Warranty or not to warranty that is the question?

[Vito]

Hi All
We all have CSL’s some Black some SG all built in 2003 some reg. date 03 or 04 and all various mileages. But now all our cars are out of manufacturer’s warranty for some time now and BMW encourage us to take out extended cover. I am due to update my warranty in about 2 weeks and what I am looking for is some feedback on other people’s experiences. I am for NO WE DONT NEED IT depending on millage and track work unless someone can convince me otherwise.
My car is a 12/03 build and reg. date 04 with FBMWSH and 36k. It has just been taxed, mot, oil service, brake fluid change and had the coil springs dune under warranty.
We buy BMW for a reason that is why we pay a premium to drive such a car. They are meant to be reliable and bullet proof the CSL was £58k new. We get them serviced at an approved dealer bang on time to keep the history spot on we pay the big labour charges. Our cars are only about 6 years old now and I know every car has a very different life from track cars to garage queens but are BMW trying to tell us that after 6 years they have no confidence in their product. Even when we take it to them to be serviced etc it’s like we have to insure the insured what’s next.
Let’s take the comprehensive cover at an annual price of £835 with £100 excess so in a year any claim will cost me £935 in total so it’s going to have to be well over that to justify it sorry I just can’t see it.
Take my recent claim coil springs I was told about £350 supplied and fitted I would have saved nearly £600 that year. The way I see it is my car will always be serviced at BMW so forget the warranty and that will pay for a full set of tyres. I know some of you might say what about resale value well we all know as long as you keep up the servicing you can start the warranty back up again at any time granted for about £200 extra I think. Maybe I will when my car is older with more miles but with 36k I can’t see the point. I put a warranty on my wife’s 997 C2 cost £1400 never again what a waste of money.
I even thought as I have the comprehensive cover it was just like the manufactures but no it does not cover trim etc. This is my second CSL my first was 18 months old with 10k when I got it. I had new steering wheel, kick plates, CSL side grills and roof rails all done under warranty no questions but now even if they were needing done the warranty will not cover them.
So to sum this up apart from peace of mind and higher millage cars also car that do track work YES get a warranty. But road cars with lower miles but still get driven like they are built for I say NO WARRANTY you just don’t need it. Maybe from this we can find a point at age or miles that is a good idea to have a warranty but for example why spend nearly £1000 on a car with FSH with low miles.
Maybe I am wrong if so please post back and let me know if your warranty has ever justified it’s self how many of us have wasted thousands for nothing that can go towards new tyres ,service or insurance but I think till then keep your cash and take advantage of BMW start again anytime warranty and keep your money.
I might post again in a year a happy man just saved nearly £1000 or maybe crying you know what they say high risks high reward.
Regards Vito
Thanks for any input

[Bounce]

I have always had the warranty,on my M3 and now the CSL.In one year on the M3 which was on roughly 45k miles,i had 2 new front calipers,new front discs(twice),new rear springs,new altlenator,thermostat,brake hose,and a few other bits and bobs,add this up and it comes to double the warranty.The CSL is going in soon,for clutch slur.flap not working,and the down shift paddle sometimes plays up.Each to their own,but i always seem to make the warranty pay for its self and more.

[Trawler]

It is down to the individual. Only he or she can decide, based on experience (good/bad), finance, the feel of the car, gut feeling who knows?. I let the original 3 year warranty lapse & never take out extended cover. My car has now done 37k. The previous owner had tracked the car & I continue to do so now & again. If a car had a reputation I would not buy it in the first place (e.g. TVR).

[weedavey]

I was in the same frame of mind as you Vito. I bought the csl with the idea that a fund of money set aside for any mishaps would be better than spending all the money in one spat with every possibility that the car will continue to perform as normal.
Then I come across some stories from other owners of warranty jobs performed. Some of which include things like Vanos replacement and the like the vanos one in particular i think i am correct in saying it was around the 3k mark!
I have now purchased the warranty and have come to the ugly conclusion that is part of the running cost of such a car.
To echo what Bounce said i think when you have this warranty you do "try" to make it worth while...

[Mark CSL]

Where will i start ? ( i know 54000 miles )
I got this total cost 24.5k BMW Warranty

[shimmy]

Well, my experience says that BMW have honoured alot of goodwill on the CSL and seem to continue to do so BUT if your CSL is under 60k miles and is not a garage queen racking up less than 1000k miles a year GET THE BMW WARRANTY

Over 60k miles i think you have to balance the figures and risks a bit closer but i would be still tempted if it was used heavily.

Definitely continue with BMW dealer servicing as a minimum.

[mattCSLnut]

WOW !!! That says it all No arguments there

Originally Posted by mark csl

Where will i start ? ( i know 54000 miles )
I got this total cost 24.5k BMW Warranty

[Bounce]

How much is fully comp warranty when you go over 60k miles[me, next year]

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by BOUNCE

How much is fully comp warranty when you go over 60k miles[me, next year]

Over £1100 + compulsory excess of £250

[Bounce]

Originally Posted by mattCSLnut

Over £1100 + compulsory excess of £250

Are you sure,i heard it was near £1500.