DIY Insp11 and warrenty

[X5 Meister]

I agree with you in part. Oil changes are one thing, and yes BMW does call for brake fluid changes now every 2 years, but all the rest is just not the case. There is nothing else really in the inspections that if it were not done that would result in a denial of warranty coverage if the part failed.

"Based on any particular fluid level being low" how the hell does someone determine that if there is no obvious leak? Inspection calls for CHECKS only, those are visual inspections, not a thorough analysis of the components. If there is no leak, then they don't open it up (transmission, transfer case, rear axle, etc.) and top it off.

[JCL]

Not sure if this is worth carrying on with, since the OP got his question answered.

Oh well, it is Sunday, so here goes. I am a hypothetical mechanic at Joe's Amateur Garage, and I do an Inspection II for a customer. I read the BMW list of items to check, and here is what I do:

1) I change the oil and filter with non-approved oil, and use a counterfeit aftermarket filter that falls apart after 3000 km.
2) I top up various compartments with non-approved fluids, including the PS system, the diffs, and the transfer case. I change the brake fluid, and mix DOT 5 with DOT 4; since it is a higher number, it must be better.
3) I inspect the front suspension, and notice that the control arm bushings are worn, but it looks like a b**ch of a job, so I let it go.
4) I inspect the CV boots, and decide that the splits in them are pretty small, so they will be OK.
5) I try to read the codes, but don't have the right equipment so I pass on that step as well. Should be OK I figure.
6) I see some soft rad hoses, but it isn't like they are critical so I leave them.
7) I replace the spark plugs as called for, but I use cheaper ones, the dealer is too expensive.
8) I replace the air filter, but I don't put it back in correctly so it doesn't seal.
9) I add water to the battery. Distilled water is so expensive, so I use tap water. Hope it works, it is pretty heavy with minerals given that I live in an oil-producing province and I am using water from a shallow well.

A few weeks later, the customer notes that the vehicle is hardly running (this is a hypothetical example, so bear with me here...). He takes it to the dealer, since he has a CPO warranty.

Here is what the dealer finds:

1) The oil filter has failed, and blocked oil flow. Engine is bagged.
2) PS system is noisy. Wrong fluid. Transfer case is noisy, and it also has incompatible fluid since it is an post-2004 model and has clutch plates in it. Brakes have problems in the master cylinder.
3) The front suspension has several worn components. It is obvious that he control arm bushings have been gone for some time. The looseness in the suspension has worn other components, and it now needs a lot of work. The tires are worn as well, from the misalignment, but they weren't covered by CPO anyway.
4) CV joints are worn. Service report from last inspection notes that the boots are split, joints are fine, but it was recommended not to fix the boots.
5) Reading the engine codes shows that there has been a fuel problem for 5000 km, since well before the Inspection. Too bad it wasn't caught, might have saved the engine.
6) Rad hose has gone, resulting in a coolant leak. Overheating the engine has resulted in a warped cylinder head.
7) Electrodes broke off one of the spark plugs, sending shrapnel into the cylinder. It got caught in an exhaust valve, burning the valve.
8) Air intake system was left unsealed due to incorrect filter installation. Engine is dusted (worn cylinder walls from contaminants).
9) Battery is shorted out. This is the least of the owner's problems.

This is when the owner pulls out his CPO certificate, and claims warranty on all of the above.

Originally Posted by mgruber

There is nothing else really in the inspections that if it were not done that would result in a denial of warranty coverage if the part failed.

You are kidding, right? Yes, I purposely painted an extreme example. Just have one of the above happen, and try to get warranty.

[X5 Meister]

You crack me up.

[JMFTOR]

Both of you have valid comments, however I will be using all approved fluids and keeping the receipts. My 4 year warranty ran out since the Man. date is 04/10. My Insp1 was carried out at 38,779km. I asked the dealer if the insp11 was covered under the CPO and the reply was no.

Thanks Again

[JCL]

Originally Posted by JMFTOR

Both of you have valid comments, however I will be using all approved fluids and keeping the receipts.

Then you are good to go.

Sorry for the hijack, but at least we provided entertainment value.

Originally Posted by mgruber

You crack me up.

Then everybody is happy. We'll be here all week.

PS: Aside from the engine codes, and the DOT brake fluid example which I made up, I have seen warranty claimed, and denied or partially denied, on situations essentially as described for all of the others. My favourite was the incorrectly installed air filter (in an F350 pickup working in the desert).