Modern BMW cars are technological marvels and are still considered some of the best driving machines in the modern-day automotive landscape. But in recent years, they have developed a bit of a reputation for being unreliable and overly complicated to fix. This is why BMW owners are recommended to buy an extended warranty plan be it a factory extended warranty or once provided by a third-party vendor.

In this article, we take an in-depth look at BMW's factory extended warranty plan and we shall also examine the best third-party options to assure great coverage for your BMW. Depending on how often you drive your BMW and how long you intend to keep it, one of these could be a better choice for you. When shopping for a third-party extended warranty, we recommend you get quotes from multiple providers for the best possible deal for your BMW.

BMW Extended Warranty Overview

BMW follows a similar warranty structure as the rest of the industry where the manufacturer's extended warranty can be purchased along with the vehicle or at any time before the factory warranty coverage expires. But BMW's 4 years/50,000-mile warranty is shorter than other rivals.

BMW's factory extended warranty offers three distinct levels of coverage which include Powertrain Plus, Gold, and Platinum.

Powertrain Plus

BMW's Powertrain Plus is their entry-level plan that offers limited coverage for all major powertrain components which are comprised of the engine and transmission. Apart from the engine and transmission, supporting critical supporting components such as the fuelling, cooling system, and drive assembly are among the systems receiving limited coverage. The all-wheel-drive transfer case and the engine’s induction system are not included in this coverage and you will have to step up to a comprehensive plan.

Gold

BMW's Gold is the middle ground in their warranty lineup and offers comprehensive coverage for the engine, transmission, fuel system, cooling system, steering, anti-lock brakes, heating, and air conditioning. This coverage does cover a limited number of electrical components as well but it excludes the most expensive electronics like the i-drive infotainment, speakers, and navigation telemetry.

Platinum

BMW's Platinum extended warranty is the range-topping plan that combines all the coverage offered by the Gold plan with added coverage for complex in-car electronics like the i-drive infotainment system, speakers, and navigation systems. It also adds limited coverage for the vehicle’s exterior and interior.

All of these plans offer you the choice of extending the warranty term by 1, 2, or 3 years, choosing between 75,000 or 100,000 miles for each term including the duration of the original factory warranty. For example, if you choose 5 years/75,000 miles, you are getting an additional 1 year/25,000 miles of coverage. If you choose a 7-year/100,000-mile term, you’re adding 3 years/50,000 miles of coverage.

Here's a list of exclusions that accompany the BMW extended warranty plan.

- Damage from accidents or the environment

- Damage from misuse

- Aftermarket accessories or modifications

- Maintenance

- Wear parts like brake pads and wiper blades

- Paint and other cosmetic items

- Some suspension components

Cost Of BMW's Extended Warranty

BMW's extended warranty costs vary from model to model and as mentioned above it also depends on the plan you choose. According to BMW, each dealership is entitled to set its prices. According to some BMW forums, the prices for extended warranty plans range between $1,700 and $7,000. These prices are for the basic 1-year/25,000 miles and the 3-year Platinum BMW Extended Service Contract.

All BMW extended warranty plans come with 24x7 roadside assistance and a $50 deductibles fee. As is the case with any manufacturer extended warranty, the vehicle should be subject to regular maintenance from an authorized BMW service center, or else the warranty might be void.

Do You Need BMW Extended Warranty Coverage?

Before buying a BMW or an extended warranty for your BMW, make sure to take a look at the average maintenance cost and the terms of use of the factory warranty for one of these Bavaria masterpieces.

As is the trend with most German automakers, especially ones that wear a premium badge, all modern BMWs are offered with a four-year/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty. Most German brand's including BMW does not offer any added powertrain coverage beyond this, which isn't the case with other luxury brands like Acura, Cadillac, Infiniti, and Genesis all of which offer a 10 years/100,000 powertrain warranty as standard.

