BMW comprehensive warranty questions. All help appreciated

[MrBeEmW]

My AUC warranty is coming to and end and I had a few questions in regards to renewing which I hope everyone could help with:

1) if I have modified my car (all cosmetic) will my extended warranty be void?

2) do I have to service the car with BMW only?

3) if I change for example a cabin filter using MANN filters myself and not register it on the idrive Will this void my warranty ?

4) is it worth paying extra for the road side assistance and do they take you anywhere you want or don’t bother with this?

Thanks all

[danb79]

MrBeEmW said:

My AUC warranty is coming to and end and I had a few questions in regards to renewing which I hope everyone could help with:

1) if I have modified my car (all cosmetic) will my extended warranty be void?

2) do I have to service the car with BMW only?

3) if I change for example a cabin filter using MANN filters myself and not register it on the idrive Will this void my warranty ?

4) is it worth paying extra for the road side assistance and do they take you anywhere you want or don t bother with this?

Thanks all

1) In a sense, no - but; others have modified their cars and warranty has been voided. I upgraded all the suspension on my F31, more so with Bilstein B4S shocks and Eibach pro-kit springs and it still had 2 lots of warranty work done. I was very clear about it to Bowker BMW here in Preston and they didn't blink an eye; but stated the obvious that any suspension warranty claims wouldn't be honoured...

2) - No; but ensure you use as close to OEM parts as you can, so ideally stay with the likes of Lemforder, TRW and Febi Bilstein parts (source them via Autodoc)

3) - Nope; zero issues - OEM are Mann, Hengst and Mahle

4) I did and used it twice for the warranty claims; saved having to faff with other breakdown services then and to be fair; BMW Roadside Assist are very much just BMW, so their techs know what they're doing and they have the right code reading software on them (ISTA+ etc)

[VeeTenM]

2) do I have to service the car with BMW only?

No, but keep all receipts and you can have it serviced at any VAT registered garage using genuine/OEM spec parts.

[sortedcossie]

VeeTenM said:

2) do I have to service the car with BMW only?

No, but keep all receipts and you can have it serviced at any VAT registered garage using genuine/OEM spec parts.

I was advised this too, I just use a local VAT reg LTD entity local independent

[MrBeEmW]

VeeTenM said:

2) do I have to service the car with BMW only?

No, but keep all receipts and you can have it serviced at any VAT registered garage using genuine/OEM spec parts.

If I changed a filter myself such as the cabin filter would that then void my warranty ?

[danb79]

MrBeEmW said:

VeeTenM said:

2) do I have to service the car with BMW only?

No, but keep all receipts and you can have it serviced at any VAT registered garage using genuine/OEM spec parts.

If I changed a filter myself such as the cabin filter would that then void my warranty ?

No - I did my own oil changes, but kept the receipts of the parts and ensured that the oil met BMWs requirements etc

[MrBeEmW]

danb79 said:

No - I did my own oil changes, but kept the receipts of the parts and ensured that the oil met BMWs requirements etc

I just called them to reconfirm and they said you can’t change anything yourself. It must be a VAT registered garage. Now I’m confused.

[sortedcossie]

From experience, if you have to make a claim relating to a failure you'll struggle with driveway servicing. You may get away with unrelated claims (say an engine mount failure), or even possible fluid leaks, but anything more and the claim manager will expect proof of a service schedule being followed using BMW or OE equivalent parts by a VAT/LTD business. They will also require the i-drive to be correct.

I have an issue where for some reason my most recent service refuses to go to the car. It's on the BMW portal, they can see it, but it's not on the car itself. I have the invoice and also a copy of the print out form the BMW portal but even with those questions were raised on my last claim (even though the claim was electrical, not mechanical).

They will only get tighter on this subject too.

[danb79]

MrBeEmW said:

danb79 said:

No - I did my own oil changes, but kept the receipts of the parts and ensured that the oil met BMWs requirements etc

I just called them to reconfirm and they said you can t change anything yourself. It must be a VAT registered garage. Now I m confused.

If that's been confirmed then you clearly need to get all the work done at a garage

However; I cannot see any issues changing simple filters like pollen and air filters yourself

As said; I never had any issues - it is all down to the specific dealer you go to; some are fine, others will do everything they can to null a claim etc

[VeeTenM]

BMW: "Yes MrBeEmW, we have found the issue, it was the air filter blocking the air going into the engine which has blown your engine up.... sorry your claim has been rejected due to "enter fault here"...as it the air filter does not show being changed on any invoice's you have provided......"

[sortedcossie]

I have found the main agent I use (I travel to Wolverhampton to avoid our local Oldbury branch) to be very good to deal with, but they are clear on what is required to honour claims. I have heard of nightmare dealers though.

Why would you randomly change an air or cabin filter though? Surely that's done as part of one of the more indepth services?

Just checked, my 335d had a 20k mile service in November last year (the one that won't go onto the drive) and that was oil filter, fuel filter, cabin filter, oil change, air filter then the checks that BMW list which noted that my rear disks are getting close to minimum so they'll need to be done at next rear pad change.

[Court_S]

danb79 said:

MrBeEmW said:

VeeTenM said:

2) do I have to service the car with BMW only?

No, but keep all receipts and you can have it serviced at any VAT registered garage using genuine/OEM spec parts.

If I changed a filter myself such as the cabin filter would that then void my warranty ?

No - I did my own oil changes, but kept the receipts of the parts and ensured that the oil met BMWs requirements etc

That basically killed the warranty on my 335i - despite using a Mann filter and LL-04 spec oil they were very unhappy about it and used it to wriggle out of my claim (in conjunction with non-related mods like wheels and suspension).

[Court_S]

My experience of the warranty on my old 335i was not a happy one.

I don't think I was particularly helped by the dealer, but it felt like the approach was to find a way to reject the claim and go from there. They also wanted me to foot the bill for stripping the engine down to prove the likely issue! I'd (probably) naively assumed that it would function like the manufacturer warranty (I had no issues on my M140i claims despite a few mods), but it's nothing like it.

I think it works well if your car is bone stock and serviced in line with BMW guidelines and have a helpful dealer.

[sortedcossie]

This is the reason I don't use our closest dealer, I travel to one that gives 100% better customer service.

I know of someone else who had the same issue on a home serviced car and in light of the discussion I had to have last time with my missing i-drive record (despite it being on their portal) i'm not doing home servicing despite having full workshop, ramp and tool access. It's not work risking a voided claim. I just stick to spannering on my older classic instead.