Mechanical insurance

Talk about stuff not related directly to MX5s. Feel free to discuss what you like, as long as you keep within the forum rules.

Moderators: LilRay.Sun, Growler, jif, r3spct

Post Reply
NicF
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 185
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2013 12:00 pm
Location: Sth Canterbury

Mechanical insurance

Post by NicF » Thu Jul 24, 2014 10:24 am

Hi all
Apparently my ideas of quitting the BMW didn't sit well with 'er indoors, so on to plan B. After hearing some of the horror stories about repair costs, I'm pretty wary of owning it much beyond the mechanical and electrical warranty I had thrown in when I bought it.

So, any advice on buying further warranty? Any horror stories about claims out there?
99 NB MX5
91 NA MX5
92 B2600 offroad
Because RWD is ALWAYS more fun

SLYDIT
Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
Posts: 1610
Joined: Sun May 21, 2006 6:18 pm
Location: In the Garage.

Post by SLYDIT » Thu Jul 24, 2014 5:05 pm

in my experience mech warranties are totally useless. our was useless.they have all sorts of "get out" clauses and STUPID ways of doing claims...

EG our gearbox developed a serious whine, so we claimed...they wanted us to pay to have the gearbox removed and stripped down into components so the fault could be diagnosed (hours and hours of labour)....and then if they declined the claim we would A) have a car with no gearbox at all
b) have to pay to have the gearbox rebuilt or another gearbox installed...why they couldnt just say"yes its screwed chuck in anther box" is beyond me.
RED '90 TURBO.
SCARING PRIUS DRIVERS SINCE 2002

Angreal
I have stars, you haven't. Deal with it
I have stars, you haven't.  Deal with it
Posts: 1621
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:13 pm
Location: At the pub

Post by Angreal » Thu Jul 24, 2014 5:27 pm

I like the MX5 warranty. Many parts available, simple car etc

warrior
I only think 5.
I only think 5.
Posts: 989
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:11 pm
Location: auckland

Post by warrior » Thu Jul 24, 2014 8:34 pm

Warrenties are like turbos with no intercoolers....useless
warrior

siren676
I have stars, you haven't. Deal with it
I have stars, you haven't.  Deal with it
Posts: 1115
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:21 am
Location: Auckland

Post by siren676 » Thu Jul 24, 2014 8:58 pm

^ I use to work in retail where we were forced to sell extended warranties, was pretty difficult when ive got that same mindset
1990 NA6C MX5

NicF
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 185
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2013 12:00 pm
Location: Sth Canterbury

Post by NicF » Thu Jul 31, 2014 11:16 am

OK, I've had a good look at the fine print, and I think you guys are right, these things are just toilet paper.

Guess I'll just wing it for a while, car's only done 76k, regularly serviced, and I like to think I'm mechanically sympathetic. So an acceptable risk, IMO.

Thanks for the input.
99 NB MX5
91 NA MX5
92 B2600 offroad
Because RWD is ALWAYS more fun

CordedBowl
I count 5-s in my sleep
I count 5-s in my sleep
Posts: 334
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:12 pm

Post by CordedBowl » Thu Jul 31, 2014 11:39 am

Is the BMW a 318? From what I can tell they refer to them as "Water and Oil recyclers" from all the problems their little engines have.

Donovan has something similar so maybe he can chime in.

NicF
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 185
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2013 12:00 pm
Location: Sth Canterbury

Post by NicF » Thu Jul 31, 2014 11:45 am

Yes, it's the 318 valvetronic. Fascinating engine, it has no butterfly in the intake, uses variable valve lift to control the throttle instead.

Only water/oil issue I've had is a dumbarse mechanic snapping a plastic bayonet fitting draining the radiator then fixing it with silicone. Plastic + silicone + heat = one bung lying on the road somewhere, followed closely by all the coolant.
99 NB MX5
91 NA MX5
92 B2600 offroad
Because RWD is ALWAYS more fun

Donovan
I only think 5.
I only think 5.
Posts: 917
Joined: Tue Aug 10, 2010 10:05 pm
Location: Auckland

Post by Donovan » Fri Aug 01, 2014 7:59 am

Had a 04 316ti, which is the 1.8 motor, not the 2.0 in the 318ti, and it was one of the most reliable cars that I have had, cost me sod all in the 3+ years I had it. There are good BMW's to own and expensive ones (X6, X5, E46 M3, comes to mind).

But yes, they do use all, mind you, most petrol Euro's go thru oil for some reason. Never used water.

As far as the warranties go, depends on who's you get. I also have an 06 X3 Diesel, which is now coming up to 160K (I do a bit of tripping around the place) and it has only let me down once, and that was the starting motor failing on me. I was down country, towing the Mazda to a track day at Taupo. Insurance company paid for the rental that would tow the trailer, and repair of the X3, all I had to pay was the excess. No complaints, no queries, they just covered the costs.

Post Reply

Return to “Off Topic Chat”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests