I am almost at 36,000 miles (also almost at 3yrs), at which point my maintenance warranty runs out. Dealers are offering to extend it to 4 yrs/50K miles for $700 (I haven't tried to bargain them down on that), or for their new 6yr/100K mile extended warranty, which they'll do for as low as $1450 (one dealer said $1799, another $1599, another $1450 after a little negotiating-- I didn't really do a lot of comparison shopping). I drive about 12k miles a year. Any thoughts on whether I should take the extended 3 yr warranty? I had front brakes done at 25,000 miles and backs at 12,500 miles. So I am probably due for the backs again soon, and at some point in the next 3 years I'd need the fronts done too I assume-- but maybe other than those two brake jobs, I wouldn't need it. The only benefits for the maintenance deal are they do brakes, oil changes, windshield wipers, and an Inspection 1 and Inspection 2, whatever those are. I know that the dealers always charge much more than a regular mechanic for their work, but I'm wondering whether I should do it at $1,450, or whether there are other dealers that will give me it for less, or whether I should just forget about the extension completely. Any advice??
Should I extend maintenance warranty?
- Thread starter howiem98
- Start date
All BMW maintenance schedules fall under the general categories of Inpection I and Inspection II. What each entails varies with vehicle mileage. For instance, Inspection I may be due at 40K miles and may include oil service, brake fluid service, coolant service and many others. Inspection II may be due at 50K miles and include just an air filter and brake inpection and R&R if needed. Then inspection I at 55K miles might be just oil service.
You can get the checklists from BMWs website I believe.
Local reputable German car shops will have all the expertise and access to the same shop manuals, service bulletins, and inspection lists as the stealership.
You could probably try to calculate what all the costs are, etc. but variances on needed service will make those estimates just that.....estimates.
I think it boils down to who you trust. If you can find a well recommended local German car shop, then I would bet their prices would beat the dealers easily. After all that's who they compete with.
If the 6yr/100K mile includes mantenance for $1450 then that sounds like a good deal. If not it still may be a good deal for peace of mind as something is sure to need fixing by 100K miles.
Personally I opted to not extend my X5 warranty and found a great little shop here in town to do the maintenance. They are so much better to deal with than the dealer where you car is handed over, it dissappears, then is given back in a service drive and you have no idea what they really did. At the local shop it is likely they will let you watch while they work if you choose.....blah blah blah.....I could write a book about this.
Hope this helps.
You can get the checklists from BMWs website I believe.
Local reputable German car shops will have all the expertise and access to the same shop manuals, service bulletins, and inspection lists as the stealership.
You could probably try to calculate what all the costs are, etc. but variances on needed service will make those estimates just that.....estimates.
I think it boils down to who you trust. If you can find a well recommended local German car shop, then I would bet their prices would beat the dealers easily. After all that's who they compete with.
If the 6yr/100K mile includes mantenance for $1450 then that sounds like a good deal. If not it still may be a good deal for peace of mind as something is sure to need fixing by 100K miles.
Personally I opted to not extend my X5 warranty and found a great little shop here in town to do the maintenance. They are so much better to deal with than the dealer where you car is handed over, it dissappears, then is given back in a service drive and you have no idea what they really did. At the local shop it is likely they will let you watch while they work if you choose.....blah blah blah.....I could write a book about this.
Hope this helps.