Warranty Advice

UK forum for general and technical discussion about the Z3 roadster
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**Z3**
Joined: Sat 02 Jan, 2010 13:03
Posts: 226

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Torquay

Warranty Advice

Post by **Z3** »

Hello all

I have a dilemma! Despite procrastinating over it for a year I can not come to a "logical" decision....

I currently have a dealer BMW warranty on my Z3 which I have kept going since I bought her second hand - it's a comprehensive warranty so covers pretty much everything other than the obvious perishables.

I'm begrudging paying for the warranty, yet very nervous about giving it up as I know how much parts can cost - I've had a new gearbox, clutch, and steering rack replaced all on warranty!

It's all upto date with servicing etc, what would you do? Give it up and start using local garages thus saving on BMW prices or continue keeping the warranty going?

Appreciate your thoughts?
geminimustang
Joined: Mon 11 Jun, 2012 21:06
Posts: 487

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Wirral

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by geminimustang »

Depends on the cost you're paying ?
**Z3**
Joined: Sat 02 Jan, 2010 13:03
Posts: 226

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Torquay

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by **Z3** »

£492 per year
geminimustang
Joined: Mon 11 Jun, 2012 21:06
Posts: 487

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Wirral

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by geminimustang »

Send your money to me and I'll pay your warranty claims? You're being ripped !!
**Z3**
Joined: Sat 02 Jan, 2010 13:03
Posts: 226

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Torquay

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by **Z3** »

I'm curious why you think that? I had a brand new gear box put in by BMW at a cost of £3000 ( had I not had the warranty), appreciate BMW prices are over inflated but nonetheless the £500 warranty covered it, had I not had it then I'd be forking out a lot even if not done by BMW?
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BladeRunner919
Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
Posts: 2225

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by BladeRunner919 »

While that is true, if you didn't have the warranty you'd have bought a second hand gearbox like the rest of us would.

I'm not really sure what advise you're after given that in the first post you put "I'm begrudging paying for the warranty" and then you defend it when advised to let it go. If you want someone to tell you to keep it going, then keep it going.
Del
Joined: Sat 19 Nov, 2011 18:35
Posts: 2136

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by Del »

The overall benefit of “extended warranties” on any item be it car, TV or washing machine etc. are questionable. Generally, the warranty holders, on a broad average basis, pay out much more in “premiums” than the benefit they ever get back. In other words it is often cheaper to “self-insure”.

Presumably you also have to observe a servicing regime that you might otherwise arrange more cheaply.

The fact that you have had a gearbox fail is unusual and therefore sounds as if you have had benefit. I genuinely think this sort of thing is a very personal decision. Personally, I do not generally go for extended warranties.
gookah
Z Register member
Joined: Thu 07 Aug, 2008 09:51
Posts: 2737

  Z3 roadster 2.8

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by gookah »

.
.
reason to cancel:
**Z3** wrote:I'm begrudging paying for the warranty,
reason to keep it:
**Z3** wrote: I had a brand new gear box put in by BMW at a cost of £3000 ( had I not had the warranty), appreciate BMW prices are over inflated but nonetheless the £500 warranty covered it, had I not had it then I'd be forking out a lot even if not done by BMW?

So were you begrudging it then, or perhaps only when things don't go wrong.?


If you could guarantee things wont go wrong, then cancel it, however as the car is getting older, the repairs are more likely to be required, but also the warranty cost will go up. There will eventually be a value that makes it not worth it, and as you are asking this question, maybe now is that time.
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Z3 1.9 Sport Progress Journal (Wifey's)

I have an element of 'M-styling' on my car, If that's a good enough reason for the manufacturers to adorn a 320 with the M badge, then its certainly a good enough reason for me..
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Dave L2
Joined: Tue 25 Jul, 2006 10:34
Posts: 576

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: North Essex

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by Dave L2 »

Consider opening yourself a new savings account and pay the £495/year into that. Obviously it will take a while for you to be able to afford a £3000 gear box replacement out of that account rather than being covered immediately. But if you don't have any big repairs to spend out on between now and when you eventually give the car up, you'll have a nice little bonus to help buy the replacement.
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TitanTim
Joined: Mon 23 Jun, 2008 18:56
Posts: 5488

  Z3 roadster 1.9i
Location: Stafford

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by TitanTim »

Personally I wouldn't bother with a warranty. If the engine or gearbox went on mine unless I could source secondhand/reconditioned unit then cost would be would be prohibitive over what the cars worth.

