I have an 02 MCS and have been getting lots of offers for buying an extended warranty. It always sounds like a good deal. Too good. So I called a few of the places that are making these offers and asked them some questions. One of the questions was How do I know my MINI dealer will honor this warranty? One of the better answers I got was "Oh, just send us a post-dated check and then go to your MINI dealer." Isn't that illegal, I asked. They hung up on me. Now this company was headquartered in Missouri, as were two other offers I received from different companies. So I called the Missouri attorney general's office/consumer affairs division. Each of these three businesses had cases pending against them in the state of Missouri.
My next phone call was to my local MINI dealer. They offered to give me the names of extended warranty companies with which they do work.
So, if you are considering an extended warranty, check with your dealership first. Remember, too, that MINI does not offer extended warranties, so no matter how slick the wording, this is not a MINI offer.
By the way, I opted not to buy an extended warranty. These days I can't even afford to buy gas!

Denise Kusel
Santa Fe, NM

 

Yep, I toss them in the trash often. It's usually "do it now, this offer expires in 72 hrs"., or some such crap. A recent one I got was from the "Dealership Extended Warranty" company.

I'll take my chances with no extended waranty, thank you.

 

Wow, I hadn't thought of that before...

I've received offers from warranty dealers for my truck that sounded really fishy -- especially the one where they call my house phone!? NOBODY (to include ME) knows my house phone number!!

I guess I'm just a distrustful dohicky, but I always go through my dealer. I'll probably get the extended warranty...I think they're useful, considering the different years of the cars and the various issues and problems. If you have a 1st gen car, it might be worthwhile to keep the kinks out. With mine, evidently the 2007 models have bugs and kinks (solveable) still exist, so...I'd rather somebody else pay for those glitches!!

 

I have saved the cost of an extended warranty many times over. (AAA offers a great exrended warranty). If you think an extended warranty is unaffordable, just wait until your first failure of one of the electronic systems.

 

You couldn't be more right lhoboy, I've saved approx. 4700.

 

Add me to your list. I bought my car through a dealer and bought the 3 year/36K extended Honda (other manufacturer) waranty at about 1600.00. (they do basic work themselves and use a BMW dealer and MINI dealer for other work).

I have never had an extended warranty through a dealer that I did not either collect more than the value of the waranty or get $$ back when i sold or traded the car.

I have heard nothing good about the other warranty companies that solicit through mail and phone.

 

R56 owner here, In europe my 4 year warranty is only worth 2 years. When I ship the car home (US) I get the remainder. I purchased a extended warranty for 1 year at 115 euros...FROM BMW

 

Hey wait a minute -- all I said was be careful with whom you're dealing. I didn't say an extended warranty wasn't a good thing. It is. I'd like to get one. I just want one that isn't ripping me off and isn't being investigated by the law. Don't jump all over me. Maybe give me some quiet and good advice -- i.e. who are you using?

Denise

 

There is always the unknown about extended warranties on who will accept your contract and will your repair be covered. Well the best thing to do is research them all of coarse and call the company's and ask questions. You want to know how they pay out for claims, whats covered, whats excluded and is there a maintenance guideline you must follow to insure you are always covered in case of a catastrophic failure.

You also want to check with your local shop you deal with to see if they will accept a warranty company they don't sell but might deal with from other customers in the past. You don't have to go to the dealer all the time to have aftermarket warranty work covered as "mom & pop" shops as well also accept them.

 

i got one yesterday. on the front it said " important RECALL information"
the back was the normal generic extended warrenty info.
i called with my 80 year old man voice.. and asked in a stupid manner.. what is my recall.. ?? help me.. is something wrong with my car. .

yup.. if 'something' happens to your car .. wouldn't you like to be covered.. only $ 1300.
i asked what car ??
he said.. what do you have.. LOL

i have 4 cars.
well i need the warrenty for EACH car.. i dropped to my 47 year old voice and told him i would contact the attny general consumer protection division. .



click



he hung up on me.

i did get his name.. extension.. and i am reporting them

 

I got my MINI at CARMAX, and bought their extended warranty, where I can decide whether to bring it up to the MINI dealer and pay a deductible(like$75 no matter what's wrong), or $50 if I bring it in directly to CARMAX.

My factory warranty is about to expire, and last time I went for my oil change at my local MINI dealer(Flow MINI in Winston-Salem, so not so "local") I talked to the service advisor for the clutch "howl"/"Chewbacca noise" in the mornings so I can bring it in before I get out of the warranty. After that, I plan to keep bringing it to the MINI dealer whenever possible(looong drive).

I am by no means related to CARMAX, but so far so good the customer service has been A-1. When I brought the MINI home I realized it had some missing interior trim little pieces(door lock plunger bezel ring, sun visor mirror light lens). etc. , since the car was covered bumper to bumper for the first week or so, I brought the car back the next week, they gathered all the information, and put every missing little part that I requested about, no questions asked.

Flow MINI went the mile ahead as well. EXCELLENT customer service as well.