BMW’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Provides Extra Protection | Autance

What IS Included

Coverage

The original manufacturer’s warranty lasts four years or 50,000 miles, and the certified pre-owned BMW warranty kicks in when the BMW new vehicle limited warranty expires. The coverage BMW’s certified pre-owned warranty provides is somewhat different from the new car warranty and is not an extension of the factory warranty.

Specifically, it provides one additional year of coverage with unlimited vehicle miles for passenger cars or light trucks. This means vehicles are covered for up to five years regardless of how many miles you put on the car. 

BMW’s CPO warranty covers items such as the engine, transmission, front and rear suspension, steering, ABS brake system, electrical system, air conditioning/heating system, fuel system, final drive assembly, and propeller shaft.

Extras

Each CPO vehicle comes with 24-hour BMW roadside assistance for five years that provides lock-out assistance, jump starts, fuel delivery, and trip interruption benefits. Certified vehicles also come with towing as a result of mechanical disablement, road hazard damage, or accident.

The Certified Pre-Owned BMW Protection Plan is fully transferable to another owner through a private consumer transaction; however, there’s a $200 fee.

In addition, BMW provides complimentary service loaner vehicles or alternative transportation anytime you service your vehicle at a BMW dealership. 

What’s NOT Included

BMW’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty is fairly comprehensive in what it covers, but it does have some exclusions. There are several parts and maintenance items that you will be responsible for financially if they fail.

Exclusions

The BMW Certified Pre-Owned Protection Plan does not cover vehicle maintenance, such as brake pads and rotors, brake shoes and drums, filters, fluid replacement, spark plugs, wiper blade inserts, and blade assemblies/beams.

It also doesn’t cover the following:

• Batteries
• Exhaust systems, including catalytic converters
• Fuses
• Tires
• Suspension components (ball joints, bushings, etc.)
• Body parts
• Bulbs
• Carpeting
• Trims and fasteners
• Non-original equipment parts, components, and accessories

BMW will not pay for maintenance or repairs at non-approved facilities, even if the work is covered under the CPO BMW limited warranty. As such, owners are required to take their vehicles to authorized BMW service centers.

The Good

The CPO warranty offers an additional year of protection beyond the four-year, 50,000-mile factory warranty, and it has no mileage limit, which is particularly appealing if you are a heavy driver. This is more than enough time for a vehicle to exhibit a problem, and it provides peace of mind to have an extra year of protection in case a defect surfaces.

What also makes the CPO warranty attractive is its extra perks, such as roadside assistance. If you run out of gas, need a tow after a crash, or accidentally lock your keys in the car, help is available 24 hours a day.

In addition, you can transfer the protection plan if you sell your vehicle, possibly increasing its resale value, and you are guaranteed a loaner vehicle each time you take your BMW to an authorized dealership for service.

The Bad

While five years of CPO coverage sounds good, a competitor such as Lexus offers six years of limited CPO bumper-to-bumper coverage with a no-mileage limit, and Kia offers a 10-year, 100,000-mile CPO limited powertrain warranty. So, BMW is far from the best.

Since the protection plan specifically covers defects in material and workmanship, you won’t see much value from the warranty if your vehicle is in good shape. It would be a different story if BMW’s CPO warranty covered wear and tear or routine maintenance, but it does not.

Takeaway Value

BMW vehicles are expensive to maintain, so it’s comforting to have some added protection, particularly when you’re buying a used vehicle. The CPO warranty’s coverage of components is fairly comprehensive, so you’ll be protected should an unexpected problem arise within the first few years of the car’s service life.

If you want to buy a used BMW and have ultimate peace of mind, it’s worth it to purchase one from an authorized dealership that provides a CPO warranty. If you buy one from a non-BMW dealership without a CPO warranty, you risk getting a vehicle that hasn’t undergone the rigorous testing that gives it its “certified” status. This could cost you more in the long run.