BMW Warranty Overview
Every new car sold by BMW comes with a comprehensive bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers almost the entire vehicle for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. All new BMWs also come with a 12-year corrosion and rust warranty along with four years of roadside assistance services.
Unlike warranties from luxury brands like Genesis, Infiniti, Cadillac, and Acura, BMW doesn’t provide additional powertrain coverage beyond its basic new vehicle warranty. For this reason, many owners seek additional coverage through a BMW extended warranty.
BMW Factory Warranty Coverage
To quickly summarize, all new BMWs come with the following coverage features:
- Basic coverage: 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain coverage: 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Corrosion and rust coverage: 12 years and unlimited miles
- Roadside assistance: 4 years and unlimited miles
- Federal emissions warranty: Up to 8 years or 80,000 miles
BMW Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Warranty
If you purchase a certified pre-owned vehicle from BMW, you’ll get whatever coverage remains on your car’s original 4-year/50,000-mile warranty along with an added year of coverage. This BMW certified pre-owned warranty also includes travel protection from BMW roadside assistance.
BMW Extended Warranty Coverage
The BMW extended warranty program is known as BMW Ultimate Protection. Depending on which level of coverage you choose, protection can range from a basic powertrain warranty up to a comprehensive bumper-to-bumper warranty.
Consider whether you want protection for just the basics of your BMW – like its engine, transmission, and drive axle – or if you’re more comfortable knowing that your electrical, fuel, steering, and navigation systems are safe from a mechanical breakdown as well.
How Long Is A BMW Extended Warranty?
You can choose between 75,000– or 100,000-mile terms that extend your factory warranty by one, two, or three years. This amounts to either five, six, or seven years of total coverage.
As with extended warranties from other automakers, the total coverage terms described above include the length of the BMW factory warranty. For example, if you purchase a 7-year/100,000-mile warranty, you’re only adding three years and 50,000 miles of coverage. If you get a warranty for five years or 75,000 miles, you’ll get an extra one year or 25,000 miles of coverage.
BMW Extended Warranty Plans
BMW offers three different extended warranty plans: Platinum, Gold, and Powertrain Plus. See the table below for descriptions of each plan:
| BMW
Extended Warranty Plan | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Platinum | This is BMW’s most comprehensive level of extended warranty coverage, providing protection for almost all major car components. Parts covered include everything in the Gold plan along with your car’s suspension system, infotainment system, and electrical parts. |
| Gold | The Gold plan is advertised as protection for many major components of your BMW. It offers comprehensive coverage for your engine, transmission, drive assembly, transfer case (all-wheel drive only), cooling, induction and fuel systems, steering, brakes, heat, and air conditioning. Partial coverage is extended to electrical components in addition to the interior and exterior of your vehicle. |
| Powertrain Plus | As the most basic level of the BMW extended warranty, the Powertrain Plus plan offers coverage for parts including the engine, transmission, drive axles, cooling system, and fuel system. It also offers comprehensive coverage for the induction system and transfer case if your vehicle comes with all-wheel drive. |
BMW CPO Extended Warranty Plans
If you own a BMW CPO vehicle or a used car, you can purchase the same extended service contracts as for new BMWs. However, the highest coverage tier is only available for new and CPO vehicles while mid-level and powertrain plans are offered to new, CPO, and used vehicles. Note that the mileage limit for extended protection on a CPO vehicle is unlimited compared to the limits set for new and used BMWs.
BMW Extended Warranty Benefits
In addition to covered repairs, customers who purchase extended coverage get access to 24-hour BMW emergency roadside assistance. This includes services like battery jump–starts, lockout services, towing, and tire changes. A BMW vehicle service contract also includes genuine BMW parts from the manufacturer in the event of a warranty claim.
With a BMW extended warranty you’ll receive covered repairs at authorized BMW facilities by trained BMW technicians. This means that your vehicle’s performance and resale value will be protected as the car gets repaired.
