warranty advice

[kellyleekyle]

Hi everyone,

Im new to the forum after buying my first X5 2000 4X4i with prins VSI LPG conversion.

Can anyone help me with finding a warranty for an 11 year old car with 136,000 miles, im struggling to find any cover for a car over 10yrs and 100,000 miles.

only had it 2 weeks and already been in garage twice so really need a warrany if possible

thanks
janette

[X5Sport]

Have you tried Warranty Direct?

At that mileage you may struggle to find a full warranty, but you may be able to get something like driveline cover (engine, gearbox etc)

[Smeeagain]

Don't know about full warranty from folk like Warranty direct, but my Mrs has a Peugeuot 406 15 years old and 250,000 miles and AA will give additional cover on top pf breakdown cover that pays out either five or six times a year up to £500 per claim (less excess of £50) to cover repairs that are needed as a result of a breakdown that AA are called out to. cost £60 per year. Obviously its not as comprehensive as Warranty Direct and others but may be worth having a look

[kellyleekyle]

Hi smeeagain, I already have breakdown repair with the AA, the excusuions leave very little that is actually covered, warranty direct only cover upto 10 yrs old at start of cover

[kkodal78]

i remember something on WD that they don't approve coverage after certain mileage. i thought it was around 120K and over is not eligible from Warranty direct. can't remember the exact mileage restriction

[Smeeagain]

be really interested to know what exclusions you mean to AA policy please? I personally know two AA drivers who have the cover on their own cars which is a fairly good endorsement.

[kellyleekyle]

hope this helps smeeagain

1 The Engine
All parts are covered other
than exhaust systems or failure
due to blockages within the oil
system.
2 Engine Cooling System
All parts are covered,
other than in the case of
damage or failure due to
freezing, corrosion, erosion
and blockage.
3 Fuel System
All parts are covered, other
than diesel particulate filters,
and damage or failure due to
incorrect or contaminated fuel,
internal blockage, adjustments
and failure to meet current
emission legislation.
4 Clutch
All parts are covered other than
worn-out friction surfaces.
5 Gearbox
All parts are covered.
6 Differential and Drive Line
All parts are covered excluding
motorcycle drive chains and
sprockets.
7 Steering
All parts are covered other
than steering locks, ignition
locks and barrels.
8 Suspension
All parts are covered other than
wheels, tyres and suspension
forks.
9 Braking System
All parts are covered other
than brake discs, pads, drums
and shoes.
10 Electrical System
All parts are covered including
vehicle starter batteries other
than sun roof motors and
mechanisms, folding roof
motors and mechanisms,
window mechanisms
(electrical and mechanical),
door lock mechanisms (electrical
and mechanical), ignition lock
and barrel, lamps, bulbs, faulty
connections, speedometer and
odometer.
Other Insured Parts are:
Front windscreen wiper linkages.
Housings and Casings
These are covered provided they
are damaged by the failure of an
insured part.
Other parts that are not covered:
All body parts, roof frames,
glass, non-glass windows, paint,
upholstery, folding roof fabric,
trim, and cosmetic finishes;
Motorcycle frames and fairings;
Any air conditioning components;
Any equipment that is not fitted as
standard by the manufacturer at the
time of production.
Important note –
Consumables: The cost of replacing
consumables such as oils, filters,
and antifreeze, is only included
when the relevant consumable is
replaced as part of a repair that is
carried out, the cost of which forms
part of a valid claim and where
replacement is requested at the
time authorisation is sought.
Warning lights: Please be aware
that the fact that a warning light,
which is linked to an insured part,
is illuminated does not necessarily
mean that the repair or replacement
of the relevant insured part is
required and/or will be paid for
under Your AA Breakdown Repair
Cover policy.
12
The “Specific Exclusions” section continues on page 13.
Parts insured under AA Breakdown Repair Cover
Subject to the limits detailed and the Terms and Conditions of cover, AA Breakdown Repair
Cover provides for the cost of repair or replacement of the following insured parts:
For claims

