I have an 02 MCS. Just replaced the air conditioning compressor. I've been thinking about an extended warranty from MINI. It would cost me $2,000. I have 60,000 miles and want to keep the car.
What do you think?

 

How long are you keeping the car for? I have an 02 MCS and it has roughly 70K miles on it and I ended up getting the extended warranty as I wanted to keep it for around 3 more years (up to 2011). I paid $2200 CDN and I've had charged far more than that in repairs in the last year or so. I just had my engine mounts replaced and my power steering pump and fan replaced again. Would've cost me $950, I paid $100 deductible inclusive. Just last summer I had my crank pulley fail on me due to the poor design of the early build version and it damaged my front passenger drive shaft as it fell off. That bill to the warranty was over $1600 in parts and labor. Even better, I got the new revised crank pulley now.

 

Extended mine (for $1595@Universal) and 2 weeks later (this monday) fuel pump out and rotors shot, bam just made my money back. I am glad I did not listen to those that said "its not woth it" here on NAM.

 

This was just the kind of information I was looking for. I have decided to go ahead with the extended warranty. I was sitting in the showroom talking to the warranty guy when the service manager walked over and told me that the compressor had just failed on my air conditioning. That was $1,300. The extended warranty is $2,000.
I appreciate your help.

 

I'd go ahead and get it.

I know I should have a few years ago... I had to pay for a new gearbox and power steering motor, which were way beyond the price of the extended warranty.

Do yourself a favor and get it. But make sure it is from BMW and not an external company... especially if your car is modified. And be friendly to your service advisor. I had a friend who owned a WRX and got his extended warranty denied because he had a blow-off valve installed...

 

My Mini dealer told me that Mini Cooper does not have a factory extended warranty. As a consequence, the warranty my dealer sells is offered by an independent company.

A word to the wise: Check on the issuer of any extended warranty coverage you buy. Stick to warranties backed by reputable, financially secure companies. GE and CNA are good examples. Ask if the warranty is backed by insurance. Then, look at the AM Best Rating of the insurer. If it's not A rated, keep on looking.

Extended warranty companies have long history of going out of business, or finding creative ways to stop paying claims. Currrent exconomic conditions would put more pressure than ever on them. Please be careful.

 

What is "Universal"? Is that aftermarket? I'm at 31,000 miles and I'm going to have to make a decision soon.

 

Also, check with the Attorney General's Consumer Affairs office in your state, as well as the BBB and consumer affairs office in the state where your extended warranty is headquartered. I'm a journalist. I found out a bunch. This one company was sounding good (can't recall the name) until they said I could send them a "post-dated check." I asked if that were legal and was told "we do it all the time." If you're a woman, they try to use fancy words and tell you how much you need this. Take your time. Ask to see the warranty before you sign. And remember you have three days after signing to opt out. That's federal law.

 

Thats Universal MINI and it was for the MINI Extended Maitenance Warranty. BTW I extended mine with 35,996 miles, just 4 miles short of not being eligible. Universal also sells Mercury Insurance Extended Warranty for those over 36/55k miles or over 3/5 years on their MINIs. Mercury is also my car insurance.

 

Gotcha! You have a LOT of mods, aren't you worried about MINI saying "sorry, we can't help you on this one!"

 

Now have GP, with minimal mods; ITG filter, RMW tune, H-Sport Comp sway bar, Hawk HP Plus pads and 225/35-18 DS-G3 tires.

I have headers and camber plates ready to install and gonna get pulley, exhaust, and cams.

 

....and you're not worried??

 

I was told by the dealership that mods didn't matter and were covered by the extended warranty.

 

My '07 Mini Cooper S blew its engine 2 weeks ago at 33,000 miles. Thank goodness the dealer replaced it under warranty. Now, I am thinking of buying both the exented maintenance and extended warranty plans. The local dealer is Momentum Mini (Houston) who quoted me the following today:
(a) extended maintneance to 6 yr or 100,000 miles $2195
(b) extended warranty to 6 yr or 100,000 miles $3829

If I buy both, a package deal of $5,200

They only offer the extended maintenance for another 3-year package, but I can buy extended warranty year by year.

Not sure what to do, but I have another 3,000 miles on current base warranty to think it over and decide.

 

There's no way that I've spent that much in repairs on my car yet. These aftermarket warranty companies are very profitable - think about that for a sec... Where are those profits coming from?

Many of them require that you use used parts whenever possible. Sometimes they want to send out an adjuster to look at the car - similar to what insurance companies do for collision coverage.

My Dad got suckered in to one of these on his Buick - it's been a huge mistake.

I would skip it - bank the money and draw from that account when you need repairs. I'll bet you end up ahead...

 

Rdijohn - I recommend not accepting the $2195 offer for Extended Maintenance proram - if you look up this subject on other threads around the forum, you'll find that there are several dealers around the country who will sell you the Extended Maintenance for $1395 if you mail them one of your keys (to prove current mileage). Your dealer's finance rep will bargain down on this, and I'd stand firm at $1395 for the Extended Maintenance at the very least. One gent from San Antonio posted six weeks ago that he got the Extended Maintenance for $1195.

 

Not enough coffee this am but what is the difference between the two? I am at 24000.


2010 S/Pepper white w/ black stripes and thinking of some mods.

 

Extended maintenance will cover things such as oil changes, brake pads, wipers, rotors, etc. Extended warranty covers any breakdown, defected parts listed in the existing warranty - this is more expensive but more comprehensive.

-Jorge