So, I need good arguments yay or nay. Is the 50K extended service warrranty worth the $500.00? Any experiences with this?

 

I am in the same boat, with approximatley 1,500 miles left before the warranty expires. I am definetely interested in the responses to this thread.

 

I've never even heard of an extended warranty option...where can I get information about it (there is nothing about it on MINIUSA's website? I'll be at 50,000 in no time and wondered about extended warranties.

Thanks!

Dave

 

Depends what you get for it.
In my case, the SA believed I wouldn't need a brake job by 50K, so it wasn't worth the $800 for the extended warranty. She said if I did need a brake job, it would be worth it.
So you may get a brake job and an oil change (oil service?) out of it. I don't recall when the 'Inspection II' takes place - that costs $700+ around here.

Personally, I'll do all that stuff myself so it's irrelevant, but thought I'd let you know what the SA said.

 

Doesn't the Mini warranty to to 50k anyway. Might want to check, wouldnt want to spend $500 to get what you already have .

I haven't thought about warranties for some time now...................

Nik

 

2000 miles to go before 36,000 - the way I understand it the warranty is good up to 50,000 miles but the free maintenance will end at 36,000 --My dealer wants $449. to extend that's alot for an oil change.

 

So this extended warranty only gets you to 50,000 with free maintenance? Not worth it IMO. The only thing I've had to pay for between 36,000 and now (47,000) was an oil change and new cabin filter (which I have already replaced myself in the past, by my SA told me he couldn't reset the service counter unless I had it done as part of the service). Cost me a little over $100.

Does MINI offer an extended warranty to take us beyond 50,000 miles?

 

I'm not anywhere close, but I'm also interested in what people say in this thread.

It was my understanding that the MINI warranty was to 50,000 miles. 36k is the free service.

But beyond 50,000 is what I am thinking about. I plan on driving the car to 100,000 - 120,000.

I also wonder about these other companies that offer extended warranties (not through MINI). Anybody have any experience with them?

 

Thats just getting started

Nik

 

I chose not to pay the $800 to extend the service to 50,000 miles. I used a local BMW / MINI performance shop to do the oil change and also put on new brake rotors and pads. They reset the computer. I am now just over 50,000 and had the battery go bad just before that so I am getting it under warrenty. Otherwise the MINI is running fine.

 

One concern about extending your warranty is based on whether you plan to modify your car. If you plan to modify (ie: pulley, intake, exhaust, etc.), your new extended warranty, or certain coverages of it, may be voided when MINI finds the mods anyway. In that case you may be better off not extending at all.

If mods are an interest for you, before purchasing an extended warranty it might be helpful to know how that extended warranty will deal with aftermarket parts installed by other than MINI service people. The local MINI account representative who deals with extended warranties should be able to answer your specific questions about that -- in writing -- before you purchase the extension.

The same goes for tracking your car, btw. Mods and tracking are both criteria that MINI uses for reducing and/or voiding factory warranties. There may be similar provisions in extended warranties purchased through MINI.

Best,

-- Don

 

Still haven't heard from anyone who had an extended service warranty to 50K experience that was worth it. Odometer is clicking. Help

 

Generally extended warranties are not worth the cost. Most companies only pay out about 40% of premiums on repairs. 50% is marketing and sales commissions and about 10% administration.

Unless you have concerns about your car you are almost always better off without an extended warranty.

 

Yea, and it sucked. We bought a new Toyota Avalon back in '98 and got the extended warranty from someone that Toyota "recommended".

When we would have a warranty issue we would have to take the car into the shop and wait for a rep to stop by to determine if the issue was covered. Sometimes this would take up to 3 days and then they would get to the repair. It got to the point were we just sold the damn car and went and bought a BMW.

Ignorance on my part and I'll NEVER do that again.

 

You must have had extremely good luck with your cars not breaking down on you.

In todays cars with the various computer systems, not having an extended warranty is a plan for financial extravagance. Just one computer system (such as what controls DSC) will set you back way more than the cost of an Extended Warranty. My 2003 Corvette is in the shop for an electrical issue (it has munched two Optima batteries in 2 months). Fortunately, I have the GMPP with $0 deductible, so I am not sweating it.

