BMW Insured Warranty quandary .......
Discussion
I've found the perfect example of the M car I've been looking for, spec, colour etc all spot on. One owner from new in 2006.
Full BMW service history including running in service carried out on time.
However ....... for some reason the owner decided to let the chimps at Halfords loose on it when it was last due a service.
They carried out a service on the car last December, since when the the has done 1500 miles (this 8 year old car has still done less 30k miles)
My guess is they didn't use a BMW oil filter, and one also wonders if they used the correct oil.......
Having run an CSL for three years and 30k miles, I know the vanos can fail (mine ate two) as can the diff.
My CSL, whilst never leaving me stranded by the side of the road, had many thousands of pounds worth of warranty work carried out (the second vanos and a head gasket within 12 months of me selling it to my business partner at 68k miles). It's thus imperative that this latest "toy" has a warranty.
I popped into my very accommodating BMW dealer this afternoon to ask whether the Halfords service would invalidate a BMW insured warranty.
A chat with their warranty guy was illuminating. He said do NOT purchase the warranty on line (as one of the final statements before proceeding to purchase is : "Confirm the vehicle been serviced in accordance with the manufacturers guidelines ?")
Rather than buying the warranty on line, he suggested contacting them by phone and being totally transparent with them. His view being they'll want to sell you a warranty. At worst they may ask you to book the car in for another oil/filter change at your local BMW dealer.
Accordingly I rang BMW Insured Warranty Services and was totally transparent with them. Having explained the situation I was met with "Oooh, ummmm, ahhhhh". Not confidence inspiring to say the least.
Whilst I was totally transparent with them, I didn't have the car's registration number or VIN number to hand (fortunately) so I wasn't able to give them either when they requested them.
My concern is that if I do divulge the car's registration/VIN number to them and they then decide that the Halfords service is an issue, will the car will be "blacklisted" ?
Whereas if I purchase the warranty on line, it may be "blaggable" in the event of a warranty claim. (I'd have an oil and filter change done at my local dealer upon purchasing the car anyhow)
The car in question is in superb condition and is low mileage. It's unlikely I'll find another/better example. So "Be patient, wait for another, there are plenty about" really isn't an option in this instance.
So, 'fess up to BMW warranty on the phone and risk the car being blacklisted, or blag it and risk any claim being rejected when/if the brown smelly stuff hits the round whirly thing ?
Full BMW service history including running in service carried out on time.
However ....... for some reason the owner decided to let the chimps at Halfords loose on it when it was last due a service.
They carried out a service on the car last December, since when the the has done 1500 miles (this 8 year old car has still done less 30k miles)
My guess is they didn't use a BMW oil filter, and one also wonders if they used the correct oil.......
Having run an CSL for three years and 30k miles, I know the vanos can fail (mine ate two) as can the diff.
My CSL, whilst never leaving me stranded by the side of the road, had many thousands of pounds worth of warranty work carried out (the second vanos and a head gasket within 12 months of me selling it to my business partner at 68k miles). It's thus imperative that this latest "toy" has a warranty.
I popped into my very accommodating BMW dealer this afternoon to ask whether the Halfords service would invalidate a BMW insured warranty.
A chat with their warranty guy was illuminating. He said do NOT purchase the warranty on line (as one of the final statements before proceeding to purchase is : "Confirm the vehicle been serviced in accordance with the manufacturers guidelines ?")
Rather than buying the warranty on line, he suggested contacting them by phone and being totally transparent with them. His view being they'll want to sell you a warranty. At worst they may ask you to book the car in for another oil/filter change at your local BMW dealer.
Accordingly I rang BMW Insured Warranty Services and was totally transparent with them. Having explained the situation I was met with "Oooh, ummmm, ahhhhh". Not confidence inspiring to say the least.
Whilst I was totally transparent with them, I didn't have the car's registration number or VIN number to hand (fortunately) so I wasn't able to give them either when they requested them.
My concern is that if I do divulge the car's registration/VIN number to them and they then decide that the Halfords service is an issue, will the car will be "blacklisted" ?