Specific Exclusions:
Cover does not include the following:
1. the first £35 of each claim. This is the excess which must be paid for each claim;
2. claims in relation to a breakdown which occurs within 14 days of Your agreed
policy start date or within 14 days after You have notified the Insurer of a
change of vehicle;
3. the VAT content of any claim where You are VAT registered;
4. Mechanical or Electrical defects occurring prior to the purchase of this cover;
5. defects You knew or ought reasonably to have known about prior to the
commencement of the journey on which the Mechanical or Electrical Failure occurred;
6. any defects reported to or by the AA patrol, or AA appointed garage agent, that are not
connected to the initial cause of breakdown;
7. modifications and/or alterations to manufacturer’s original specification;
8. any other defects identified by Your repairing garage not connected to the initial cause
of the breakdown;
9. any defects due to the poor maintenance of the vehicle, including cambelt failure
and any consequential damage, when it cannot be established that the belt has been
changed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations;
10. repairs to the nominated Vehicle if it is unroadworthy or otherwise unlawful to use on a
public road;
11. repairs if the nominated Vehicle is calculated to be beyond commercial economic repair.
This will be calculated using the Car Auction Price (CAP) Retail Guide;
12. any defects referred to a garage prior to AA attendance under Your AA Membership;
13. Wear and Tear, unless it has caused an insured part to suffer a Mechanical or Electrical
Failure;
14. exhaust systems, diesel particulate filters, wheels and tyres, sunroof motors and
mechanisms, lights and bulbs, faulty connections, window mechanisms (mechanical
and electrical), air conditioning components, speedometers and odometers; all body
parts, locks and keys, steering locks, ignition locks and barrels; all windows, paint,
trim, upholstery, cosmetic finishes, folding roof motors, frame and fabric, fuel gauge;
brake discs and pads or brake drums and shoes, motorcycle drive chains and sprockets,
motorcycle suspension forks, motorcycle frames and fairings;
15. damage to a non-insured part resulting from the Mechanical or Electrical Failure of an
insured part;
16. repairs required due to incorrect or contaminated fuel;
17. routine adjustments, phasing and calibration, internal blockage of fuel systems by
contamination and failure to meet current emission legislation;
18. any loss where the odometer has been tampered with, altered or disconnected or failed;
19. cover against the cost of any replacement vehicle hired following a breakdown (cover
may be available under Your AA Membership if the relevant benefit is held);
20. the cost of repairing faults or damage caused by road traffic accidents, frost, freezing,
corrosion, erosion, blockage, water ingress, theft or vandalism;
21. defects or damage to the extent that these result from the use of the vehicle in any sort
of competition, rally or racing of any kind;
22. any liability for bodily injury, death, or damage to other persons or other property or
any unforeseen loss of whatsoever nature whether arising directly or indirectly from an
incident giving rise to a claim under this cover or otherwise;
23. any loss or damage due to any type of fraud, misuse or act or omission by You which is
wilful, unlawful or negligent, including any loss or damage caused by continuing to drive
the nominated vehicle after a fault has developed;
24. damage recoverable under any other warranty or insurance; and the cost of repairs
relating to damage caused by You or someone else not authorised to carry out a repair;
25. the cost of repairs needed because of design or fault in manufacture; and
26. accidental damage.
Please also refer to ‘Parts insured under AA Breakdown Repair Cover’ on page 12 for further
details on excluded parts and the position with consumables.
Other Terms & Conditions of AA Breakdown Repair Cover
What breakdowns

[Raj]

Tbh Janette that is a pretty normal set of written exclusions, etc.

The problem is you kind of have to expect some issues with older and higher mileage vehicles. The eternal optimist in me looks at it like this, the bits you have to replace out of your own pocket will hopefully not resurrect themselves once resolved and unfortunately it kind of comes with the territory of owning an E53...

