Buying advice M3 E46 SMG
Discussion
Hi all,
Looking at a car which will have ext BMW comp warranty put on for another year, been serviced at the right times apart from the initial running service which was done at 1,750k, must be ok if the warranty is being ext? whilst looking around on the net it seems any think up to 2k is ok?
The car will also have a new MOT too, apart from me testing and visually checking the car and it having warranty, is it worth having an inspection done? if so who by?
Also does any 1 know about acceleration assistance aka launch control with re to warranty?
I'm worried the previous owner has used it quite a bit, e.g. next time a service is due and I take the car into BMW and it needs warranty work etc, would use of this system void the warranty?
I wouldn't know until this happened, even though rest assured buying as it has warranty.
Does this also damage the car in anyway?
Cheers,
J
Looking at a car which will have ext BMW comp warranty put on for another year, been serviced at the right times apart from the initial running service which was done at 1,750k, must be ok if the warranty is being ext? whilst looking around on the net it seems any think up to 2k is ok?
The car will also have a new MOT too, apart from me testing and visually checking the car and it having warranty, is it worth having an inspection done? if so who by?
Also does any 1 know about acceleration assistance aka launch control with re to warranty?
I'm worried the previous owner has used it quite a bit, e.g. next time a service is due and I take the car into BMW and it needs warranty work etc, would use of this system void the warranty?
I wouldn't know until this happened, even though rest assured buying as it has warranty.
Does this also damage the car in anyway?
Cheers,
J
From what I have been told by a friend who worked at a BMW main dealer, the car logs each time launch control is used and this information is accessible by the stealer when they hook the car up to the diagnostic computer. If its used repeatedly, it knackers the clutch. It doesn't take many launches to cause damage, but I don't know the exact figure. Sympathy varies from stealer to stealer regarding warranty claims on clutch damage due to repeated launch control use. The policy at the dealership where my friend worked was that they would normally help out original owners they supplied the car to from new the first time they experience launch control related damage, but after that the customer was on his own. The only thing I can suggest is maybe see if you can get any SMG car you are thinking of buying checked by an Indy/Main dealer and pay them to do a diagnostic check, see if launch control has been used a lot. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable on here will know how many times using launch control is "safe".
I've done a bit of research. According to BMW warranty services, the running in service is ok in my case being around 1700 miles as long as FBMWSH and to make sure the next service (oil) is done on time to complete the 3 years factory warranty. They couldn't tell when the millage cut off point would be as this is based on each different owners situation, how many miles over 1200, when the last services were carried out, on time etc.
So the warranty can be extended and will still be valid on fully comp.
Re: Launch control, had to get an answer from the mgr in the warranty dept for this.
Launch control is there to be used other wise BMW wouldn't have implemented it, like any other car with a clutch (manual M3) the clutch can also be abused/used hard with regards to launching it from stand still, burn outs etc. If it's the clutch facing that's gone then then is a wear and tear item. I suppose if you lie and say well I haven't used LC and then they look it up on the computer and see that you have used it, then it's bill time. If you have hardly used LC at all I suppose they will investigate as it should be more robust (no exact numbers, would be good to know if some does?) If any other components connecting to clutch that are covered by warranty go even if you have used LC, then it's under warranty.
Still in a difficult possition as I can't really check the car at a garage, unless the seller hasn't got a problem taking it there on my behalf and telling me how many times it's been launched
Do BMW do a car check just like the AA etc, where they would pick the car up run checks etc and report to the customer?
Least I'm ok with regards to the running in service.
Thanks for all the advice given! cheers TD.
J
So the warranty can be extended and will still be valid on fully comp.
Re: Launch control, had to get an answer from the mgr in the warranty dept for this.
Launch control is there to be used other wise BMW wouldn't have implemented it, like any other car with a clutch (manual M3) the clutch can also be abused/used hard with regards to launching it from stand still, burn outs etc. If it's the clutch facing that's gone then then is a wear and tear item. I suppose if you lie and say well I haven't used LC and then they look it up on the computer and see that you have used it, then it's bill time. If you have hardly used LC at all I suppose they will investigate as it should be more robust (no exact numbers, would be good to know if some does?) If any other components connecting to clutch that are covered by warranty go even if you have used LC, then it's under warranty.
Still in a difficult possition as I can't really check the car at a garage, unless the seller hasn't got a problem taking it there on my behalf and telling me how many times it's been launched
Do BMW do a car check just like the AA etc, where they would pick the car up run checks etc and report to the customer?
Least I'm ok with regards to the running in service.
Thanks for all the advice given! cheers TD.
J
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