[sunnyjay]

2011 328i for Cel light. BMW of EastBay took care of the warranty work.

a) issue diagnosed

Recall for PCV
Cel on for EAC sensor for radiator, replaced
Small DISA rattle, replaced dia

b) total cost of repair

$0, sulev warranty

c) if SULEV covered initially or you had to be reimbursed

SULEV warranty covered.

d) if your dealer gave you a hard time

No, the dealer service agent accepted it without issues.

e) if BMW NA had to be involved

No.

[acg2002us]

Anybody got any advice for me in TX trying to use SULEV warranty???

2010 BMW 328i xdrive 107k originally a New Jersey car.

[Boston4]

Originally Posted by acg2002us

Anybody got any advice for me in TX trying to use SULEV warranty???

2010 BMW 328i xdrive 107k originally a New Jersey car.

For MY2010, you should be able to get an emissions repair covered, but you’ll probably need to contact BMW NA. Other years (including my 2011) have language indicating that the car must be currently registered in a SULEV state. See below for the 2010 language:

*The California Emissions Control System Limited Warranty SULEV (PZEV) applies to all 2010 U.S. specification BMW SULEV (PZEV) vehicles sold, leased, and/or registered in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island or Vermont.

Source: Page 43 (pdf page 49) of this document. I’d print this and bring it with you to the dealer.

[acg2002us]

Originally Posted by Boston4

For MY2010, you should be able to get an emissions repair covered, but you’ll probably need to contact BMW NA. Other years (including my 2011) have language indicating that the car must be currently registered in a SULEV state. See below for the 2010 language:



Source: Page 43 (pdf page 49) of this document. I’d print this and bring it with you to the dealer.

Thank you so much for your help!!! I also read being a 2010 I made the cut! Wish me good luck tomorrow and my scheduled BMW service appointment.

[acg2002us]

Originally Posted by Boston4

For MY2010, you should be able to get an emissions repair covered, but you’ll probably need to contact BMW NA. Other years (including my 2011) have language indicating that the car must be currently registered in a SULEV state. See below for the 2010 language:



Source: Page 43 (pdf page 49) of this document. I’d print this and bring it with you to the dealer.

Going to be rough in TX non SULEV state.

[bkwld]

Originally Posted by acg2002us

Going to be rough in TX non SULEV state.

You are right "AND/OR" language on page 43 mentioned above changed in 2011 to "registered"

You really shouldn't have problems, however TX dealers might not be familiar with SULEV "15yr/150K" warranty. If you have a PVC recall due, that will be best time to take your car in and talk to SA and ask them to consult the "Warranty Admin" So that you wouldn't need to pay for diagnosis fee upfront.

The best advice I can give you is do not argue. Just state the obvious. And if you do have SULEV approved, then make sure to have them check the DISA also for any deterioration. They don't often throw codes, and visual inspection should be requested if you can. I told my dealer, I am loosing power without codes and they visual checked. Same with VCG. Its visual check.

[Boston4]

Originally Posted by acg2002us

***UPDATE** Spoke with Manager Tristan at Sewell BMW of Plano TX denied SULEV warranty for replacing valve cover gasket.

Guess ill try one more.

In TX I wouldn't be surprised if they have never seen this before. Did they deny the repair because the vehicle was ineligible for a SULEV warranty, or because the repair was ineligible for the SULEV warranty?

I would recommend calling the BMW North America line for warranty claims and see if you can work that angle to get the repair authorized under the SULEV warranty - they can liaise with the dealer directly.

[2one3E90]

Enuf said

[acg2002us]

Originally Posted by Boston4

In TX I wouldn't be surprised if they have never seen this before. Did they deny the repair because the vehicle was ineligible for a SULEV warranty, or because the repair was ineligible for the SULEV warranty?

I would recommend calling the BMW North America line for warranty claims and see if you can work that angle to get the repair authorized under the SULEV warranty - they can liaise with the dealer directly.

They recognized the SULEV warranty but said that a valve cover gasket would not be covered as it is not "emissions".

Kinda weird when the tech looked up my VIN he recognized the PCV recall has been done in FEB/23 yet my valve cover is leaking 2 months later? Not looking good for SULEV success story

I did call BMW NA but wasn't much help got the old well its up to the dealership to do the work line call them.

