Synter Warranty - BMW - Anyone with any experience?

[Kam 1]

Hi,

We have bought a 420d. It’s a 14 plate (10/2014).

Last of the N47 engines that had timing chain issues.

The cars is in excellent condition has almost full service with Oil changes done on time, 49k on the clock.

I have taken out the Synter warranty, purely to cover me for is the timing chain were to have issues/snap.

(Currently sounds excellent).

The warranty was £300 more than I thought it was, with 24 months at £799.

(It comes with 3 months free either way).

I tried to get in writing that the timing chain would be covered, and all I can really get back is as long as it’s not down to wear.

The car has just been serviced (by them) and should in theory not need another service for 24months (though I would change the oil in 12 months).

In person they kept saying as long as it’s not due to wear… But my point was if the mileage is low and it happens in this 24month period - I should be covered?

But was like getting blood from a stone.

This is the warranty - seems like an awful lot NOT covered.


https://www.sytner.co.uk/sytner-select/select-warr...


I’m wondering whether to cancel it as £800 is a lot, especially if it’s useless.

I just came out of another vehicle that had a major fault, I lost 5k on it, so hence took the warranty. Normally I wouldn’t.

Anyone know about the Synter warranties or has any experience?

Anyone ever had a successful warranty claim for the timing chain?

I know I have 14 days to cancel the warranty (12 now).

Many thanks all

Edited by Kam 1 on Monday 12th May 12:43

[WPA]

Happy to be corrected but I would say that the timing chain would be classed as a wear and tear item and not covered under any warranty

[Phateuk]

Imagine they'll be using wear and tear caveat to you in case you suddenly do an extra 100k miles and it goes, at which point they may have a case. The low milage should be in your favour, but 10 years old now they may try and claim the "lifetime" of the chain is getting near. (similar with "sealed for life" gearboxes etc)

Personally I'd be cancelling it for such low miles, keep an eye on it, keep on top of servicing etc then can either elect to have it sorted independantly if it does go (there are plenty of specialists for this now), or trade in before it fully fails.

[Jakg]

WPA said:

Happy to be corrected but I would say that the timing chain would be classed as a wear and tear item and not covered under any warranty

It's not a service item either, though...

If your worried about the timing chain letting go, and if it is covered, will they cover £100 for a new chain? Will they cover the £1k in labour to get it out? Will they cover the £2k in damage to the head that it letting go will do?

EDIT - £800 on a warranty to maybe cover the chain, or a little more (£1k-£1.5k) to actually get a new chain put in...

[Phateuk]

The main issue you'll have, is if it does fail, before anything is paid out - you'll need to take it for diagnosis/investigation which you'll be liable for, this will then be covered by the warranty IF they deem it was a sudden and unexpected failure. If not you'll be liable for the labour to investigate, even if you don't proceed with the repair which could get expensive and awkward to deal with?

[ScoobyChris]

Can't remember the restrictions, but are you able to get the BMW Extended warranty for your vehicle?

https://its-juice-2.foleon.com/bmw-group/bmw-insur...

Always felt very comprehensive (similar to manufacturer warranty), although I never had to test it!

Chris

[ChickenvanGuy]

Can’t help with the timing chain question, but I have that same warranty on my TTS.

It was advertised as an AUC but when the warranty documents came through it was a Sytner Select one. I wasn’t happy, as I would not have bought it if it wasn’t an AUC, so queried it and the explanation was the car was marginally too old to get the AUC warranty. I kicked up a polite fuss and got some things by way of making me happy. As the car was lovely and my ideal spec, I went with it.

Six months later and the Haldex pump failed. Took it my local Audi dealer and, as they used the same warranty company for older cars, they had an account. Fixed the fault and charged me nothing, warranty covered it all, and it was just shy of a grand.

I thought I’d have to pay the bill and claim it back but no, I drove in, had it fixed and drove away - this was the experience I’d wanted the AUC warranty for.

Aftermarket warranties get a bad press, often rightly, so thought I’d offer this as a more positive spin. If the timing chain fails and you go back to the supplying dealer, hopefully you’ll be golden

[owski]

Almost full service history unfortunately sounds like a get out clause

[Kam 1]

Thanks all the replies so far, much appreciated.