BMW Extended Warranty Limitations
Coverage for extended service contracts under the BMW Ultimate Protection program is limited to material and workmanship defects. For specific details, refer to the BMW extended vehicle protection contract application and ask your local dealer any questions. If you’ve already purchased coverage, the service contract contains all of the specifics of your agreement.
BMW Extended Warranty Eligibility
If you buy a new or CPO BMW, you can add BMW extended warranty coverage at the time of purchase or at any point before the original factory warranty expires. It’s generally recommended to purchase an extended warranty plan before the factory warranty expires in case a costly repair occurs after the fact.
BMW Extended Warranty Exclusions
Even though a BMW extended vehicle protection plan covers most major components, contract holders aren’t entirely off the hook for repair costs. Most BMW extended warranties, both from the manufacturer and from third-party providers, exclude the following items:
- Regular wear and tear items like wiper blades and brake pads
- Damage from owner abuse or neglect
- Damage from improper repairs
- Repairs to vehicles modified with aftermarket components
- Damages covered by an insurance provider like collisions, acts of nature, and theft
- Regular maintenance services
If you’d prefer to have routine maintenance costs covered, it may be worth opting for the BMW Ultimate Care program.
BMW Extended Warranty Cost
Because BMWs are expensive to maintain compared to other vehicles, BMW extended warranties tend to be relatively expensive as well. Not everyone pays the same price for peace of mind with BMW extended warranties, however.
We set out to find examples of what real people have paid for BMW extended warranty plans. One driver stated that they paid $4,300 for a Platinum plan lasting seven years or 100,000 miles for their BMW 530e. Another respondent reported paying $3,800 for seven years or 75,000 miles of Platinum coverage for their BMW 540i xDrive.
While these real-world cost examples are helpful, note that the cost of your specific BMW extended warranty will depend on factors such as:
- The model, age, and mileage of your vehicle
- The level of coverage you choose
- Contract term limit
- The deductible amount
- The BMW dealer you purchase the warranty from
Our team’s warranty research and mystery shopping experiences have uncovered that the average extended car warranty cost is $3,026 in total. This average was calculated using quotes from the top eight providers in our industrywide review. See the table below for a breakdown of average price by coverage level for an extended auto warranty:
| Extended Car Warranty Type | Average Total Cost |
|---|---|
| Exclusionary | $3,124 |
| Mid-Level | $3,060 |
| Powertrain | $2,893 |
Do You Need A BMW Extended Warranty?
An extended warranty from BMW can provide additional protection for your vehicle for up to 100,000 miles. However, the BMW extended warranty is relatively average in the industry, as warranties from other automakers provide more comprehensive coverage and extra benefits. While BMW’s Platinum coverage is similar to what’s offered by third-party bumper-to-bumper warranties, you may get a better price, longer terms, and better perks with an aftermarket warranty provider.
Manufacturer vs. Third-Party BMW Extended Warranties
While extended warranty protection from BMW can afford you peace of mind on the road, third-party providers often do the same for less money. Benefits of an independent vehicle service contract for your BMW include:
- Wider variety of coverage options: BMW only offers three plan choices for customers to pick from. Many reputable third-party brands in the extended warranty industry offer twice as many options for you to consider, helping you find the exact coverage you desire. These companies also commonly offer perks that BMW extended warranties don’t, such as rental car reimbursement and trip interruption benefits.
- Purchasing flexibility: You’ll need to buy extended vehicle protection from BMW before your factory warranty expires. However, you can purchase coverage from an aftermarket provider at nearly any point in your car’s life.
- Wide network of repair facilities: Purchasing a BMW extended warranty means you’ve likely agreed to repairs done exclusively at BMW dealerships. An independent warranty expands your network by letting you take your car to almost any licensed repair facility.
