AFAIK BMW CA is not a subsidiary of BMWNA. Both are subsidiaries of BMW AG.

Warranties are usually non-transferrable specifically because of grey-market imports. If you are a US tourist, broken down in Canada on your Niagara Falls vacation, BMW will be very happy to help you. If you import a car yourself and cut out the local distributor, they are likely to tell you to pay for the repair yourself, and try and get it reimbursed when you go back home. Good luck with that. It appears that dealers in Canada (or the US) cannot submit a warranty claim to the distributor providing the warranty if that distributor is in another country, they simply don't have any commercial arrangement to get reimbursed. I suspect that isn't true with the roadside assistance, they advertise that they cover both sides of the border.

I haven't broken down in another country with my BMW. I have had this experience with vehicles other than BMW. I have also read enough posts on here to know that it happens today. This is why I said "may" in my first response. You may have problems. If you don't, great. If you do, well, you won't be the first.

And for the record, I don't think we should pay so much more for Canadian versions of BMW vehicles. I just don't think that grey-market imports are without issues. Each individual has to decide for themselves what the hassle is worth. The market will eventually self-correct, so if it makes sense for any individual to import their own vehicle, please do so, it can only help the rest of us.

Amazing what free trade has done - the automakers who brought us the first North American free trade - autopack in the 1960's set up all kinds of barriers. Toyota at least honours its warranties on both sides of the border.

I checked directly with BMW Canada last year. New car warranty is transferable. Certified Pre Owned (CPO) is not transferable. While this may be important when buying a used car, it should not deter you from buying a new car and importing it into Canada. In fact I have thought about doing it myself!

My 2003 BMW CA warranty states that the warranty applies only to Canadian specification vehicles imported by BMW Canada, or sold through the BMW Canada European Delivery program. It is quite specific in that regard. The warranty does state that it is transferable to subsequent purchasers, but the first clause still applies.

Their rules may have changed. The rules for BMW NA (US) may also be more liberal.

If the OP does decide to import their own vehicle, please let us know how it goes, and good luck! :thumbup:

I'm very curious about this issue and maybe someone can help me answer...

Starting next year, I will be spending 1/2 of my time in the US (Seattle) and 1/2 in Vancouver. I'll be driving my X back and forth, and would like to know if a BMW dealer in Vancouver would service my car.

While it would be nice if BMW Canada would service my car, I don't mind waiting for my next trip to US to get the car serviced.

Chris

Suggest you call Brian Jessel or Vancouver Auto and ask them. You say 'service', but do you mean repair, or maintain? The maintenance service offered is not the same in Canada as in the US; the US has full maintenance, while Canada has scheduled maintenance. The difference is that in Canada you do not get wear items covered, unless you purchase the additional coverage. I think that if you broke down you would get some help under warranty or policy, but I would be surprised if they covered any of your maintenance services. I would stress that you are just in Vancouver temporarily. You might want to check and see what the ICBC requirement is to get plates moved over and purchase local insurance; in some jurisdictions it is 3 months but I am not sure what it is in BC.

Let us know what they say.