Also looking at what is listed some of the more expensive items to fail (like gearbox, etc) do appear to be covered.

[kellyleekyle]

I agree Raj but with a limit of £500 including vat and labour, the parts could not be worth more a a couple of hundred pounds, seeing as my window switch cost not much less, it dosnt really cover the replacement gearbox of wich costs around £2500. (not that i should need this replacing again, touch wood) thats the sort of warranty cover i was hoping for but it looks like the milage is going to be the biggest stumbelling block for me.

[Raj]

I missed the limit of £500, but still not too bad I guess as it would certainly take the sting out of most repairs.

As you say, the mileage is biggest negative unfortunately.

[gobiman]

Personal view but paying £60 a year for £450 of cover is simply not worth it.
That's on a par with the good old Dixons extended warranty.
What you want is cover for the major mechanical components (engine, gearbox etc) which can cost thousands to repair. However, that may be not economic either given value of the car. I would expect it to be at least £500 a year. I was quoted £1,400 to continue a BMW warranty on a 5 year old 4.8iS with 40k which I declined.
Good luck

[dirtymonkey29]

Warranty companies will try and wriggle out of any claim as "wear and tear" and make the whole process as difficult as possible so you end up giving up trying. Save your pennies in a savings account and spend on bills as you need

[Smeeagain]

If I could just highlight what I think is a couple of misinterpretations.

It is not a limit of £500 total (or £450 if you deduct) -it is a limit of £500 per claim so if you get an £800 repair bill then they pay the first £500 (less excess). Now a £300 bill has to be better than an £800 bill.
£500 off a gearbox rebuild is not to be sniffed at

Also it is up to £500 contribution on a repair bill up to six times per year. So that is £3000 of contribution. Now I don't need to promote AA, nor am I on their payroll, but for me having my mrs car covered for £60 with a quarter of a million miles is absolutely worth it. Why am I so convinced? Well we broke down on the A34 with an alternator and battery that was goosed. They towed us to a garage of our choice and sorted it the next day - that cost me a total of £50. The battery alone would have cost £50+ and I count have fitted the alternator as it took the garage three hours to get it off due to a seized bolt. So, for me, it has more than paid for itself.

At the end of the day it is a numbers game. And the numbers are in their favour as they have access to the data on repair frequency and cost the insurers will always try to wriggle out. you have to comply to the letter of the law in terms of the correct servicing intervals, fluids, etc etc etc

If you have a car (and we have two) with more than a 100k miles then a) you probably need a warranty and b) most warranteers wont touch you (because the numbers are no longer in their favour) so the premium goes through the roof. Lastly not everyone can afford £400-£500 for warranty but then can you afford the repair bill. My X5 last year went past 100k miles. I took out the AA option and didn't use it. II saved myself a lot of cash over a WD warranty (or any other brand) - but as you can see what I'm doing is playing the insurers at their own game. I'm playing the numbers game too.

I'd rather the insurers wriggled out of a claim with a £60 premium that a £500 premium

It's all a numbers game. Some you win, some you lose.

[briankerrys47]

Just been looking at WDirect to cover my 2003 4.4i 109000. They have offered cover for 12mths @£124 but looking at the small print it's only 9mths not the first 90days and will only pay 50% of parts cost but all of the labour.

[bigsanj]

[quote="briankerrys47"]
Just been looking at WDirect to cover my 2003 4.4i 109000. They have offered cover for 12mths @£124 but looking at the small print it's only 9mths not the first 90days and will only pay 50% of parts cost but all of the labour.
[/quote]
I took out a WD in Nov 2012. They discounted the premium over they phone when they rang me back and offered everything available and got the luxury cover. I had to pay £70 extra for an inspection so my wear and tear started from day one. I have already had to claim for a sticking caliper. Rang up WD, told them what I thought it was and they told me I could take it to BMW. Dropped it off and collected the car later that day. The only problem is you hve to pay for everything upfront and claim it back. Tbh I ha no hassles and got texts every step of the way.