 

The decision process for extneding the service coverage to 50,000 miles is fairly simple (check Eric_Rowland's post above). If something (in the wear & tear department - brake pads/rotors) is likely to need replacement after the 36,000 mile point (but before the 50,000 miles point) and the cost of the replacement is greater than the cost of the maintenance extension, then it makes sense to get the maintenace extension. There does seem to be some variance in the pricing of the extension, so it would seem to be an item for negotiating.

 

Some do have luck with warranties, I am even one of them. I am just letting you know the facts. I have two very good friends who sell warranties and the their company pays 40% in claims. They both claim this is standard for the business.

Another example is the Honda warranty I purchased. List was about $2,000. Through a site like NAM for Hondas they found dealers who sold a little above cost, $735. That is where I bought because of an identified problem with transmissions. This is the only warranty I have ever bought or needed in over 30 years.

 

I did it, but I paid close to $450. The brakes aren't ready for service, but it won't be long. (Well before 50K miles). I have the JCW kit, and it's definately time for a new air filter (~$100, can you say rip-off boys & girls), cabin air filter, all 3 wipers, plugs ($40 each), and probably a belt too. I think I'll come out even or a little better. The JCW has some drastically overpriced service parts, and I live in an area with a lot of mountains, so I wear out brakes faster than somebody in a flat area. Shop around, prices vary pretty drastically. Also, consider whether you have any mitigating circumstances such as higher priced parts due to JCW, hilly or dusty areas of operation. Make an estimate about how much you may spend over the next 14K miles, then see what the lower figure is.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think I made the right choice for my situation.

Rawhyde

 

I didn't get the extended service warranty (36 to 50k) and luckily the clutch was replaced around 30K. I'm just about to have my brakes done at 51K and that was the dealer's selling point/angle on why to buy it. I'm upgrading to Powerslot rotors and Hawk pads so the warranty didn't seem like the way to go. Besides, MINI of Mtnview was around $600 for the warranty at that time. I bought my 03 MINI one year old and other than the brakes it has been dealer serviced.

 

ive always looked at cost of warranty vs repairs

Extended warranty is 800? If so, then what would likely brake within the extended waranty period that would cost 800 or more?

For me, I gamble.

Dont get the extended warranty, and put the 800$ in an account somewhere.

Keep it there till the extended warranty WOULD have been up. Only use the 800 to put towards repairs/services. Any cash left over at the end of the imaginary warranty period is bonus cash. After the periods over, keep the cash there for when stuff DOES break. Then it will feel like warranty work cause the cash will be there ready for it.

Gamble comes in, if you end up having to pay more then the 800$ within the 'extended' time. Ive owned about 8 cars, and never had to dip in more then the 'off shore account' had in it. So ive always came out ahead.

food for thought.

 

great idea.

one could get a 1000 dollar CD. get it 2 years. roll it over again for 2 years, then see if it is needed. 4 years it will grow a bit and if needed, you have enough to repair without pain or, you get some extra cash

 

Unless of course you have to pay for a repair that costs more than the net appreciated value of the CD (less taxes on the appreciation). Then you are wondering why you didn't buy the extended warranty.... Maybe a middle ground approach is to see how reliable your car is for the first 48 months. If reliable, then roll the dice; not reliable and you still want to keep the car - get the extended warranty.

 

It is dated but some info exists in this thread on Motoringfile http://www.motoringfile.com/2003/08/...anceOnYourMINI

I bought mine when I took delivery of the MINI. I paid $449 and, to caminifan's point, it was simple math as the expected service cost was greater than the extended full service agreement (warranty is already 4yr/50k).

 

Since maintenance is usually just an oil change, I know where I can get that for the cost of oil and a filter, about 36 bucks, yesterday in my driveway. Every 3 to 5K miles too, not 10K.

 

I went for the extended warranty because I knew I was going to need the rear brakes done, at a minimum. Turns out I also needed the front lower control arms bushings replaced.