We just got our new Countryman All4 and, while at the dealer, they proposed a bunch of expensive options for 'after care'. We went with the wheel/tire care and the Mini maintenance upgrade (as we live in an area with terrible potholes which wreak havoc on the run-flats, and we are not mechanical at all). We keep cars forever - at least 10 years.

What about the "EnviroSeal" - bumper to bumper aerodynamic clear-coat protection that means you never have to wax for 5 years - price $595

"StayNu" - repairs scratches,dents and stains for 5 years $599

Anti-Theft up to $5000 for $399 (doesn't my own insurance do this?)

or the Extended Factory Protection for $3,380????

Any help much appreciated.

 

My dealer never mentioned anything other than the Maintenance/Warranty/Tire Protection/Clear bra stuff. I would think that the other things are just another way for them to make extra $$$ off of you.

 

I would say no to all of it (except maybe the tire package)

Buy a bottle of polish and wax and sepdn 2 hours on your car every 6 months and the paint will look like new. That will save you the $595 for the protection which is nothing but a heavy duty wax BTW.

Your insurance comp coverage covers theft, fire, vandalism, acts of nature.

Put the remaining $5,000 in the bank and keep it in case you need to repair something mechanical. I would spend of it on additional preventive maintenance like oil changes at 7,500 miles as well as trans / differential / transfer case fluid changes at 30,000 mile intervals and at that point you should get 10 years out of that car with no major component failures.

 

Gosh no, way too many add ons that you will likely never need.

 

I can only speak from the "other" side of the desk.

My Mister works for a local car dealership and he's offered these types of packages before. I asked him what he would get, of those packages, if he had the chance.
Again, this is his opinion. What you choose is entirely up to you.

The only thing he would get is the extended warranty, if it was 6 or 7 years, 100k miles. I'm not sure about MINI pricing, but he said if you can get it for $2,000-ish, do it, the dealer should still make money.

Hope this helps...

 

Just padding their bonus check on your dime. $600 so you don't have to wax? Come on. Save your money.

 

Don't do it. Bank the $5,000 and spend it as follows:
- Buy a bottle of good polish and wax for $20 - 30. Apply every six months and that will be better than the clear coat protection.
- Your insurance comp coverage covers theft, fire, vandalism, acts of nature.
- Change motor oil every 7,500 miles, and change trans / diff / transfer case fluids every 30,000 miles. That car will last 10 years with no major compoenet breakdown and you'll have money left over for a downpayment on the next one.

 

Make sure to read ALL of the fine print in the extended coverage to fully understand what is and is not covered. Ask lots of questions until you understand everything.
Some policies have exclusions for things like the drivetrain.

 

I have some swamp land that I could let you have for a steal with that new MINI. Call me!

 

Thanks everyone! I will follow the group advice and decline all the other extras. Will buy the wax and use it regularly and splurge on the extra oil & other fluid changes, too. Appreciate your help!

Loving the car but still have lots of things to figure out. My last car had roll up windows ; )

 

Should get the tire insurance, I did not get one, hit a pothole in NYC rip a chunk out the side wall. Had to get it towed $325 for a tire. Now I carry a full spare ( from tire rack) I mounted it on my roof rack.

 

I agree that most of the packages are bogus.

The thing about the extended warranty is this: the CM has some new engineering in it that MINI has never put in a car. It's also a heavier car on the engine and brakes than the other MINIs. Even the door construction is new for MINI.

So the warranty stands a higher chance, by my estimation, of paying for itself. Also, I wanted to be able to have everything done at the dealer with a free loaner.

Normally, I wouldn't invest in an extended warranty. Whatever price the dealer sells it at is a price that they profit from, so by definition, the dealer wins out on average. But in this particular case, I decided it was a good bet.

If you're not buying such a new model, and/or if you have a trustworthy, excellent non-dealer mechanic to take the car to, and/or if you don't need loaners, then the extended warranty stands less of a chance of paying off for you.

Are you sure the $399 wasn't for $5000 worth of gap insurance? That's a classic dealer add-on at the end, and it's usually offered at a terrible price.

 

does anyone know what happens if you sell the car before you use any purchased extended warranty package? do you get the money back or is it gone?

 

MINI makes a lot of money on those packages. Shop after market and you could do better. Better yet, put the money you would have spent aside and hope you don't have to use it.

Bill

 

I added the Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance. I think it adds about $60 every 6 Months. You have to add it before you have 15k and you must be the first owner of the car. There is a $250 deductible with a claim. I know it may not be the best coverage out there... but I am not spending $2k on a policy.

 

There is a ton of markup on those extended warranty products and even more money is made when the person finances the warranty. Believe me I know I was in the car business ;-)

 

My wife and I usually keep our cars 6 too 7 years and as a car nut, I keep my cars in pristine condition. After my last BMW experience, I'm a FIRM believer in extended maintenance and warranties. We had a 2004 330i with the awesome ZHP (performance package). The first year out of warranty, we put out at least $5000 (new cooling system, bushings, two window regulators, etc.) in repairs in addition to the regular maintenance and another $4000 over the next two years for various repairs. We recently sold it with only 82,000 miles and the car looked as good as the day we took delivery with only 8 miles on the odometer...and it had so much new (replaced) stuff on it, someone got a good deal.