Manufacturer vs. Third-Party Extended Warranty Costs
We conducted an extended auto warranty survey in 2022 to better understand the average purchase prices for both dealership and third-party warranty plans. The infographic below includes cost data from our research team’s study:
BMW Average Repair Costs
BMW maintenance costs and reliability are major factors to help you determine whether a BMW extended warranty is worth it. That said, as many owners are well aware, BMW repair and maintenance costs are expensive for nearly all models.
According to RepairPal, the average yearly repair cost for a BMW is $968. While the specific cost varies by model, this is 48 percent more than the average repair cost across makes and models from all automakers.
Common BMW Car Repairs
Common problems for BMWs and their typical repair costs include:
- Air conditioning evaporator replacement: $1,518 to $1,744
- AC compressor: $4,350 to $4,665
- Replacement wheel hub: $352 to $413
- Brake master cylinder replacement: $471 to $722
Powertrain issues generally occur with older vehicles, and they’re among the most expensive repairs. For example, RepairPal estimates that a rack and pinion replacement on a BMW 528i typically costs between $2,705 and $4,380. Considering a BMW extended warranty to cover your car’s powertrain is a wise decision.
Remember that maintenance and repair costs could be higher in spots like New York and California than in cheaper locales like Texas or Ohio. While your monthly payments won’t vary much from state to state, that’s not necessarily true of the repair costs you could face.
BMW Reliability Scores
For the brand as a whole, BMW performed about average in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠. While the industry norm is 186 problems per 100 vehicles, BMW owners report an average of 184 problems per 100 cars. This puts BMW ahead of Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Audi, and Acura but behind Lexus and Genesis. RepairPal paints a more worrying picture, giving the brand 2.5 out of 5.0 stars and ranking it 30th of 32 car brands for reliability.
While these statistics offer a pretty convincing case for buying a BMW extended warranty, the value of actually getting one depends on your personal circumstances and needs.
Is a BMW Extended Warranty Worth It?
Jessica Campbell, director of marketing at Endurance, makes the point that “whether or not an auto protection plan or extended warranty is ‘worth it’ largely depends on a vehicle owner’s needs and the quality of the vehicle itself.” This means your individual situation and personal goals play a large part in whether or not a BMW extended warranty is right for you.
If you already have a BMW factory warranty or a CPO warranty, there’s no good reason to purchase extended coverage until it gets close to the original warranty’s expiration date. If you’re leasing a BMW, you shouldn’t be concerned with the BMW extended warranty unless you actually plan on purchasing the vehicle at the end of the lease.
You should take BMW maintenance costs into account as you consider how long to keep the vehicle. It’s also smart to consider purchasing an extended warranty if you can’t afford an unexpected $2,000 to $4,000 repair to your BMW.
Depending on factors like how much you drive, your make and model of BMW, and what region of the country you live in, a manufacturer-backed extended warranty may not have the right amount of coverage to fit your budget and needs. As mentioned earlier, aftermarket coverage can provide you with more extended warranty options and greater flexibility.
BMW Extended Warranty: Our Take
In this article, we reviewed BMW extended warranty pricing and coverage options along with typical maintenance costs. While the BMW extended warranty provides manufacturer-backed coverage and uses genuine BMW replacement parts, these plans are usually far pricier than average.
If you’re on the fence about getting coverage from BMW itself, we recommend that you ask for free quotes from third-party warranty companies. The top-rated providers from our comprehensive review are Endurance, CARCHEX, and Olive – they’re all excellent options. As you research alternative providers, consider customer service scores on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot.
BMW Extended Warranty: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about the BMW extended warranty:
Methodology
In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate rankings of the best providers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
- Industry Standing: Warranty providers with a history of strong business practices and endorsements from experts receive the highest scores in this category.
- Coverage: This rating is based on types of extended warranty plans available, coverage terms, and added benefits like roadside assistance.
- Cost: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of plans and vehicles. Companies with lower prices per year of coverage receive the best scores.
- Transparency: This score takes into account contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
- Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and perform our own shopper analysis to get a sense of the responsiveness and helpfulness of each warranty company.
*Data accurate at time of publication.