Whereas if I purchase the warranty on line, it may be "blaggable" in the event of a warranty claim. (I'd have an oil and filter change done at my local dealer upon purchasing the car anyhow)
The car in question is in superb condition and is low mileage. It's unlikely I'll find another/better example. So "Be patient, wait for another, there are plenty about" really isn't an option in this instance.
So, 'fess up to BMW warranty on the phone and risk the car being blacklisted, or blag it and risk any claim being rejected when/if the brown smelly stuff hits the round whirly thing ?
'Buy' the warranty the day (or a week) before you get the car and get in writing that it does not matter or what steps you have to take.
If you can't get the warranty then don't bother IMO.
Do it before you get the car (or place the deposit) so
A) you don't get stuck with an unwarrantable car
B) you get the 30 day no claim counter ticking
If you have bought the warranty and the car falls through you should have either 1 or 2 weeks to cancel like any insurance policy.
If you can't get the warranty then don't bother IMO.
Do it before you get the car (or place the deposit) so
A) you don't get stuck with an unwarrantable car
B) you get the 30 day no claim counter ticking
If you have bought the warranty and the car falls through you should have either 1 or 2 weeks to cancel like any insurance policy.
You don't have to have it serviced at a BMW garage to keep the warranty valid anymore, they changed it, hence "Confirm the vehicle been serviced in accordance with the manufacturers guidelines". You can take it anywhere as long as they followed the service schedule. The dealer and Mondial should have been 'upfront' with you about that....
Halfords should be fine as they are a big reputable company with written down procedures etc, it's the backstreet or DIY efforts they are more concerned about.
Also....just to balance it out a bit, for everyone who saved by having an extended warranty, plenty haven't, me included.
Halfords should be fine as they are a big reputable company with written down procedures etc, it's the backstreet or DIY efforts they are more concerned about.
Also....just to balance it out a bit, for everyone who saved by having an extended warranty, plenty haven't, me included.
Edited by 0836whimper on Monday 16th June 21:43
0836whimper said:
You don't have to have it serviced at a BMW garage to keep the warranty valid anymore, they changed it, hence "Confirm the vehicle been serviced in accordance with the manufacturers guidelines". You can take it anywhere as long as they followed the service schedule. The dealer and Mondial should have been 'upfront' with you about that....
Halfords should be fine as they are a big reputable company with written down procedures etc, it's the backstreet or DIY efforts they are more concerned about.
Also....just to balance it out a bit, for everyone who saved by having an extended warranty, plenty haven't, me included.
^ ThisHalfords should be fine as they are a big reputable company with written down procedures etc, it's the backstreet or DIY efforts they are more concerned about.
Also....just to balance it out a bit, for everyone who saved by having an extended warranty, plenty haven't, me included.
Edited by 0836whimper on Monday 16th June 21:43
I'm wanting to use an indy for servicing on my M5, I rang Mondial and asked them if I "had" to use BMW, as I was told by BMW that I had to , Mondial told me as long as they are VAT registered I can use any garage so long as they use the correct bits and bobs
My terms & conditions state that genuine parts need to be used - which I assume Halfords would not have done!
I keep hearing the 'any VAT registered garage' phrase, but I've never received any updated T&Cs to show this. Maybe it only applies to new warranties? Mine was taken out in 2009 on a rolling monthly policy, and I can't see the T&Cs on the BMW Insured Warranty website.
I keep hearing the 'any VAT registered garage' phrase, but I've never received any updated T&Cs to show this. Maybe it only applies to new warranties? Mine was taken out in 2009 on a rolling monthly policy, and I can't see the T&Cs on the BMW Insured Warranty website.
I think the phrase "VAT registered garage" applies in the context of the new car warranty - there was a ruling a few years back that new car warranties could not demand that the car only be serviced in the main dealer network.
The Mondial warranty gets around this ruling by describing itself as an insured warranty, i.e. an insurance policy. Thus they can demand the car be serviced by BMW.
