Extended Warranty

[Stef117]

Hey guys,

So I recently purchased a 2012 F30 320d with 125k on the clock. Car looks mint, runs great and had a full franchise service history. I was going to take out an extended warranty but have been messed around by brokers and the warranty providers themselves for a few weeks already.

This whole thing has put me off a bit because if that's the service to get quotes and start the policy, imagine trying to claim. I'd like to add that these are some of the "better" warranty providers, not some backyard company.

In your guys opinion, do you think I need a 2 year warranty for my car given the mileage? I know that anything can happen to any car regardless of mileage, but is there anything I should be expecting in the next 2 years? I do between 7-10k per year so that takes me up to about 145000km by the time the warranty ends.

What are your thoughts and experiences?

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[MR_Y]

Hi there,

This statement worries me for a diesel car: "I do between 7-10k per year".
Your DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) will not like short distances and you may suffer incomplete DPF regeneration issues.
Unless, that 7-10k is all mainly open road, highway driving, and not stop-go traffic, then you should be fine.
My comment applies to all DPF equipped cars and not just the 320d.

Diesel particulate filters - Filter cleaning and problems | The AA

Diesel particulate filters (DPF) collect exhaust soot to reduce emissions from diesel cars. Learn how to clean a DPF filter and avoid issues like blocking.

www.theaa.com

 

[Stef117]

Hi there,

This statement worries me for a diesel car: "I do between 7-10k per year".
Your DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) will not like short distances and you may suffer incomplete DPF regeneration issues.
Unless, that 7-10k is all mainly open road, highway driving, and not stop-go traffic, then you should be fine.
My comment applies to all DPF equipped cars and not just the 320d.

Diesel particulate filters - Filter cleaning and problems | The AA

Diesel particulate filters (DPF) collect exhaust soot to reduce emissions from diesel cars. Learn how to clean a DPF filter and avoid issues like blocking.

www.theaa.com

Thanks for the concern.

No, my commute is mostly highway, just not very far. I also work from home half the week, so mileage is low at the moment. In the next year or so, it could be closer to 20k/year, but that's neither here nor there.

It's currently about 13km to my office from home and about 10km of that, are highway.

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[Solo Man]

I knocked out the cat last week and it was not difficult at all. I usually just remove the stuff inside the cat and then refit it. I did have to cut open the silencer and knock out the innards and have it rewelded at Hi-Q which cost me R120 but that is all it cost plus my labour. Car not any louder at all. Can now hear the turbo spooling when listening closely. This is to stop the dpf from clogging, etc., as it is no more.

 

[PsyCLown]

You may want to look at doing a gearbox oil change before it becomes too late - this is done at ZF themselves but warranty would not cover this.
Alternatively, if you keep the car for a long period of time and do not do the gearbox oil change, you may need to have ZF refurbush your gearbox which is over R40k - depending on your aftermarket warranty they may contribute a portion towards this.

Otherwise removing of the DPF is not a bad idea, vibration damper pulley is often replaced around the 150k KM mark I believe. Quite a few like to replace the timing chain around this mileage as well as preventative maintenance.
Suspension, depending on when (or if) it was replaced, may require replacing in the nearish future.

Below 150k KM, not much which really require attention or to be concerned about with a 320d - typically speaking. It is more for peace of mind should something go wrong, you at least have the warranty contributing a portion towards the repairs. Power steering pump could decide to go, water cooler pump perhaps, turbo could give you issues. It is all possible, but not a common occurrence.

I have used SA Warranties / M-Sure and when I have had to claim have not had issues and friends of mine have also had decent experience with them. Relatively cheap at R353 per month for 2 years cover. How much they cover depends on the vehicles age and mileage. Over 2 year it works out to R8 472 paid for some peace of mind. Given your vehicles year, you would end up in the lower brackets so payments for repairs would be smaller and you'd have to pay in but at least you are not forking out for the full repair costs.

 

[Stef117]

You may want to look at doing a gearbox oil change before it becomes too late - this is done at ZF themselves but warranty would not cover this.
Alternatively, if you keep the car for a long period of time and do not do the gearbox oil change, you may need to have ZF refurbush your gearbox which is over R40k - depending on your aftermarket warranty they may contribute a portion towards this.

Otherwise removing of the DPF is not a bad idea, vibration damper pulley is often replaced around the 150k KM mark I believe. Quite a few like to replace the timing chain around this mileage as well as preventative maintenance.
Suspension, depending on when (or if) it was replaced, may require replacing in the nearish future.

Below 150k KM, not much which really require attention or to be concerned about with a 320d - typically speaking. It is more for peace of mind should something go wrong, you at least have the warranty contributing a portion towards the repairs. Power steering pump could decide to go, water cooler pump perhaps, turbo could give you issues. It is all possible, but not a common occurrence.

I have used SA Warranties / M-Sure and when I have had to claim have not had issues and friends of mine have also had decent experience with them. Relatively cheap at R353 per month for 2 years cover. How much they cover depends on the vehicles age and mileage. Over 2 year it works out to R8 472 paid for some peace of mind. Given your vehicles year, you would end up in the lower brackets so payments for repairs would be smaller and you'd have to pay in but at least you are not forking out for the full repair costs.

Thanks for the thorough explanation.

Ya, the peace of mind is always nice to have.

Do you know if warranties usually cover replacing a timing chain preventatively? I've done some research after hearing about 320d timing chain issues some people have had. I understand it's a very expensive process due to labour, to have this done.

I do plan on getting my gearbox oil changed at zf soon. It's on my shortlist of things to do.

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[PsyCLown]

Thanks for the thorough explanation.

Ya, the peace of mind is always nice to have.

Do you know if warranties usually cover replacing a timing chain preventatively? I've done some research after hearing about 320d timing chain issues some people have had. I understand it's a very expensive process due to labour, to have this done.

I do plan on getting my gearbox oil changed at zf soon. It's on my shortlist of things to do.

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I am not aware of any aftermarket warranty which will do it as preventative, only repair if it breaks.

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[Solo Man]

Also want to say thank you for the info regarding after market warranties. I have considered extending the M/P but have decided against it as the car has had a full service just 1k kms ago. Also, regarding the timing chain, i only realized my car has the B47 motor which being still relatively new, have not heard much about the timing chain problem plaguing the N47 motor, so believe BMW has sorted that on the new motor.

 

[Stef117]

Also want to say thank you for the info regarding after market warranties. I have considered extending the M/P but have decided against it as the car has had a full service just 1k kms ago. Also, regarding the timing chain, i only realized my car has the B47 motor which being still relatively new, have not heard much about the timing chain problem plaguing the N47 motor, so believe BMW has sorted that on the new motor.

I've spoken with a few bmw mechanics and funny enough, none of them have ever heard of or seen the timing chain failure on any 320d's in SA. One said he saw it a few times on a 320i but not the diesel. So perhaps it's related to specific markets more than others?

But ya, the mechanic said it's quick and easy to inspect the timing chain because there's an inspection panel. So if one worries, they can have it checked and know if it's stretching or anything.

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[Stef117]

I am not aware of any aftermarket warranty which will do it as preventative, only repair if it breaks.

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Ah, I see. And unfortunately waiting for it to snap is a recipe for disaster. I'll have to take the punches as they come I suppose. I plan on keeping this car into the 250,000km range, so will be happy to do any maintenance necessary to get me there.

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