Other perks included with a BMW factory warranty are:

- Roadside Assistance

- 24x7 customer care helpline

- No mileage cap on additional services for the duration of the warranty

- 12-years/unlimited miles corrosion warranty

- 1-year additional warranty over the remaining factory warranty with all CPO BMW vehicles

BMW Repair Costs

BMWs are subject to the same cure that plagues all modern vehicles which is technology. But this problem is more prevalent in BMWs because all of their modern vehicles are filled with expensive electronics and gizmos that complicate things greatly. But that said, BMW continues to be one of the most reliable premium brands in the business, once again proving the might of good olé German ingenuity.

According to a study conducted by J.D. Power 2021 U.S. vehicle Dependability Study, BMW was reported to have 108 problems per 100 cars. That result puts it ahead of rivals Audi at 127 and Mercedes-Benz at 122, but behind industry leader Lexus with an impressive figure of just 81. Three BMW models also made it to J.D power's list of most reliable vehicles.

BMW repairs continue to be a costly affair and unlike other vehicles, it is highly recommended that you get your new or CPO BMW repaired at a BMW service center given the complexity of these vehicles. Here are a few examples of repair prices for 2016 models from RepairPal.

Our Take On BMW's Extended Warranty

BMW's extended warranty, though pretty comprehensive, it continues to be expensive, even by the standards of a luxury automaker. Third-party providers do offer similar levels of coverage for BMWs with all the additional perks. So we recommend looking into those options as well before buying an extended warranty for your BMW.

What Are The Benefits Of A Third-Party Warranty?

An extended warranty is a great addition to assure worry-free ownership of your BMW. However, a factory warranty might not be the best fit for all. That's where a third-party extended warranty comes in with over 400 BMW authorized service centers across the United States, an extended warranty could be the best fit for your beloved BMW.

However, some top-rated extended warranty providers like Endurance, CARCHEX, and CarShield can offer quality service from authorized technicians, making these providers the next best alternative. Here's a comparison between BMW's extended warranty vs. Third-party extended warranties.

Uproar:

Uproar is based out of Seattle, Washington, but it’s not like any other extended car warranty company out there. Uproar bills itself as an innovator, which makes a lot of sense considering it’s the first extended warranty company to offer a 100-percent digital, subscription-based experience. The main highlights of uproar include an instant quote and signup online, same-day coverage, no long-term commitments, transparency, and no aggressive salespeople or robocalls. They are BBB accredited and have five-star ratings from both Google and Consumer Affairs.

Olive:

With one of the highest satisfaction rates in the industry, a result of their extremely reasonable pricing structure, Olive is yet another provider that has built up quite a fan following. And the cheaper prices mean you can set aside those saving and use them towards routine maintenance.

- For cars up to 10 years old/ 140k miles

- 100% online extended warranty solution with customizable plans

- File claims online 24/7

- Affordable monthly payments

- Call for a quote & get a free $5 gift card

Forever Car

This brand is a well-reputed one and offers a plethora of options. There Platinum Plus warranty plan covers repair costs for both mechanical breakdowns and wear-and-tear items such as windshield wipers, fuses, light bulbs, and brake pads.

- 4 distinct warranty plans spanning a wide price range

- Cut repair costs with full protection for your vehicle

- Inspection required before a claim can be filed

- Deductibles range from $0 to $500

Endurance:

Endurance is one of the biggest names in the third-part warranty space and offers a plethora of plans to cater to a wide range of customer needs. The Endurance Advantage™ plan covers mechanical breakdowns and maintenance through three levels: Preferred, Plus, and Prime. These plans cover all basic maintenance parameters like oil changes, engine checks, and brake pad replacements, along with additional services like roadside assistance, towing, and rental car reimbursement. Some of the other benefits include:

- Coverage for cars up to 20 years old

- Basic powertrain warranty options are available

- Inspection required before a claim can be filed

- Extra perks with all-inclusive membership

- Join & save $300 on a protection plan

CARCHEX

They offer coverage for cars with up to 250,000 miles which makes them a great choice for people who plan to purchase a warranty for their heavily used vehicles. They offer a wide range of policies some of which offer industry-leading claim filing processes. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, CARCHEX should be on your list when shopping for an extended warranty.

- Covers cars with up to 250k miles

- First-rate full-coverage protection for new and used vehicles

- The claim filing process depends on the policy

- No-haggle, low-price guarantee

- A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau