How many people buy the Tire/Wheel warranty for their new MINI?

My dealer's offering it at a discounted rate this month.

 

My dealer was pushing this pretty hard when I picked up my MCS last month. If I remember correctly the cheapest warranty they were offering covered the wheels and key fob if lost. I think it was an extra $16 a month.

 

They were telling me that the run flats combined with the brittle nature of the 16in spoke wheels makes it worthwhile if you have to replace because of damage. They claimed 80 percent of the people who bought from them added the time/wheel warranty.

 

Does it make any sense that they'd be pushing a program that they lose money on? Worthwhile to them, probably not you.

This sounds like a ridculously high number and most likely a flat-out lie or some very creative use of statistics.

Most savy buyers recognize tire/wheel warranties for exactly what they are - extremely expensive insurance in which you're FAR more likely to pay more in premiums that you get back in claims. The only valid reason to get it is for the peace of mind that you won't get hit with a unlikely (but always possible) $400 repair bill if you break a wheel or damage a tire. But if you money is so tight you can't risk a $400 unexpected expense, you really have no business buying a new Mini.

- Mark

 

I could see were they may be scaring people into buying into the program. Just a coincidence for me, on the way to pick up my new MCS, I drove by a monster pot hole that had just broken the axle of another car. They may be getting 80% people to sign up, but how many actually end up using it? Anyway your insurance, which your paying for anyway, may cover the wheel damage (writing this, I'm going to have to check my own ).

 

Well, call me gullible, but I bought the warranty because the So Cal potholes have been getting really bad with all of the rain we've had, and I spend a lot of time on the freeways. Sure enough, a couple of weeks ago I hit a pothole that just about knocked out all of my fillings - I was very surprised that it didn't bend the rim, but it did put a bulge in the sidewall (yes, I'm running the OEM runflats). The tire was replaced under the warranty with no questions asked. I'm happy with my decision to buy the warranty.
Good luck getting that covered. Even if it is, it would still be subject to your Physical Damage deductible, so if you carry anything more than a $250 deductible you're pretty much out of luck.

 

Glad it worked out for you! That's awesome.

 

I bought it and all the other warranties they sold. Sure I spent money I might not have needed to but to me the peace of mind is far more valuable. The finance lady was kinda pissed off that I ruined her spiel and all but then again she sold her quota of after sale stuff in one day

 

If I ditch the run-flats at some point and go with non-run-flat tires, does that void the tire/wheel warranty?

 

when i bought my coop the dealer was offering the tire/wheel warranty for $930.. i took a pass. You can buy 4 new wheels (tires and rims) for that! Not a good investment. People have told me that 930 is way high.. Whatever it is - i think its just an add on that statistically, you wont use.

 

Don't ever but an extended warranty of any kind. It is only money in the dealerships hands. Like others have said, with a little research you can find the same thing cheaper no matter what it is.