Warranty Advice

[Mario T PhD]

Hello

My warranty insurance are asking for a minimum of £350 (minimum!) to insure my E39 for the next twelve months

Now, bear in mind I recently had a valve cover gasket fail and they "failed" to cover this due to "normal wear and tear" I'm thinking twice about renewing - especially since I had Silver cover

(I'll save their blushes by not naming them here)

The car is from 2001, has done 90k and has recently had the radiator replaced

I'm thinking the water pump might be next - if that goes is that also wear and tear?

If it is or isn't, is a £500 gamble that anything that fails in the next year justified?

Apart from the cooling system what's likely to go wrong of an E39 of this vintage?

Any thoughts appreciated

g

[christer]

A lot of things are wear and tear and is the signle most contested and ambiguous issue with warranties. Some people expect a warranty to cover brake pads which is insane, but on the other hand the warranty company can say that almost any failure is wear and tear related. Engine blew up sir? That would have been caused by a worn engine bearing etc....a blown gearbox sir? Oh that is due to wear and tear on the bolt that holds x into y.....I am not sure what to tell you about warranties. I actually have Warrantywise on my 5 series and they paid out on a 150gbp claim - but would they on a bigger one?

The problem as I see it, is this: it is ludicrous to allow a company insuring a certain party's risk to be a profit-making entity. It is a clear conflict of interest. A company whose sole aim is to make money is having to pay out to protect you as a client?? Haha....one of capitalism's cruel jokes perhaps?

[SJobson]

I would like to see wear and tear defined as applying only to items which are in the normal service schedule for replacement.

But I would definitely suggest that the OP saves his cash for repairs instead of giving it to a company which have already been difficult.

[phumy]

Read the small print of the Terms and Conditions, all exclusions should be shown in there, if theyre not then you shouldnt be dealing with them...

[paoloh]

As mentioned above, the biggest issue is "wear and tear".

Things tend to fail when they are worn and torn....

They can more or less get out of any claim with that line and who do you argue with??

Keep your money in the bank and take the risk.

[christer]

It should be said however that the manufacturers warranties tend to be good if your vehicle is eligible. This does however tie you into servicing at main dealerships as the extended warranties do not fal under the "bloc exemption" that the original warranty falls under because the extended warranty is an insurance policy. I am considering the BMW warranty on mine as it is not that much more than Warrantywise tbh.

[phumy]

I extended the warranty on my 335d, last September, through the dealer as i found them to be the best value for money.

[paoloh]

I was talking about in the op's case not in general.

[ymwoods]

I have just taken out the AA repair cover, if you break-down and they are called out then for £60(ish) per year they will repair the car up to £500 in any one claim. You just pay the first £25 as an excess.

Now the policy book came through and it litrally states that it covers pretty much everything except for cracks in pipes because you did not put anti-freeze in, the zorst system, the clutch, any cambelt and resultant engine damage from not servicing and any damage to the panels in an accident caused by a third-party. Everything else they cover!

I am yet to test this cover but after paying over 1k last year in repair bills it seemed like a no brainer! This may be a good alternative? I am guessing the £60 premium will change depending on car but I doubt it will be anywhere near the £500 for your warranty, and like I said, it pretty much covers everything on the car unless its a clutch, the zorst or caused by your own negligence from not servicing.