Warranty - Null & Void due to modifications

[dpsoden]

Originally Posted by lawsy

May I ask why you told them you had these parts fitted?

If you did not say a word they would be non the wiser.

I wanted to be sure that if I was spending £1,200 on a warranty that BMW could not get out of it at a later stage claiming it was invalid for x, y & z reasons.

It started because the car has had one Insp II from Simpsons and I wanted confirmation that the warranty would not be invalid as a result.

I understood that modifications would not be covered, that was never initially the question. It was a bit of a surprise to find out that they would not offer a warranty at all, irrespective of the service history.

Had I not informed them and just bought the warranty, it would be worthless in any event?

[glendog74]

Originally Posted by dpsoden

Have a 53k mile CSL with AP Brakes and, previously, Intrax 1k2 suspension.

Originally Posted by dpsoden

the car has had one Insp II from Simpsons

Ahh, is that Kevin Bird's old car? Sounds familiar

[dpsoden]

Originally Posted by glendog74

Ahh, is that Kevin Bird's old car? Sounds familiar

The very same

[glendog74]

A good car

[Great Pretender]

Originally Posted by bromers

"an insured vehicle that has been subject to alterations, has had experimental equipment fitted or has in any way been modified from BMW's approved specification"

It also says :

"an insured vehicle used for courier or private hire services, TRACK DAYS, off road use, competitions or racing of any kind"

I must respectfully challenge this (at least with regards to the current/new warranty provisions).

Upon reading the terms of the BMW AUC Warranty (which typically I don't have here) I seem to recall that the exact wording of such explicitly excludes the use of the car for 'private hire', 'competition' or 'timed events on a race circuit', but not 'track days'.

The wording is very similar to that of the Porsche warranty which I was unfortunate enough to fall foul of. It's very cleverly worded, but explicitly excluding a car such as a GT3 from track use is ludicrous. Similarly BMW don't explicitly exclude "track days" per se from their warranty; the assumption being that the words, "track day" are in themselves, too vague and could cover anything from a show 'n shine event to all-out racing with the clocks switched off. Apart from which, what's to say that you couldn't extend the car as hard on the public road (read, repeated 0-VMAX-0 runs on the autobahn) as you could on the track?

Nevertheless, the wording of the warranty is open to interpretation and ultimately, should BMW UK feel they have a strong enough argument, you face the guantlet of battling them through the courts, which as I discovered with Porsche, is not something you take on lightly.

I could of course be talking total bollocks

[DuncanR]

Originally Posted by Great Pretender

I could of course be talking total bollocks

Thats my job around here ! I've spent years perfecting the art !

[DuncanR]

Originally Posted by Great Pretender

I must respectfully challenge this (at least with regards to the current/new warranty provisions).

Upon reading the terms of the BMW AUC Warranty (which typically I don't have here) I seem to recall that the exact wording of such explicitly excludes the use of the car for 'private hire', 'competition' or 'timed events on a race circuit', but not 'track days'.

The wording is very similar to that of the Porsche warranty which I was unfortunate enough to fall foul of. It's very cleverly worded, but explicitly excluding a car such as a GT3 from track use is ludicrous. Similarly BMW don't explicitly exclude "track days" per se from their warranty; the assumption being that the words, "track day" are in themselves, too vague and could cover anything from a show 'n shine event to all-out racing with the clocks switched off. Apart from which, what's to say that you couldn't extend the car as hard on the public road (read, repeated 0-VMAX-0 runs on the autobahn) as you could on the track?

Nevertheless, the wording of the warranty is open to interpretation and ultimately, should BMW UK feel they have a strong enough argument, you face the guantlet of battling them through the courts, which as I discovered with Porsche, is not something you take on lightly.

I could of course be talking total bollocks

Simon, Bromers extract from the warranty pages is spot on, for "his" particular warranty, and indeed mine, however, if they have changed the wording in the newer one, thats the one that applies to you. Until BMW officially send me another set of T&C's, im stuck with the following, which is pretty clear...and is exactly why I use Murketts.

[bromers]

I've had 4 weeks of discussions dealer/HO/warranty now and absolutely no joy at all.

Now stuck with a car that's had nearly 4k spent on it, still in bits, warranty people not paying up for any of it, no goodwill, potential new engine needed. All because it had been noted on a previous service it had a non std exhaust fitted - car was back to standard before warranty taken out too !!

Seems to me they are getting really tough on claims - took them 2 weeks of 'hunting' around to get evidence not to pay out.

[bromers]

Originally Posted by grumps

Why don't you talk to milltec and see what they say! And in all the years i've been working on cars i've never had a problem with a modified exhaust causing engine failure unless the monolith breaks up! And one more thing how do bmw sell modified cars and warranty them! as when i was buying mine i found a few dealers selling with warranty and retro fits ; Exhausts,suspension and brakes, Might be worth checking the dealers forecourts for upgraded cars.
P.s Don't yeild! and good luck.

I mentioned that to them today, saw an M5 with aftermarket exhaust on for sale on AUC. Apparently BMW cover the first year of an extended warranty and then it goes to Mondial the year after if extended. They said they wouldn't warrant that car - ever because of the exhaust.

[shane@mbtech]

Originally Posted by bromers

I've had 4 weeks of discussions dealer/HO/warranty now and absolutely no joy at all.

Now stuck with a car that's had nearly 4k spent on it, still in bits, warranty people not paying up for any of it, no goodwill, potential new engine needed. All because it had been noted on a previous service it had a non std exhaust fitted - car was back to standard before warranty taken out too !!

Seems to me they are getting really tough on claims - took them 2 weeks of 'hunting' around to get evidence not to pay out.

Just drag it out of there, get it across to us we will have a look for you.
Dont pay them a penny either.