[acg2002us]

***Update*** after leaving a review a manager contacted me with the warranty admin and said the valve cover gasket would be covered under SULEV taking the car in tomorrow hopefully have a great experience with Sewell BMW Plano TX.

[acg2002us]

***UPDATE** 4/26/23


Glad I get to add to the SULEV warranty success post with my very own post and story down here in TX!!!!

2010 328i N51 SULEV originally sold and registered in NJ now in TX
107k mileage

The smoke tested my valve cover and it held so the replaced the valve cover gasket set and also fixed a stripped valvetronics motor bolt.

Looks like a solid repair from what I've seen.

Thank you Sewell BMW Plano TX.

[MaconPaul]

My 2009 from New York, currently registered in Georgia remains under the SULEV warranty at 14.5 years old and 143k miles. HOWEVER, the list of parts the modern warranty portal will approve is so much shorter than the list they used to use. I’m going to attach the old parts list they used to use. Has anyone in the last 2 years had success getting parts covered from the older longer list? I need the DMTL pump covered (called Leak Diagnostic Pump on the attached)

[MaconPaul]

UPDATE to prior post.
I just got the DMTL pump covered! A 660 dollar job. Initially told no. I provided the old parts list and the dealer worked with BMWNA to get it covered.
Here is the deal on 2009 and 2008 cars. Perhaps 2010 but not 2011.
1) you have to be under 15 years of the first date of service so this wipes out many 2008s. My 09 hits 15 in February.
2) the car had to be sold initially in one of the magic SULEV states which are California and some neighbors and New York and neighboring states (about 10)
3) The Dealer MUST input one of those states in their warranty portal. So my current Georgia car is entered in the computer as New York. This warranty follows the car in this time period (not 2011 on) all over the country.

Initially this job was turned down. I emailed the parts list from the prior post and the warranty department worked with BMWNA to make them cover it. The current portal has shortened this list so you’ve got to push back to get all these parts covered. In 2 years I’ve had $4000 work covered.

4) failed smog test and they must fix whatever causes that is another way to get the coverage.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by MaconPaul

UPDATE to prior post.
I just got the DMTL pump covered! A 660 dollar job. Initially told no. I provided the old parts list and the dealer worked with BMWNA to get it covered.
Here is the deal on 2009 and 2008 cars. Perhaps 2010 but not 2011.
1) you have to be under 15 years of the first date of service so this wipes out many 2008s. My 09 hits 15 in February.
2) the car had to be sold initially in one fit the magic SULEV states which are California and sone neighbors and New York and neighboring states (about 10)
3) The Dealer MUST input one of those states in their warranty portal. So my current Georgia car is entered in the computer as New York. This warranty follows the car in this time period (not 2011 on) all over the country.

Initially this job was turned down. I emailed the parts list from the prior post and the warranty department worked with BMWNA to make them cover it. The current portal has shortened this list so you’ve got to push back to get all these parts covered. In 2 years I’ve had $4000 work covered.

4) failed smog test and they must fix whatever causes that is another way to get the coverage.

Congrats love hearing stories like this

[chewable]

a) P0305 Misfire in cylinder 5
b) paid diag fee and came home, will replace myself
c) initially, diagnosed as coil issue and all 6 was replaced under sulev. I took the car home and the same SEL came on, same code, and brought it back. Then they said the spark plugs needed to be replaced but they would NOT cover it despite the misfire being in the same cylinder. They said the spark plugs went bad by themselves after I took the car home. Escalated to the manager who wouldn't budge. Called BMW NA who only read from the warranty manual. Called another dealership who said they would have covered it all no questions asked, but now that the coils were done they couldn't cover the spark plugs themselves. Not sure what else to do so will take the care home tmrw and change the plugs myself. Out the diagnostic fee but got the coils done.
d) Yes see above. This is BMW in San Diego
e) Yes but they were not helpful

[07_328xi_n51]

does anyone know where i could obtain paperwork regarding this warranty? I have a 2007 328xi n51 engine, bought used with a blown head gasket

[Boston4]

Originally Posted by 07_328xi_n51

does anyone know where i could obtain paperwork regarding this warranty? I have a 2007 328xi n51 engine, bought used with a blown head gasket

Sorry - it’s 15 years from the in-service date, so your warranty likely expired in 2021 or 2022. Blown head gasket likely wouldn’t have been covered anyway (assuming WP failure and continued driving). Good luck.

