I have a 2009 R56 with 90,000 miles on it (lots of highway driving). I also have the extended maintenance contract.

I noticed a hesitation during acceleration, and brought it to the dealer. Diagnosed as an engine misfire, I paid $200 for ignition coil #2 to be replaced. When that didn't resolve the issue, further testing indicated that the spark plugs needed to be replaced.

Here's the question: Although spark plugs are covered under the maintenance contract, the warranty department maintains that since I am only at 90,000 miles, and spark plugs are not scheduled to be replaced until 100,000, they are not covered. Also, the spark plugs only need to be replaced due to the misfire, which they say is not a maintenance issue,and therefore, once again, no coverage.

Does this make sense? I will not need my "covered" spark plugs at 100,000 since I'm buying them myself at 90,000. I'm rather unhappy with Mini and their extended maintenance. Do I have reason to be upset? Am I being treated fairly?

Please weigh in. Thanks.

 

It seems to me to be in bad spirit to charge you for the plugs, but there is probably a technicality in the contract that states it's at 100,000. Pretty lame on there part. If I were you I would contact Mini USA and they might be able to do something for you as there is a threshold as to when you can things done under the maintenance warranty. i.e. If the brakes need changing they're required to change them if you come in within say 2000 miles of when the computer says there done.

I know you already bought the warranty but in the future I would advise against it. You'll save at least a grand in the long run (especially if your financing) if you skip the extended warranty and have a trusted independent shop do the work for you. Plus just think, they'll only change your oil every 12,000, which means you'll be paying for every other change, yikes...

 

The squeaky wheel gets greased, so start making noise at Mini USA and be polite and I'm sure you'll get greased with a smile, it's a BS wording thing they need to just fix, and I'd ask for a refund of that coil you bought for no reason, yet since its now a used electrical part you just bought that too, it's the bs wording in all these fancy warranties that cover diddly sqat in the end!!!