I think the only thing you can do is provide Mondial with the registration number and the mileage. They will look up what servicing has been carried out by BMW dealers and what servicing is overdue from the perspective of the dealer network. You'll then need to provide proof of what else was done and by whom and they'll decide whether or not to issue a policy and at what cost. You can then decide whether or not to buy the car. I seem to recall that if cover is gapped the restart is more expensive than with a continuous renewal, be it monthly or annual.
What paperwork does the seller have from the Halfords service?
The Mondial warranty gets around this ruling by describing itself as an insured warranty, i.e. an insurance policy. Thus they can demand the car be serviced by BMW.
I think the only thing you can do is provide Mondial with the registration number and the mileage. They will look up what servicing has been carried out by BMW dealers and what servicing is overdue from the perspective of the dealer network. You'll then need to provide proof of what else was done and by whom and they'll decide whether or not to issue a policy and at what cost. You can then decide whether or not to buy the car. I seem to recall that if cover is gapped the restart is more expensive than with a continuous renewal, be it monthly or annual.
What paperwork does the seller have from the Halfords service?
AW10 said:
I think the phrase "VAT registered garage" applies in the context of the new car warranty - there was a ruling a few years back that new car warranties could not demand that the car only be serviced in the main dealer network.
The Mondial warranty gets around this ruling by describing itself as an insured warranty, i.e. an insurance policy. Thus they can demand the car be serviced by BMW.
Good point that one :the difference between new car warranty (actual warranty) and the extended one (inurance policy). I just checked the small print on the Mondial website :The Mondial warranty gets around this ruling by describing itself as an insured warranty, i.e. an insurance policy. Thus they can demand the car be serviced by BMW.
"What must I do to keep the
Warranty valid?
The terms and conditions of the
warranty listed below must be adhered
to. Failure to do so will result in the
rejection of a claim or the termination of
your BMW Insured Warranty. This
does not affect your statutory rights.
1. When servicing your BMW, failure
to comply with the service schedule
recommended by BMW may invalidate
this warranty. All service and warranty
work must be carried out by an
Authorised BMW Dealer or BMW
Service Authorised Workshop using
only Genuine BMW Parts. Your BMW
Service Booklet should be stamped,
dated and detailed with the correct
mileage at the time of service by the
servicing dealer.
This then creates the scenario whereby you can't invalidate the warranty when it's new by taking it to an independent.
But you can if you take it to one after taking out the 'insurance' warranty
What happens if you take it Halfords between the original warranty and taking out the extended one is anyone's guess. It just says what you need to do to kepp it valid, not what makes your car ineligible.
So I'd just tell them the minimum info they need and take it from there.
The only issue with Halfords seems to be whether they use genuine BMW parts, which from what others quote is one of the requirements.
This is their terms and conditions
2. That the parts used are either 'original spare parts' or 'matching quality parts' and are recorded as such.
I don't know what that means.
However, I would not lose out on this car (what is it by the way, I am also nosy??) and would either take the local guy's advice and get the parts Halfords used replaced or just forget about it. I do wonder, would they deny a warranty claim just because a previous owner had an oil service at Halfords? I've never heard of that nor could I find it on Google. I would imagine that clause is there because some cowboy garages will make a mess of a car such as putting in the wrong oil or wrong parts and Mondial, if discovering that, will not want to pay out for damage / problems down the line. But simply denying a claim, because of an unrelated halfords oil service, that's very different.
This is their terms and conditions
2. That the parts used are either 'original spare parts' or 'matching quality parts' and are recorded as such.
I don't know what that means.
However, I would not lose out on this car (what is it by the way, I am also nosy??) and would either take the local guy's advice and get the parts Halfords used replaced or just forget about it. I do wonder, would they deny a warranty claim just because a previous owner had an oil service at Halfords? I've never heard of that nor could I find it on Google. I would imagine that clause is there because some cowboy garages will make a mess of a car such as putting in the wrong oil or wrong parts and Mondial, if discovering that, will not want to pay out for damage / problems down the line. But simply denying a claim, because of an unrelated halfords oil service, that's very different.