The gut feeling is they would try to get out of it. I was thinking it’s just been serviced, by them, so it’s passed all their checks.

However I do agree, that they would just reply it is wear and tear, because the recommended service plan has not been followed (it was deemed partial service history).

The services were:

Here is a detailed breakdown of the service history for the BMW 420d (VIN: WBA4B52030D812761) based on your document:

⸻

SERVICE HISTORY

March 2016 – 19,789 miles
Engine oil service

July 2017 – 38,596 miles
Engine oil service

October 2017 – 42,152 miles
Standard service scope
Brake fluid service

March 2018 – 45,579 miles
BMW (but no key job details recorded in this entry)

January 2019 – 46,283 miles
Reworking of the steering gear (job for F2x/F3x models)

February 2019 – 46,290 miles
EGR cooler inspection and replacement (Gxx Check)

August 2019 – 47,187 miles
Engine oil service

October 2019 – 47,340 miles
Jobs performed:
(Key registered, no job details included separately but implied regular service)

February 2023 – mileage not listed explicitly (job number 48911Mi may imply mileage)
Location: BMW Retailer 08660
Jobs performed:
Replacement of exhaust gas recirculation cooler (again)
Listed as job: E84 FOx / FIX F2x F3x

May 2025 - mileage - 49,677
Engine Oil Service

All service were done at Sytner BMW, Haverfordwest (which is now closed)

So it was ok until 2018, and then it's only done very low miles per year, less and less.


I’m assuming most here would think they would just say the full schedule was not maintained so would get out of it.

I wonder if I should call and get that point clarified (and in writing).

I am edging towards cancellation. It’s just the bad luck from the previous car’s gearbox failure that’s made me so nervous

The car itself drives lovely, engine sounds great

[Matt_T]

I think if it was me, I'd just take the £800 and put it towards a new timing chain now.

[darreni]

The 4 year gap in the service history will prevent you getting the BMW extended warranty. Personally i'd look for another car.

[bodhi]

BMW were doing goodwill replacements on timing chains for the N47 at one point, however I suspect the 4 year gap in the service history will preclude that should the worse happen.

The warranty may still be useful if you have any other issues on the car, really not sure about the chain however.

Up to you if you keep the Sytner warranty for any other work, but for the chain I'd just change the oil every 10k, turn off start stop and just drive it. The really problematic N47s were up to 2009, there were a few revisions after that. It's also quite easy to find an N47 that's done big miles, so everything around the chain is pretty robust.

[Kam 1]

Thanks, really appreciate all the points of view.

You when you just need to hear some other people’s opinions?!

My gut was/is telling me it’s a waste of money.

The cars immaculate, drives like a dream, has never failed an MOT or even had a single advisory - and bodywork and interior is like it’s 2 years old not 10.

Normally I wouldn’t bother with these. I’d just read so much bad things about the N47.

Quite a few people on other forums mention that BMW did updates and revisions over time to the chain to improve it, but I’ve searched loads and can’t find anything to back this up?

The cars 10/2014, the replacement engine was 2015 so it really was last of the line.

I also agree they will argue the gap means it’s not been properly maintained.

Decision made to cancel. Thanks all

[bennno]

If you read the policy link you shared it excludes

"Damage resulting from the failure of a timing belt which has not been replaced as per the manufacturer's recommendations (proof required)."

It makes no such exclusion for a cam chain, it'd be simple enough to ask BMW if its a service or lifetime part.

The warranty will cover the gearbox, turbo etc etc - if you've got enough stashed away to self insure any potential failure then dont bother with the warranty, if not then I would take it.

[smashy]

Just for some reassurance, The Tech manager said to me in 2014 when I was changing my car " its only now (2014) that I would be happy to put my money into an N47 Engine just as they are changing it for the B47.
..it was 2007-9 that most issues occured including mine that totalled the engine. Timing chain had updates including a biggie in 2011.

[The Conflated Outlier]

N47 chains were an issue waaaay past 2009. Late ones were better but not infallible.

But 48,000 miles? Forget it. Just change the oil and filter every 8000 miles or annually and turn that bd stop/start off. Look after it and it'll do 150k plus.

[nickfrog]

My initial question is do you really need/want a diesel?

Either way if a warranty is important, only an AUC makes sense.