Warranty and distance to dealer an issue?

berb_uk · 04-13-2008, 04:34 PM

Hi chaps,

As you may know, I'm awaiting delivery of an M3. I'm getting it from a dealer that's miles away up north. What has occurred to me is the severe inconvenience I could potentially face if I notice things wrong with my car! Under the warranty, will I have to go to the original dealer or can I get it looked at by a local one and if any work needs carrying out, obviously they can invoice the original dealer if you see what I mean? How does it work?

Thanks.

stephen3rd · 04-13-2008, 04:38 PM

Any BMW dealer can handle your warranty claims.

I had a similar issue a few years back. I bought the car from a dealer through in Edinburgh but a major warranty claim was handled by my local dealer in Glasgow. No problems at all.

Should all be fine.

S

vivekk · 04-13-2008, 04:41 PM

Your car comes with a pan-European warranty, berb.

You can have your car serviced anywhere in Europe, irrespective of where you bought it.

All the best.

Viv

berb_uk · 04-13-2008, 04:41 PM

Thanks Stephen3rd. Were they the same dealership company or entirely different? Did the Glasgow dealer handle the warranty claim from start to finish?

berb_uk · 04-13-2008, 04:47 PM

Thanks Viv - now I can sleep at night!

beemerbird · 04-13-2008, 04:47 PM

Warranty work should be invoiced to BMW so in theory no problems. Maybe don't hold your breath at being first in the queue with a local dealer (me being cynical).

Just tell your local dealer you'll be buying your next car from them.

I was offered any warranty and servicing work would be carried out by a rival dealer despite the fact I didn't buy the E92 from them but had previously thrashed their demo model. They don't know when you'll be back.

dxb335d · 04-13-2008, 04:55 PM

Have you tried m3post.com mate? There might be some more first hand experiance with the new m3 on there bud?!

stephen3rd · 04-13-2008, 05:09 PM

Each of the dealers i was involved with were totally seperate.

As some of the others posts say, any work will be invoiced to BMW directly.

S

F31-340i · 04-13-2008, 05:59 PM

I had warranty work done at my local BMW dealer in the UK no problem (new discs at 12,000 miles as they were juddering) - this was on a 6 month old X5 I'd bought from Amsterdam - so the Euro wide warranty thing definately works. They didn't even ask about the fact it was imported nor was the possibility of any money changing hands ever mentioned. All free & it came back wonderfully clean. Back then the european factory warranty was only for the first 2 years though - the 3rd year was only for cars in bought in the UK (& still the case I think).

Mind, when I had a new M3 back in 2002, I had actually bought it in London from BMW, but then took it abroad. I had to have the crucial 1200 mile oil service done at my local German dealer, but this isn't free abroad - I had to send the bill to my UK dealer where they reimbursed me. So again in the end no problem, and I guess this principle would apply to UK cars in their 3rd year too, if you were abroad.

GarryF · 04-14-2008, 01:49 AM

I imported a 328ci in 2000 and brakes were rusted on delivery, local dealer got them done under warranty with no hassle,

dxb335d · 04-14-2008, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GarryF

I imported a 328ci in 2000 and brakes were rusted on delivery, local dealer got them done under warranty with no hassle,

All brakes go rusty when they have been sat a while though gary. Must have gone as soon as you drove off?

threethirty · 04-14-2008, 05:05 AM

Bought mine at Sytner in Solihull but I live in Sussex. Cooper Tunbridge Wells deal my warranty no probs (and so they should ... they will be getting the servicing business after all).

GarryF · 04-14-2008, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxb335d

All brakes go rusty when they have been sat a while though gary. Must have gone as soon as you drove off?

Nah, the car was delivered and sat for 2 weeks until the 1st of Jan in my garage, when I took it out the discs were knackered, I tried bedding in etc for a week but nothing worked, took it to the garage and they got it done under warranty, bought 4 cars from them since so good service wins business from me at least !

berb_uk · 04-14-2008, 12:06 PM

Thanks for all your help guys! Much, much happier to buy a car up north now!

dar2008 · 04-15-2008, 06:40 AM

Hi Berb,

Like you, I'm getting my M3 vert from a dealer across the other side of London, but intend getting my servicing and any warranty work done at my local dealers... I might have to go to the original for the 1200 mile service though.

berb_uk · 04-15-2008, 07:06 AM

Dar - my dealer confirmed that the 1200 mile service is free and can be done with a local dealer. What happens internally is that the local dealer invoices the original dealership and gets to keep a cut of the profit etc.

dar2008 · 04-15-2008, 07:08 AM

Great, thanks for that info. Next time I speak with my dealer, I'll try and get him to commit to that...

