mistake?

[640ijims]

Whether or not my purchase of BMW’s Ultimate Care + to 125,000miles and a corresponding 7 year unlimited miles extended warranty remains to be seen, but I plan on driving it to 125,000 or until these two programs age out. So far”warranty” has not helped as nothing has failed. Service however has been couple oil changes, some engine & cabin filters and spark plugs. Unfortunately when BMW is paying rather than customer, there different rules. Prime example is the brakes on this X5M. If you are paying the recommended rotor thickness is XX mm, if they are paying it can be a lot less and won’t even be considered until pads are 4mm., only then will they “mic” the rotors and make replacement decision on a number much much lower than customer pay recommendation. Baffling if one does not understand profit motive.
So a word to the wise here. Overall I will at least b/e on ultimate care …I think…probably take a lot of arguing. The extended warranty…I hope it doesn’t break …but if it cones..please do it before the “age out” date in 2/25.

[unluky]

I turn my own wrenches, so other than a rod thru the block, most warranty items I would fix in most cases. I decided this in my 20's and have owned countless cars in my life I have driven to 125K-150K (I never go past 150K) and have refused any and all extra paid warranties. I feel at this point - I could buy a decent used car for the $ I have not spent, so I am way past the cross over point.

Most expensive thing I have every had to do was a compressor clutch went out and BMW needed to replace the whole unit. Car had 130K on it. I researched and COULD have bought just the clutch and done it myself over a weekend, but the pain/$ threshold was enough I relented and let them do it. Even with that - it was less than 50% of the extended warranty cost to have them fix it and I sold the car with no more problems.

If you are a car "driver" and not a "wrencher" and like the piece of mind - go for it. These are made for you to not have to worry.

In my book - I never plan to buy one again.

EDIT - I also do my own maintenance - so I KNOW it is maintained and I see things before they become a bigger problem too. It matters for sure.

[640ijims]

When much younger and cars much simpler I did wrenching myself as well.But time moves on arthritis joins you , vehicles move past carbs/ clutches & distributors, you to a condo & now no time, no place and skinned knuckles last for weeks!

[DebrahHill]

Thanks for the advice.

[640ijims]

UPDATE UPDATE MAINTENCE PLAN WORKS!!
Evidently there is some thickness below customer pay where the maintence plans says ROTORS. Took car in for brakes, f/r pads 4mm or less ( I’ve had two three sets of pads in 67, 000 miles) & drove out with four rotors and pad sets.
Alignment is another story , before I get couple hundred miles on car, homework necessary before a redo I do not believe in “acceptable” numbers, that’s what gave me near cords showing on inner edges, I do NOT drive it like I stole it….we’ll maybe at the red light gran price or when “ pushing” a Porsche on twisty back roads.