Tim.
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2001 Z3 1.9 Roadster Sport - 2012 Z4 sDrive 2.0 M Sport
**Z3**
Joined: Sat 02 Jan, 2010 13:03
Posts: 226

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Torquay

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by **Z3** »

Thanks for all the replies - I agree I have given a positive to keeping the warranty, and also the negative of keeping the warranty - therein is my dilemma for which I was asking for opinions?

It always makes me chuckle when posting that people are quick to pick up on the bad points of a post? Why is this? It's almost as though people are more concerned with pointing out how bad the post was written than answering the original Question? Perhaps it would be more beneficial for replies to be written with a positive spin, or maybe some just love to dwell on negatives?

Anyhow, I diverse somewhat! Thank you to those who did reply, and for seeing the lighter side of the post - as it was intended!
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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
Posts: 3412

  M roadster S50

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by pingu »

If you want a positive spin on an expensive warranty, here goes...

It pays the wages of the warranty manager and he pays his taxes which helps pay for the NHS.

When a broken down BMW without warranty comes in, the service department will negotiate with the man who pays the bill and they will maybe suggest a cheaper way of curing the fault. When a warranty claim comes in, they go yeehah. They can charge BMW the full amount for the repair and can use the profit to allow non-warranty repairs to be discounted.

The profit from the warranties can be used by the service department to buy specialist tools that can be used on non-warranty jobs.

My advice to you is get the warranty as it will allow me to negotiate a discount :D .
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geminimustang
Joined: Mon 11 Jun, 2012 21:06
Posts: 487

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Wirral

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by geminimustang »

Anybody who pays nearly £500 pa for a warranty on a car worth maybe £3k has more money than sense.no positives,as a community of z3 owners who help each other,we need to save this member from himself.Please all add comments which show this Guy, the foolishness of his ways.All isn't lost until he tells us he's paid next years' premium.
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TitanTim
Joined: Mon 23 Jun, 2008 18:56
Posts: 5488

  Z3 roadster 1.9i
Location: Stafford

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by TitanTim »

**Z3** wrote:It always makes me chuckle when posting that people are quick to pick up on the bad points of a post? Why is this? It's almost as though people are more concerned with pointing out how bad the post was written than answering the original Question? Perhaps it would be more beneficial for replies to be written with a positive spin, or maybe some just love to dwell on negatives?
Sorry, I don't understand this bit, is this in relation to your original post? No one was being negative, just that there wouldn't be many that would fork out alot of money for a warranty on an older car that basically isn't worth that much. Doesn't make financial sense.

Tim.
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2001 Z3 1.9 Roadster Sport - 2012 Z4 sDrive 2.0 M Sport
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BladeRunner919
Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
Posts: 2225

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by BladeRunner919 »

TitanTim wrote: Sorry, I don't understand this bit, is this in relation to your original post? No one was being negative, just that there wouldn't be many that would fork out alot of money for a warranty on an older car that basically isn't worth that much. Doesn't make financial sense.
Tim.
No, I didn't get that either. Seems like asking us for opinions then criticising those that said it wasn't worth it makes the original post rather pointless.
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TitanTim
Joined: Mon 23 Jun, 2008 18:56
Posts: 5488

  Z3 roadster 1.9i
Location: Stafford

Re: Warranty Advice

Post by TitanTim »

BladeRunner919 wrote:
TitanTim wrote: Sorry, I don't understand this bit, is this in relation to your original post? No one was being negative, just that there wouldn't be many that would fork out alot of money for a warranty on an older car that basically isn't worth that much. Doesn't make financial sense.
Tim.
No, I didn't get that either. Seems like asking us for opinions then criticising those that said it wasn't worth it makes the original post rather pointless.
:lol: :lol:

Tim.
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2001 Z3 1.9 Roadster Sport - 2012 Z4 sDrive 2.0 M Sport
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