[Plat]

Originally Posted by 07_328xi_n51

does anyone know where i could obtain paperwork regarding this warranty? I have a 2007 328xi n51 engine, bought used with a blown head gasket

At the very end of my post here I have a link to the PDF with the details. You also find this info in your vehicles warranty booklet.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?p=29682802#post29682802

[NotACarGuy57]

I bought a 2014 320i Xdrive with 95k miles from a seller my brother knew. I'm not a car guy but the car seemed fine on a long trip. I know it needs a timing chain change and maybe other repairs. It says SULEV under the hood, but the dealer said it's not covered by the SULEV warranty because it has an n20 engine. The BMWSULEV warranty doesn't list the 320i model either. But the California code says SULEV vehicles have a 15-year/150k-mile warranty. Does my car qualify as SULEV even if the model is not in the warranty? That's what I think, but I want to hear your opinions. thanks

[mattflamm]

Originally Posted by MaconPaul

I’m going to attach the old parts list

Is that a complete list? what is the source? I may need it before my warranty ends next June as I plan a complete workup to make sure i get the most I can out of the coverage.

I just had some work successfully done under SULEV here in Utah for a NY 09 328i. They didn't seem to know much about the warranty but after some back and forth it worked out well. I had the valve cover gasket, ETC sensor and radiator fan all covered.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by 2one3E90

Enuf said

Oh jeez what happened?

[CTinline-six]

So I have a negative experience with the SULEV warranty to share...

Car in question is a 2009 328i N51 with ~97k miles. I am the second owner of the car, and have owned it since 2016, bought with 32k miles.

At 40k miles it needed a valve cover and gasket. The cover was cracked. SULEV warranty covered it, but it was a fight to get them to cover it, my car sat at the BMW dealer for 2 weeks before they decided to cover it. In the following years I needed spark plugs and a coil failed, along with a OFHG. I did all that myself simply because the parts weren't that expensive, and much less of a pain to do myself instead of waiting for weeks for the local BMW dealer to "decide" if it was covered. They also conveniently never had any loaners available, which is fine, I mean I didn't buy the car from them so I get it.

Fast forward a few years to ~85k miles and the secondary air pump quits. Checked the wiring and tested the pump and sure enough the pump was dead. It's a fairly pricey part, so figured hey I have another vehicle to drive, it can sit at BMW while they figure it out, should be under SULEV warranty. Weeks go by again, more back and forth, and finally they replace the pump. I think that is the end of it until weeks later I go to replace a headlight bulb, and notice the hack job they did replacing the pump. The pump looked to be out of a different car. It was new, but looked like they did some wire splicing to make it fit along with using self tapping screws since the original studs holding the bracket sheared off.


And now the finale... 92k miles. I get a code for secondary air insufficient flow, but it's obvious the pump is working. I have a local indy shop take a look, and they suggest either the air valve is clogged/inoperable or the cylinder head ports are partially clogged. I replace the valve myself since it is an easy job/cheap part and the old one was pretty gunked up with carbon. Code went away for about a week then returned. Same indy shop told me it was likely the ports in the head being clogged with carbon, and I wouldn't be able to pass emissions (conveniently due this month) with that code. They gave me a quote to clean the ports in the head, which was reasonable, but advised me to go to BMW since it was a SULEV car.

I take it to the BMW dealer, and they have the car for a week before even calling me. They finally call and say it needs a new cylinder head. They don't send the head out for cleaning like the indy shop, they simply replace the entire cylinder head. They told me that it's likely BMW won't cover it, since I am the second owner of the car and would need detailed dealer service records for the entire life of the car. Keep in mind this car was dealer serviced by the PO, I change the oil every 5000 miles with BMW LL-01 oil, and have a stack of maintenance receipts, spreadsheets, and other dated documentation from doing my own meticulous work. In the end the dealer told me to pound sand and instead quoted me $16,000 for a replacement cylinder head.

I ended up going back to the indy which did the cleaning for a fraction of that and I trust their work more anyway.

The bottom line is I wouldn't rely on the SULEV warranty for anything, because it seems like any other manufacturer BMW will try its hardest to get out of covering anything significant, and in the long run the N52 is much cheaper to keep going and less complicated than the N51.