04-13-2008, 04:34 PM	#1
berb_uk Private First Class 19 Rep 134 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	Warranty and distance to dealer an issue? Hi chaps, As you may know, I'm awaiting delivery of an M3. I'm getting it from a dealer that's miles away up north. What has occurred to me is the severe inconvenience I could potentially face if I notice things wrong with my car! Under the warranty, will I have to go to the original dealer or can I get it looked at by a local one and if any work needs carrying out, obviously they can invoice the original dealer if you see what I mean? How does it work? Thanks.
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04-13-2008, 04:38 PM	#2
stephen3rd Private 5 Rep 65 Posts Drives: BMW 320d Edition MSport Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0)	Any BMW dealer can handle your warranty claims. I had a similar issue a few years back. I bought the car from a dealer through in Edinburgh but a major warranty claim was handled by my local dealer in Glasgow. No problems at all. Should all be fine. S
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04-13-2008, 04:41 PM	#3
vivekk THE Viv 184 Rep 4,743 Posts Drives: 330i SE Join Date: May 2005 Location: the North, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 BMW e90 330iSE [0.00]	Your car comes with a pan-European warranty, berb. You can have your car serviced anywhere in Europe, irrespective of where you bought it. All the best. Viv __________________ [TiAg ▪ Dakota Black ▪ Active steering ▪ Sports suspension ▪ 162s ▪ Sports seats ▪ Al trim ▪ Bi-Xenons ▪ F&R PDC ▪ NavPro ▪ Voice control ▪ Bluetooth ▪ 6CD Logic7]
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04-13-2008, 04:41 PM	#4
berb_uk Private First Class 19 Rep 134 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	Thanks Stephen3rd. Were they the same dealership company or entirely different? Did the Glasgow dealer handle the warranty claim from start to finish?
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04-13-2008, 04:47 PM	#5
berb_uk Private First Class 19 Rep 134 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	Thanks Viv - now I can sleep at night!
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04-13-2008, 04:47 PM	#6
beemerbird Major General 172 Rep 7,953 Posts Drives: Merc diesel Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Yorkshire iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 TTRS [9.00] 2007 Audi S5 [0.00] May 2007 Porsche 99 ... [0.00] March 2007 Porsche ... [0.00] Sep. 2007 E92 335d SE [0.00] July 2006 E90 330i ... [0.00]	Warranty work should be invoiced to BMW so in theory no problems. Maybe don't hold your breath at being first in the queue with a local dealer (me being cynical). Just tell your local dealer you'll be buying your next car from them. I was offered any warranty and servicing work would be carried out by a rival dealer despite the fact I didn't buy the E92 from them but had previously thrashed their demo model. They don't know when you'll be back.
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04-13-2008, 04:55 PM	#7
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 949 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	Have you tried m3post.com mate? There might be some more first hand experiance with the new m3 on there bud?! __________________ 997.2 GT3
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04-13-2008, 05:09 PM	#8
stephen3rd Private 5 Rep 65 Posts Drives: BMW 320d Edition MSport Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0)	Each of the dealers i was involved with were totally seperate. As some of the others posts say, any work will be invoiced to BMW directly. S
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04-13-2008, 05:59 PM	#9
F31-340i Colonel 156 Rep 2,475 Posts Drives: BMW 340i Touring Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: ... iTrader: (1)	I had warranty work done at my local BMW dealer in the UK no problem (new discs at 12,000 miles as they were juddering) - this was on a 6 month old X5 I'd bought from Amsterdam - so the Euro wide warranty thing definately works. They didn't even ask about the fact it was imported nor was the possibility of any money changing hands ever mentioned. All free & it came back wonderfully clean. Back then the european factory warranty was only for the first 2 years though - the 3rd year was only for cars in bought in the UK (& still the case I think). Mind, when I had a new M3 back in 2002, I had actually bought it in London from BMW, but then took it abroad. I had to have the crucial 1200 mile oil service done at my local German dealer, but this isn't free abroad - I had to send the bill to my UK dealer where they reimbursed me. So again in the end no problem, and I guess this principle would apply to UK cars in their 3rd year too, if you were abroad.
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04-14-2008, 01:49 AM	#10
GarryF First Lieutenant 34 Rep 330 Posts Drives: SSII E90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I imported a 328ci in 2000 and brakes were rusted on delivery, local dealer got them done under warranty with no hassle,
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04-14-2008, 05:05 AM	#12
threethirty Second Lieutenant 14 Rep 204 Posts Drives: BMW 330i M Sport Saloon 2006 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: East Sussex, UK iTrader: (0)	Bought mine at Sytner in Solihull but I live in Sussex. Cooper Tunbridge Wells deal my warranty no probs (and so they should ... they will be getting the servicing business after all). __________________ BMW 330i M Sport Saloon - 06 plate - Le Mans Blue
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04-14-2008, 12:06 PM	#14
berb_uk Private First Class 19 Rep 134 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all your help guys! Much, much happier to buy a car up north now!
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04-15-2008, 06:40 AM	#15
dar2008 Major 303 Rep 1,171 Posts Drives: E93 M3 and E92 M3 Comp Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Hi Berb, Like you, I'm getting my M3 vert from a dealer across the other side of London, but intend getting my servicing and any warranty work done at my local dealers... I might have to go to the original for the 1200 mile service though.
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04-15-2008, 07:06 AM	#16
berb_uk Private First Class 19 Rep 134 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	Dar - my dealer confirmed that the 1200 mile service is free and can be done with a local dealer. What happens internally is that the local dealer invoices the original dealership and gets to keep a cut of the profit etc.
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04-15-2008, 07:08 AM	#17
dar2008 Major 303 Rep 1,171 Posts Drives: E93 M3 and E92 M3 Comp Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Great, thanks for that info. Next time I speak with my dealer, I'll try and get him to commit to that...
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