Warranty issue - does this sound right?

[Gad-Westy]

Details are a bit sketchy I'm afraid but just after a general opinion as to whether this sounds normal.

My mother has a 4 year old BMW, bought used from a main dealer just over a year ago. She extended the BMW warranty a few weeks ago. The car's parking sensors have stopped working. After some investigation by another main dealer (the car is there for a service), they have diagnosed the problem as a failed control module. The module has apparently failed due to water ingress caused by damaged trim on the underside of the car allowing moisture in. The dealer are refusing to cover it under warranty as they say that trim parts are not covered. Does that sound right? Bill is looking to be near £500. Unfortunately I live a few hours away so can't take a look for myself.

[Snowboy]

I'd argue that if it's a piece of car that stops water from knackering the electrics it's not trim, it's protective stuff and should be covered by warranty.

[gavgavgav]

Trim under a car? Surely that is part of the bodywork as I would not expect any decorative parts under the car.

[mmm-five]

I've had 3 or 4 PDC sensors replaced on my 5 year old Z4 - all under extended (insured) warranty.

Are they refusing to pay for the trim, or the sensor control module?

'Trim' covers a lot more than you think - including windows, window seals, door sills, bumpers, etc.

Here's the BMW 'trim' catalogue for an e90 3 series so you can see the extent of 'trim'.

Edited by mmm-five on Monday 21st November 14:00

[Crusoe]

Might depend if the milage is over 60k, less than that and I would expect it to be covered (the module but maybe not the trim). Can be a bit tricky though as that part usually fails when someone has a car park knock which moves a sensor in or breaks a bumper trim etc. which if they don't fix can let the water in and cause the failure. If they think it is broken because there was a bump that wasn't fixed you can see why they would argue the point.

[Gad-Westy]

gavgavgav said:

Trim under a car? Surely that is part of the bodywork as I would not expect any decorative parts under the car.

Not sure. It's all a bit hearsay but I did hear mention of a vent. I wonder if it's something that should have a drain hole but was blocked but just speculating.

[Gad-Westy]

Crusoe said:

Might depend if the milage is over 60k, less than that and I would expect it to be covered (the module but maybe not the trim). Can be a bit tricky though as that part usually fails when someone has a car park knock which moves a sensor in or breaks a bumper trim etc. which if they don't fix can let the water in and cause the failure. If they think it is broken because there was a bump that wasn't fixed you can see why they would argue the point.

Fair point. Not sure in what way it's damaged at this stage.

[superlightr]

what type of extended warranty did they take out 3 options from memory - comprehensive, drive line and another

[Gad-Westy]

superlightr said:

what type of extended warranty did they take out 3 options from memory - comprehensive, drive line and another

Will try to find out. She's asked them not to carry out the repair for the time being.

[Rich_W]

It will probably come down to whether said "trim" is damaged in some way by owner (or previous owner) OR whether TRIM has failed due to manaufacturing defect / poor design. If it's the former. You're buggered. If the latter, you should be covered.

IMO having dealt with 3 different Manufacturer warranties for a good few years now.

[vdp1]

Lesson - don't pay for an extended warranty, just a con.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Lesson 2 - don't go to one dealer one minute and another the next, unless you absolutely have to. Consistency pays.

[northandy]

These modules are usually under the boot floor, i can see if damaged trim let water into the boot and it damaged the module they wouldnt cover it, But the question is where is the damage?, if its the boot seal fair enough but its probably a bodywork drain hole thats got blocked and the water has found another exit into the area where the module sits, which would be difficukt to argue as trim failure.

I'd complain in writing and see if you can get a goodwill offer.