CPO OR NOT?? Advice needed.

[OlyS4]

Originally Posted by motordavid

ard is right on, imo...
And, if the OP is curious, some CPO links on what/what's not covered.
Good luck on interpreting the boilerplate, and 'the maybe yes, maybe no' disclaimers.
GL, mD

BMW Certified Pre-Owned - Warranty - BMW North America

Not Covered...
BMW Certified Pre-Owned - Warranty - Not Covered - BMW North America

Covered...
BMW Certified Pre-Owned - Warranty - Covered - BMW North America

I checked out your links, thanks. I see what you mean, it seems to me the only things covered with some certainty are the engine and tranny. Major electrical seems to be covered also, just not the stereo or nav.

It's really a case by case it seems. If you really think about it, it's just BMW selling you insurance. Most of the major engine/tranny/electrical problems don't show up until the mileage is higher (usually). We put low miles on our cars, so most likely the CPO we pay more for will expire before we have a major problem and wouldn't be covered anyway.

Am I off in this conclusion??

[BGM]

Originally Posted by OlyS4

I checked out your links, thanks. I see what you mean, it seems to me the only things covered with some certainty are the engine and tranny. Major electrical seems to be covered also, just not the stereo or nav.

It's really a case by case it seems. If you really think about it, it's just BMW selling you insurance. Most of the major engine/tranny/electrical problems don't show up until the mileage is higher (usually). We put low miles on our cars, so most likely the CPO we pay more for will expire before we have a major problem and wouldn't be covered anyway.

Am I off in this conclusion??

No I think that is a fair analysis. But it's nice to know you have the coverage in case something does go wrong. Just shop around there are deals to be had even on CPO's--dealers eventually have to move them.

[ard]

Originally Posted by OlyS4

I checked out your links, thanks. I see what you mean, it seems to me the only things covered with some certainty are the engine and tranny. Major electrical seems to be covered also, just not the stereo or nav.

It's really a case by case it seems. If you really think about it, it's just BMW selling you insurance. Most of the major engine/tranny/electrical problems don't show up until the mileage is higher (usually). We put low miles on our cars, so most likely the CPO we pay more for will expire before we have a major problem and wouldn't be covered anyway.

Am I off in this conclusion??

You should look at the BMW Gold plan and the Platinum plans. Platinum adds the nav and entertainment systems.

People that think the warranty is only for major and catastrophic events are shortchanging it's value. I paid $1800 for a CPO warranty on my M5, and got a over $3k in misc stuff..rear main seal, valve cover gaskets, power steering pump and bracket, window regulator....The PS pump alone is an $800 job, Valve covers 3-400 per... RMS, 1200

Now, at 1800 it was an easy decision. At 3500 it'd be hard. Given that I personally enjoy wrenching, have a garage, and multiple cars, I can afford to have a car sit for two weeks until I get it done.

Talk to some sponsors here and on bimmerfest for better deals on the warranties too.

A

PS Warranties are not just based on 'what part failed' but also on 'how it failed'... the problem is that many dealers, and BMW themselves, tends to base coverage on 'the part' and not on 'failure mode'. For example a brake rotor that explodes (ie total mechanical failure) is covered- but not brake pads or rotors that wear out. Just fyi

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by OlyS4

...We put low miles on our cars, so most likely the CPO we pay more for will expire before we have a major problem and wouldn't be covered anyway.

Am I off in this conclusion??

Don't disagree...but, it's all about one's mental health in having some kind of safety net. I suspect most knowledgeable people, with CPO, like the fact that it should cover the trans, which seems to be the biggest/costliest boogie man that comes up with some frequency.

But, the low mileage driver is really rolling the 'cost of CPO' dice.
GL, mD