BMW’s extended warranty is good but expensive.
BMW’s new vehicle warranty, while comprehensive, does not last as long as most other manufacturer warranties. This is one reason to consider a BMW extended warranty or a third-party extended warranty for added peace of mind.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at the coverage BMW offers in these plans, and we’ll show some advantages of considering a third-party option for a vehicle service contract. We reviewed and ranked the best extended car warranty companies that offer BMW extended warranty coverage. Depending on how often you drive your BMW and how long you intend to keep it, one of these could be a better choice for you.
When shopping for extended warranties, the best thing to do is call around and get quotes customized to your specific vehicle. That way, you can compare each company’s prices and get a feel for customer service. Get a free quote from our top three providers below.
In this article:
- BMW Extended Warranty Coverage
- What Does A BMW Extended Warranty Cost?
- BMW’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty
- BMW Repair Costs
- BMW Maintenance Plans: Are They Worth It?
- More Choices In Extended Warranties
- Deciding On An Extended Warranty For Your BMW
BMW Extended Warranty Coverage
If you buy a new vehicle, you can add BMW extended warranty coverage right away or wait until any time before your original warranty’s expiration. So, for example, if you drive more than 12,000 miles a year, you’d need to buy the extra coverage before your car is four years old.
The BMW extended warranty program offers three levels of coverage: Powertrain Plus, Gold, and Platinum. This is fairly average, though some aftermarket warranties offer more choices with longer coverage.
| BMW Extended Warranty | Coverage Terms |
|---|---|
| Powertrain | 7 years/100,000 miles |
| Gold | 7 years/100,000 miles |
| Platinum | 7 years/100,000 miles |
The Powertrain Plus plan offers “limited coverage” of major components of the engine and transmission. The engine itself, transmission, fuel and cooling systems, and drive axle are among the systems receiving limited coverage. The only parts singled out for “comprehensive coverage” are the all-wheel-drive transfer case (if equipped with all-wheel drive) and the engine’s induction system.
The Gold level provides what BMW calls “comprehensive” coverage for the engine, transmission, fuel and cooling systems, steering, anti-lock brakes, heating, and air conditioning systems. Electrical components receive “limited” coverage, while audio, entertainment, and navigation systems have no coverage at all.
The Platinum BMW extended warranty combines all the features of the first two plans and adds coverage for the audio, entertainment, and navigation systems. It also adds limited coverage for the vehicle’s exterior and interior.
For each of these three levels, you can extend the original warranty term by 1, 2, or 3 years, choosing between 75,000 or 100,000 miles for each term. As with other car brands’ extended warranties, those mileage terms are the total of the original factory warranty and what you are actually buying. For example, if you choose 5 years/75,000 miles, you are getting an additional 1 year/25,000 miles. If you choose a 7-year/100,000-mile term, you’re really adding 3 years/50,000 miles of coverage.
What Does A BMW Extended Warranty Cost?
The cost of a BMW extended warranty will depend on the particular model and the terms you choose. That information will be available when you are negotiating the vehicle’s purchase with the dealer. BMW says its dealers are free to set their own prices.
Some brand enthusiasts have posted their quotes on BMW fan forums, indicating a price range of about $1,700 for the 1-year/25,000-mile Powertrain Plus coverage to well over $7,000 for a 3-year Platinum BMW Extended Service Contract.
Regardless of which BMW extended warranty plan or term you choose, you get 24-hour roadside assistance and will pay a $50 deductible for any covered repairs. All repairs must be performed by an authorized BMW dealer to be covered by the extended warranty.
BMW’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty
When considering a BMW extended warranty, you should take into account BMW maintenance cost and the warranty coverage that comes standard with new BMWs.
Like the Mercedes-Benz warranty, BMW's factory warranty coverage lasts for 4 years/50,000 miles and covers the entire vehicle. There is no added powertrain coverage beyond that, as there is from some other luxury brands, including Acura, Infiniti, Cadillac, and Genesis. The latter comes with 10 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage.
BMW’s roadside assistance lasts four years with no mileage restriction, and the corrosion warranty is 12 years/unlimited miles. Many new BMWs are leased, and so those drivers need not be concerned about the warranty running out unless they plan to buy the car at the end of the lease.
If you buy a BMW certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle, you will get what remains of the car’s original 4-year/50,000-mile warranty, plus another year of coverage with unlimited miles on top of that. This warranty includes travel protection through BMW Roadside Assistance, and you can buy a BMW Extended Vehicle Protection Plan as well.
BMW Repair Costs
Like all modern vehicles, BMWs have become more complex in recent years, and some buyers worry about how that affects vehicle reliability. All 2021 model-year BMWs, for example, use turbocharged engines, and many are equipped with all-wheel drive. In-car electronics are more capable and complex than ever.
With all of that, BMW as a brand made a solid showing in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM, which surveyed car owners about problems encountered after three years of ownership. BMW was reported to have 108 problems per 100 cars. That result puts it ahead of rivals Audi (127) and Mercedes-Benz (122), but behind industry leader Lexus (81).
That’s for the brand as a whole. BMW makes many different models. J.D. Power rated three BMW models in the top three of their classes for quality and reliability.
| BMW Model | J.D. Power Award |
|---|---|
| BMW 2 Series | Highest Ranked Small Premium Car |
| BMW 4 Series | #3 Compact Premium Car |
| BMW 5 Series | #3 Midsize Premium Car |
If your new or certified pre-owned BMW should need repairs, however, costs can be high. Here are a few examples of repair prices for 2016 models from RepairPal.
| BMW Model | Repair | Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 BMW 528i | Cylinder head gasket replacement | $2,550–$3,292 |
| 2016 BMW 528i | Water pump replacement | $777–$894 |
| 2016 BMW X3 xDrive28i | Air conditioner compressor replacement | $1,726–$2,109 |
| 2016 BMW X3 xDrive28i | Starter motor replacement | $503–$1,275 |
BMW Maintenance Plans: Are They Worth It?
In addition to offering BMW extended warranty plans (also known as vehicle service contracts), the manufacturer sells prepaid maintenance plans. With these plans, you pay in advance for all factory-scheduled maintenance to get a 30-percent discount compared to paying for individual services as you go, according to BMW. The plans offer terms up to 7 years/125,000 miles from the vehicle’s original in-service date.
As an example, the cost ranges from $1,249 to $4,499 for the popular X5 SUV. Critically, these plans do not include windshield washer fluid, fluid top-offs, the vehicle battery, tires, wheels and wheel alignments, and wear-and-tear items such as brake pads, brake rotors, wiper blades, clutches, and tire balancing.
For an additional $700, you can add coverage for brake pads, windshield wiper blades, and a manual transmission clutch. (Very few BMWs offer a manual transmission anymore, however.) The plans are transferable if you sell the car.
More Choices In Extended Warranties
Depending on how you drive, a BMW extended warranty from the manufacturer may not offer exactly the right amount of coverage for your needs. A third-party warranty from one of our top picks can offer more flexibility in coverage, for both miles and years.
Also, consider that BMW has just 341 authorized dealers in the U.S. A breakdown on the road could leave your car at a BMW dealership far from home while it’s being repaired. For example, there are just two BMW dealers in the states of Iowa and New Mexico. The BMW extended warranty does not list trip interruption reimbursement as a benefit.
On the other hand, with a third-party warranty, you could have covered repairs done at more than 30,000 repair facilities nationwide and also get trip interruption coverage. Here’s a quick comparison between BMW’s Extended Service Contracts and our top recommended providers: Endurance, CarShield, and CARCHEX. Note that with any of these providers, you can purchase the extended coverage even after BMW’s original factory warranty has expired.
| BMW Extended Warranty | Endurance | CARCHEX | CarShield | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Start Date |
Upon expiration of factory warranty | Anytime | Anytime | Anytime |
| Max Length of Coverage | 7 years/100,000 miles | 8 years/200,000+ miles | 10 years/250,000 miles | 200,000 miles |
| # of Plan Options | 3 (18 contracts) | 6 | 5 (16 contracts) | 6 |
| Transferable | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deductible |
$50 |
$0+ | $0+ | $0+ |
| Trip Interruption | No | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Roadside Assistance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Repair Network | BMW dealers only | Shops certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®) | > 30,000 facilities nationwide | ASE-Certified repair facilities |
| Cancellation Policy | No | Refund if within 30 days | Refund if within 30 days | Refund if within 30 days |
| Availability | From local dealer | Free, instant quote | Free, instant quote | Free, instant quote |
| Contact your BMW Dealer for Pricing |
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Deciding On An Extended Warranty For Your BMW
If considering whether an extended car warranty is worth it, think about how long you plan to own your car. You may not know how long you’ll keep a new BMW until you’ve driven it for a few years. At that point, you might even be past your factory warranty. But with a third-party warranty, you don’t have to worry about missing that deadline, because you can still buy this extended coverage option after the factory warranty has expired.
Looking at third-party warranties, you’ll find that the added benefits of roadside assistance, towing, rental car coverage, and trip interruption reimbursement can last much longer than anything the factory BMW extended warranty offers.
Contact any of our top picks below and get a free quote, and make your own judgment for what gives you the best value in an extended auto warranty for your BMW vehicle.
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