Hey all - Happy New Year - I'm nearing the time when I need to decide on the extended warranty for our CM. GEICO offers a good deal too. Since I'm one of the guys that holds on to vehicles and this is my first MINI, what should I expect to go bad before 100K. Thanks for the help.

 

I went with the Geico route. Its cheaper, and frankly, will fix the same stuff.. we all know the Mini's weak points..

 

I have all my vehicles insured through Geico, but am not eligible for mechanical breakdown coverage due to age/mileage. I wish I were though.

 

Yea I was lucky. I enrolled as soon as I found out about it.. I was on the fence about the extended warty on the Mini... I do all my own work, but sometimes due to time/space issues I may have to take it in.

 

All extended warranties, each and every one, are a waste of money. Odds are, if you actually perform old school maintenance on your car, buying an EW is pointless.

You should know before the factory warranty is up wheather or not your car is going to be a problem later on.

If you put the cost of the EW in the bank, chances are you can take a great vacation later with the money you didn't spent.

Companies call EWs a profit center for a reason.

 

I get the different opinions on EWs. My question is I'm a Toyota guy(4 of them over that last 20 years) and aside from oil changes and tires, there's not much I've ever done before 100K. I was under the assumption that MINIs didn't have this type of reliability. I dont have a problem with that and that's why this is the first EW I've considered.

So my question...the GEICO EW is approx $700 between now (10K) and 100K. Should I expect failures in the 50K-100K mileage range that would exceed $700?

 

Ok, just looking at your op, you are talking about a 2013 CMS? If so wtf? It has 3 years of factory warranty left. So you shouldn't worry about an extended warranty until it's about to expire. By that point you should know if it's going to be a keeper or not.

 

I just hit 80k and have had my brake booster, thermostat, and alternator replaced so far under my extended warranty

 

With the Geico MBI you have to get it before the car is 15 months old or has 15K miles. No option for a later date.

 

And how much did you pay for the EW?

 

Over the time period, the GEICO EW will be $700ish.

 

My opinion is that the $700 is a no brainer AS LONG AS IT REALLY COVERS THE IMPORTANT AND EXPENSIVE STUFF.

OTOH I just picked up an '05 with about 35K on the clock and an EW through AAA for 48 months and 48K miles more is about $4K. I'm on the fence about that price, although the fact that it's through AAA gives me some comfort level.

 

I went ahead and got the GIECO mechanical warranty, but now I am having second thoughts because it means that I will have to stick with GEICO in order to have the warranty, so if I sell the car or leave GEICO I cant take the warranty with.....

 

That's because you are buying Mechanical Breakdown Insurance (MBI) not a warranty. Insurance is not transferable. And, it is a rider on your Geico policy not a stand alone policy. I wish I was eligible for this.

 

Purchased it for around $1000 at 50k miles. Along with the repairs I've always had a free loaner car while mine was in the shop which for me was a big deal. Being 24 for me to get a rental car the past few times my car is been in the shop (at least a month all together) would have cost me more than $1000 because of the underage surcharge. I personally feel it was money well spent but every situation is different.

 

So where do you get a good EW for $1000?

 

I purchased mine from the dealership, I believe it was a CNA warranty

 

Wow I did not remember that correctly...it was $3000. Finally pulled out the paperwork to double check the end date. Yikes! Still worth it for me though when I consider the loaner cars and that I still have another year of coverage.

 

Kat question regarding your extended warranty. I'm purchasing a certified 2011 MCS from dealership. It has certified 6yr 100k mi warranty but no maintenance warranty. When you bought the extended warranty from dealership, did you also renew maintenance? I don't want standard crap brakes/rotors on my car and I feel like that's what the maintenance warranty will mainly cover. I have a fabulous mechanic that works on imports and charges fairly for labor. This MCS will be my second Mini in less than one year. I was rear rear ended/sideswiped on both sides and an angle by 2 semi trucks and I'm replacing my first MCS. I have only taken my previous car in for an oil change. No other experience with it since.

Thanks!

 

Sorry to hear about your first MINI!

I did get the extended maintenance but if you would rather have non-oem parts it may not be worth it. I bought it mostly for the clutch. I've also had 2 new sets of brakes, wipers every year, oil changes & top offs, and plenty of other stuff I am probably not remembering since it's been almost 4 years now.

 

Any chance you are in MA? I need to find one of those