[jetblk328i]

Well, my 4 years of free warranty and maintainence are almost over(end of this year) and I have started thinking about extended warranty and maintainence.

My car only has 17,000 miles and I expect slightly over 21,000 when this year is over.

Currently, I think extended warranty may be pretty useless for me.

Usually in the next 2 or 3 years, i will accumulate an additional 8000-12,000 miles which will put me at about 30K to 35K miles. My car has been pretty problem free up to now and I am confident so far that it will hit 30K-35K with no major issues. I plan on keeping this car for a very long time, but the extended warranty is only 2-3 years i believe.

However, I am seriously thinking about the extended maintainence.

I know that oil changes are usually about $150 at my dealership and I think there is a 30K mile service which is somewhat costly?

so over 2-3 years i expect to spend maybe $600 on maintainence.

So, mathematically, it would seem that both extended maintainence and warranty both do not fit me.

What do you guys think?

[Enjoiyourlife]

I'd pass and pocket that cash since you have such low mileage.

[BKV122]

i passed on the extended warranty. I plan on doing the maintenance work my self

[ArmyBimmerDude]

You have a 328 with only 17,000 miles after almost 3 1/2 years of ownership? I wouldn't get either.

[red.66mustang]

I am facing a similar situation. My 06 325 has 1 month left of factory warranty. I bought it CPO so I have the extended warranty, but not the extended maintenance.

My car has 33,000 miles. I know that pretty soon I will probably need new brakes. Would it be worth it for me to purchase the extended maintenance? What do people suggest for my situation?

[mike3000fl]

always do the extended warranty if you can, one big issue and you are covered, these cars can get expensive fast when something breaks, it also covers minor things like trim peeling and wear on plastic parts. cheap insurance for the unknown. its a good feeling to know that if something breaks you can take it to the dealer up to 100,000 and get it done, while you cruise around in a loaner.

don't do the maintenance plan, when you get down to it you are just getting a couple sets of brake pads/rotors, a set of plugs, brake fluid flush, couple microfilters, and a handful of oil changes. all of this you can do for way less yourself and pocket the change. you can even get more in depth and change your coolant, tranny fluid, rear diff and power steering and still come out ahead. It's easy to turn off the service lights after doing your own work.

just document all your own work with receipts for OEM fluids from tischer or the dealer so if there ever is a warranty issue you can show that the oil changes were done on time.

[Chriztofor]

Just make sure you know what your getting yourself into.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=beware

[742]

An extended warranty is a form of insurance. The seller is going to make money, in fact needs to make money, on the average buyer. Get it if a rare but major maintenance issue would be catastrophic for you. On the other hand you will almost certainly save money in the long run if you never buy an extended warranty on anything. There will be a few bumps in the road of life, but nevertheless you will come out ahead.

Only you can make that decision.

I have never understood extended maintenance plans. Scheduled maintenance is scheduled. Just make a plan and budget the money.

[chemgeek]

Why someone would drive around in a BMW without a warranty is beyond me. One steptronic transmission failure, you might as well leave the keys in the car and walk away. Do you know what a defective headlight housing costs just for the part...$2,000, how about the headlight itself... A 328 is not quite as prone to issues as a 335 (fuel pumps, injectors, sensors...), but nevertheless, BMWs are costly. Like others have said, its worth it just for little things like fading parts.

Warranty companies love people that void the warranty..I'd say they make a whole bunch of money there.

[Chriztofor]

^ For your 335, yeah, you have twin turbos, I would probably take out the warranty, especially if I didn't DIY. For 325/328/330, I doubt we would need it. I am going by past experience with my E46, nothing major broke down during the first 100,000 miles. The transmission went way beyond 100,000 miles which I then had it rebuilt under a lifetime warranty.

So I would ask myself:

1) What would probably break within 100,000 miles or the next 2/3 years (that would be covered under the warranty).
2) How many miles do I drive
3) What is the cost of the warranty
4) What does it cover and what does it exclude, and what does it OMIT.
5) Can I DIY anything that breaks on the list?
6) If so, then at what cost?

[jaybird124]

Originally Posted by Chriztofor

^ For your 335, yeah, you have twin turbos, I would probably take out the warranty, especially if I didn't DIY. For 325/328/330, I doubt we would need it. I am going by past experience with my E46, nothing major broke down during the first 100,000 miles. The transmission went way beyond 100,000 miles which I then had it rebuilt under a lifetime warranty.

So I would ask myself:

1) What would probably break within 100,000 miles or the next 2/3 years (that would be covered under the warranty).
2) How many miles do I drive
3) What is the cost of the warranty
4) What does it cover and what does it exclude, and what does it OMIT.
5) Can I DIY anything that breaks on the list?
6) If so, then at what cost?

How did you get a lifetime warranty on your tranny?

[Chriztofor]

Indy in Staten Island, NY. Whenever you get a trans rebuilt you should always ask for warranty info and how much more for a lifetime warranty. Doesn't hurt to ask.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by chemgeek

Why someone would drive around in a BMW without a warranty is beyond me. One steptronic transmission failure, you might as well leave the keys in the car and walk away. Do you know what a defective headlight housing costs just for the part...$2,000, how about the headlight itself... A 328 is not quite as prone to issues as a 335 (fuel pumps, injectors, sensors...), but nevertheless, BMWs are costly. Like others have said, its worth it just for little things like fading parts.

Warranty companies love people that void the warranty..I'd say they make a whole bunch of money there.

I don't believe in extended warranties, but since I have a 335 and the repairs to it during the first 18k exceed the retail cost of the warranty, I am shopping for one.

If I were BMW, for the N54 powered cars, I would bump the warranty class up to the equivalent of a 550 or M3. What can owners do about it? They're already powerless to get the HPFP situation solved. A BMW gold package for $3490 might just be the bargain of the century for a consumer owning a N54. People have already had plugs, coils, injectors, turbos replaced under factory warranty--That's $10,000 right there!

On my aunt's E46 M3 she had the SMG rebuilt and the motor replaced altogether. You can be a NY Yankee and like you said, if it happened to you, you'd abandon the vehicle and walk away. It's not worth getting fixed out-of-pocket.