.

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by punky8d

Sorry for OP resurrection.....

WarrantyDirect is also BBB backed.. I don't know what to get..
So, have you tried any claims with them??
Are they any good at all..
I'm currently 49,200mi.. Need to have one before I go beyond 50k..

Help..

BBB simply keeps track of actions by consumers against business on offers a forum for complaints. They don't "back" anything and nor do they regulate businesses in any form. The main idea is that that the consumer feels better spending money if he/she knows that problems past consumers have had are a matter of public record. But, overall, the BBB offers you little in the way of real protections and should certainly not be seen as a safety net.

[Frosty]

...I bought the BMW extended warranty 6/100K and I have never regretted it. I have utilized it for a number of things (albiet I have a 335i (E92))

~Frost

[John 070]

Originally Posted by Frosty

...I bought the BMW extended warranty 6/100K and I have never regretted it. I have utilized it for a number of things (albiet I have a 335i (E92))

~Frost

Good to hear because many of us are not normally for extended warranties, but would not want to make a foolish decision in not getting it, based on irrationally hoping that our "335" wont need anything and our warranty $$$ is wasted...

[BMW_335I]

My BMW dealership is pushing ServiceShield extended warranty. My 335I is still under factory warranty till December then covered under CPO for two more years.

CPO coves all the major components including turbos...

[JPA]

Just make sure you get what is called an "exclusionary policy". what this means is that they cover everything except a few listed parts which are wear items and tiny things like bolts and washers. Other "named component" policies only cover the components named in the contract, and there are a lot that are not. Again these are very complex machines.

AutoChex is a broker they work with multiple insurance providers and will present you with the options. No affiliation personally. I have spent $3-4 thousand for 7/100000 coverage and had everything that ever went wrong covered on my A6 covered, which totaled in excess of 8k. Be advised for any repair over $1000 they will send an adjuster to make sure it is a legitimate claim, which will result in having to wait an extra day or two. There is a lot of fraud which we all pay for.

Long story short, get an exclusionary policy from a highly rated company and ask for discounts -- you would be surprised how often simply asking for a discount will actually result in a lower cost. If they are trying to pressure you on the phone walk away, if they are legit they will give you a couple days to think things over.

Regards,
John

[punky8d]

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

BBB simply keeps track of actions by consumers against business on offers a forum for complaints. They don't "back" anything and nor do they regulate businesses in any form. The main idea is that that the consumer feels better spending money if he/she knows that problems past consumers have had are a matter of public record. But, overall, the BBB offers you little in the way of real protections and should certainly not be seen as a safety net.

Yeah.. I'm just responding to the following:

Originally Posted by asabesan

I have a 2007 328xi coupe with 42000 miles. I was able to get a extended warranty from carchex (alpha warranty service) for 7 years from now and 120000 miles total for $2800. Includeds everything even nav and electronics. Backed by BBB

It sucks actually.. I'm short on budget to put up $2,400 and my freaking mileage is already 49,200!!

Another thing is that I slightly moded my car.. it would be a pain to take it off... Sheeesh WTF... I'm torn and confused..

Haaay I guess I onw't use the car for a while just to go with BMW extended warranty...

[number335]

Anyone have experience with EasyCare? I've read that some bmw dealers recommend this independent warranty company if you don't go with their extended warranty.

http://www.easycare.com/

[SCA]

Originally Posted by number335

Anyone have experience with EasyCare? I've read that some bmw dealers recommend this independent warranty company if you don't go with their extended warranty.

http://www.easycare.com/

I have it. Purchased it at the end of 2009, but have yet to need it.

[punky8d]

I'm thinking of going to Warranty Direct because of their monthly payments.. I'm not sure about that though.. Anyone had any experience about making claims with them?
I've searched and read some horror stories and some have good ones so, I'm torn...
Any good 3rd party ones?

[Pretender]

Originally Posted by punky8d

I'm thinking of going to Warranty Direct because of their monthly payments.. I'm not sure about that though.. Anyone had any experience about making claims with them?
I've searched and read some horror stories and some have good ones so, I'm torn...
Any good 3rd party ones?

I had Warranty Direct for almost 5 years now and it will expire when my 330 hits 100kmile (within this year). If I could start over again, I WOULD NOT get an extended warranty or at least from them. Why? Their cost of fixing is pain in the ass. They'd rather use third party parts for cheaper prices than the OEM parts and BMW dealers don't replace non-OEM parts. The result is: you pay out of pocket for the difference if you want the repairs done by the dealer which I prefer.
Here is my break down cost:
- Warranty Direct California BMI, $0 deducible, 6yrs/100kmiles: $2200
- Paid out of pocket so far: ~$400
- Stress over the phone for part price negotiations: priceless (pain in the ass for me)
So total: $2600.
- The invoices from dealers for 2 repairs: $2800 (gaskets, starters, some hoses, bolts and bullsh.it consumable parts that dealer listed in the invoices).

Once again your BMW usually won't break down until it hits over 70-78kmiles and usually they're minor repairs like I listed above which would be cheaper to have these done in the third-party repair shops.

My advice to you: put that money in a CD or saving account and let your butt enjoys the Ultimate Driving Machine for now.