When would you purchase and Extended Warrantee?

[FirstBMW]

I just ordered my 08 X5, scheduled for week 41 and hoping it gets pulled into next week!

Next I need to decide on the Extended Warrentee. I have had my last two cars (Honda then Toyota) for 9 years, so will likely keep this one for a while too, Maybe 80K or so. Those cars were very solid and Maintanance was mimimul. I am a bit nervious that this car may need a bit more 'care'

So the questions:
Should I buy Extended Warrantee now or wait until the Factory Warrantee is almost up?
How about and Extended Maintanance for regular service?
Should I get it from the dealer or from an outside company?
Any other things to consider?

Thanks.

[xnsf]

:xoutpost:

You can purchase the extended warranty at any time during your factory warranty period. Buy now to save money, IT WILL COME IN HANDY.

The Maintenance warranty is absolutely worth it ($1200-$1700 depending on dealer)

If you get the BMW warranty, you'll have less headaches dealing with aftermarket warranties. Use those only if you have no other option, for one reason or another.

This care will need more care
1, because it's a BMW,
and 2, because you'll love it

EDIT: http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/B0...ranty+Plan.pdf

http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/B0...n+Upgrades.pdf

[KEF]

This is an interesting question, and something I have though about since deciding to buy a '08 before the year ends.

I currently have a low mileage E46 M3 that I did not buy the extended warranty on due to the low mileage on the car, and the way I was using it – basically a weekend toy.

When I test drove the X5 about a month ago, I have to be honest, the level of technology in this car scared the sh!t out of me from the standpoint of long term ownership. The amount of electronics in these cars keeps increasing exponentially, and frankly, and I imagine owing something like this out of warranty or long-term, could get pricy rather quickly.

So, I have not personally decided what to do – basically because this will be another toy, a low mileage weekend / trip car. But if this were a daily driver for me or my wife, something we planned to drive with the frequency you are talking about, I would personally buy the extended warranty, it would only take a few sensor failures for it to pay for itself.

Good Luck
KEF

[motordavid]

I'd wait...you have 4 years to spend on your oem warr., and
things and your needs can change over that time. The BMW
ext warr. is only 2 years longer, (effectively, if you do more than
keep it parked), and while pricing maybe less expensive "today"
than in 4 yrs, 11 months, I'd take the risk and wait.

As for non-BMW warranties, several of us here have it through
Warranty Direct, and those of us that have used it have had
good experiences. The Stlr will dissuade you; that's his job.

Ext Maintenance, covering things like brakes & fluids can also
be held off for same reasons as Warranty decision, imo.

Putting your dough into any ext warr./ext maint. at this point
is really betting against the house, imo.

Do a search, using the Search Tab at top of site, plug in
Extended Warranty and you have pages of threads/opins
on this topic.
GL,mD

[brian5]

Originally Posted by motordavid

I'd wait...you have 5 years to spend on your oem warr., ... <<snip>>

You mean 4 years don't you?

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by brian5

You mean 4 years don't you?

Yes, meant 4 years; typo and was thinking the 50k mile
angle. Thanks.

[MRV99]

I rolled the dice on my 540I M/sport that I had and spend the cash for the extended warranty. I did very well because the issues that I had were pretty expensive.... Radiator, Cluster go out, lock actuators fail, Bushings wear out..... all covered... Remeber the more technology the cars get the more prone to failure they have..... plus they are very expensive to fix

[rufusdedog]

I just checked the prices with my dealer:
$1995 for 2 year Maintenance
$3875 for the warranty with a $50 copay each occurrence.
Is this the going rate?

[BGM]

Originally Posted by rufusdedog

I just checked the prices with my dealer:
$1995 for 2 year Maintenance
$3875 for the warranty with a $50 copay each occurrence.
Is this the going rate?

$3875 seems a little high. I bought my current X5 new in '01 and bought a 10yr/150K bumper-to-bumper $0 deduct warranty a year later for $2,300. Unless warranty prices have doubled since then I say keep shopping. I went through autoadvantage.com.

[Wagner]

Get the extended maintenance and warranty around 40-45K miles. Don't buy them now unless you want to wrap them into the loan. They aren't all that expensive and the money is better off in your wallet then the dealers.

You never know, your car could be a lemon and then you have to go through the hassle of getting your money refunded.