AW10 said:
I think the phrase "VAT registered garage" applies in the context of the new car warranty - there was a ruling a few years back that new car warranties could not demand that the car only be serviced in the main dealer network.
The Mondial warranty gets around this ruling by describing itself as an insured warranty, i.e. an insurance policy. Thus they can demand the car be serviced by BMW.
I think the only thing you can do is provide Mondial with the registration number and the mileage. They will look up what servicing has been carried out by BMW dealers and what servicing is overdue from the perspective of the dealer network. You'll then need to provide proof of what else was done and by whom and they'll decide whether or not to issue a policy and at what cost. You can then decide whether or not to buy the car. I seem to recall that if cover is gapped the restart is more expensive than with a continuous renewal, be it monthly or annual.
What paperwork does the seller have from the Halfords service?
I've just bought an E61 M5, just shy of 60k so it's due a big service, I took the mondoial warranty out the day I bought it as it takes 30 days to go "live",my mondial warranty is now "live", after a visit to a main dealer and being told I MUST use them to maintain the warranty I rang Mondial, some 3-4 weeks ago, I was told in no uncertain terms, that as long as the garage was VAT registered and used the recommended parts I could use ANY VAT registered garage to service the car and maintain their warranty.The Mondial warranty gets around this ruling by describing itself as an insured warranty, i.e. an insurance policy. Thus they can demand the car be serviced by BMW.
I think the only thing you can do is provide Mondial with the registration number and the mileage. They will look up what servicing has been carried out by BMW dealers and what servicing is overdue from the perspective of the dealer network. You'll then need to provide proof of what else was done and by whom and they'll decide whether or not to issue a policy and at what cost. You can then decide whether or not to buy the car. I seem to recall that if cover is gapped the restart is more expensive than with a continuous renewal, be it monthly or annual.
What paperwork does the seller have from the Halfords service?
just out of interest , how many services has the car had?
30000 in 8 years sounds good but thats a long time sitting around .
my thoughts are by mileage
1500 oil change then perhaps 10k 20k then a trip to halfords at 30k
you should be thinking about the next service at the dealers
oil,plugs,gearbox service. dif. oil. drive belts ,pollen filter , air filter , should have had the brake fluid changed 4 times plus any software updates . minimum 2k before you start thinking about warranties
30000 in 8 years sounds good but thats a long time sitting around .
my thoughts are by mileage
1500 oil change then perhaps 10k 20k then a trip to halfords at 30k
you should be thinking about the next service at the dealers
oil,plugs,gearbox service. dif. oil. drive belts ,pollen filter , air filter , should have had the brake fluid changed 4 times plus any software updates . minimum 2k before you start thinking about warranties
Edited by davewhitt on Tuesday 17th June 19:56
I also enquired about this and as I understand it the following applies:
1. New Car - VAT registered garage
2. AUC Warranty - BMW Main dealer
3. Mondial Insured - VAT registered garage
When I spoke to Mondial and explained my car was an AUC car they stated that I would need to confirm with the dealer (who said Main Dealer only) but once I renewed the warranty they are happy to provide (in writing) terms stating a VAT registered garage can be used. More and more AUC cars have 1/2 specalist stamps and I'm guessing this is why Mondial have changed their stance.
I think customer service for BMW and Mondial are deliberately vague on the matter although Mondial say they are happy to provide T&C's of their policy but they did say this is not the same as AUC warranty.
I'm happy to be proven wrong
1. New Car - VAT registered garage
2. AUC Warranty - BMW Main dealer
3. Mondial Insured - VAT registered garage
When I spoke to Mondial and explained my car was an AUC car they stated that I would need to confirm with the dealer (who said Main Dealer only) but once I renewed the warranty they are happy to provide (in writing) terms stating a VAT registered garage can be used. More and more AUC cars have 1/2 specalist stamps and I'm guessing this is why Mondial have changed their stance.
I think customer service for BMW and Mondial are deliberately vague on the matter although Mondial say they are happy to provide T&C's of their policy but they did say this is not the same as AUC warranty.
I'm happy to be proven wrong
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff