BMW X3 Extended warranty advice wanted....

Claire_Mee · 14 Nov 2019 at 20:54

Hi looking for any advice from anyone who may have had similar issues. I have had a X3 2014 for 3.5years and not really had too many problems. It has 104k miles and I average around 18-20k miles per year. Wednesday this week my husband was driving the car and long story short the turbo packed in and it seems to have damaged various bits in the car. I have an extended warranty with BMW which I phoned up when my car went over 100k and asked if it was still worth having, the warranty people told me absolutely it is and that I would still be covered for most components. So anyway dealer today phoned to say car is needing a new turbo and also a new dpf filter - but whilst my warranty will cover the cost of the replacement turbo they want £2.1k from me to replace the dpf filer as they say that it is wear and tear component and not covered through warranty as my car is over 100k miles. I don't understand how they can make the distinction, the turbo blowing has caused the dpf filter to go so surely one is connected to the other??? Has anyone heard of anything similar. I phone BMW today and to say they were poor customer service is an understatment - totally not what I would expect from a company like BMW. I was basically told there was no further discussion to be had on it they wouldn't be prepared to talk to me any further about it and that was that. I will absolutely not let it go at that but before I work out what my next move is wondered if anyone had anything similar?

HoneyBadger · 14 Nov 2019 at 20:59

Can’t you just tell them to fix the turbo and go and collect it? Even if the DPF is knackered, you could probably get a third party part and have it fitted by an independent for far less.

It should still drive with knackered DPF.

Claire_Mee · 14 Nov 2019 at 21:03

I could but I still don't understand why they would agree to fix the turbo but not the dpf - one has caused the other so surely if they agree to fix one then they need to fix the other?

[TW]Fox · 14 Nov 2019 at 21:06

The DPF is a consumable part and isnt covered by any of the insured warranty products. It sucks but it's a specific exclusion of every policy they have.

HoneyBadger · 14 Nov 2019 at 21:08

Claire_Mee said:
I could but I still don't understand why they would agree to fix the turbo but not the dpf - one has caused the other so surely if they agree to fix one then they need to fix the other?

I’d argue that a 104k mile old DPF is nearer the end of its life than not. The turbo failing has just exposed another weak component.

Claire_Mee · 14 Nov 2019 at 21:11

It may have been nearer the end of its life but it wasn't at the end of its life - it was the turbo going that has caused it. I use the car for a 40 mile each way motorway journey five days a week so the filter should be getting cleaned - have never had any warning etc about it from the car. For a consumable part i'd say £2k is an expensive consumable

HoneyBadger · 14 Nov 2019 at 21:15

Yep, very expensive.

Ask BMW for a discount? Ring around another dealer? Suck it up?

[TW]Fox · 14 Nov 2019 at 21:15

I agree, it's a very expensive consumable part. But sadly a consumable part it remains and it's specifically written into the policy that it's not covered.

Your
Comprehensive Component Cover
covers all factory-fitted mechanical and
electrical components of the insured
vehicle with the exception of the
following:
Battery, BMW i3 and BMW i8 high
voltage and auxiliary batteries, external
connectivity charging cables, external
recharging station, all high voltage
cabling, all exhaust components
(except catalytic converter)

Unfortunately the DPF is an exhaust component.

Minstadave · 14 Nov 2019 at 21:22

Just get the turbo done and go elsewhere for the DPF.

Rroff · 14 Nov 2019 at 21:25

HoneyBadger said:
I’d argue that a 104k mile old DPF is nearer the end of its life than not. The turbo failing has just exposed another weak component.

From a quick Google looks like ~110K miles is a regular point for the DPF needing replacement on the X3 of that era. Should be able to get the DPF done for under £500 all in parts and labour elsewhere rather than a main dealer.

Dangerous Dave · 14 Nov 2019 at 21:31

Ask the dealer for a discount on the DPF, going by the quick calculator check the service adviser did when I asked what it would have cost without a warranty they give a 45% discount to the warranty company.

It also surprising the wording they have used to reject the DPF claim they have used the 100k wear & tear clause rather than being excluded as part of the exhaust. Doesn't help your claim but it implies they may have covered the DPF if the car had under 100k on it.

Dandle · 15 Nov 2019 at 15:01

There is he case to argue that if the dpf light was not on before the turbo failed then it was still serviceable. If the turbo failing had damaged the dpf then that should be covered even though it's a consumable item as the damage is caused by a covered part failing. I would bet that there dpf is probably still serviceable especially with the mileage it's doing and they are simply replacing it because they always do with a turbo change and trying to pull money back.

I wouldn't be giving up to early on this claim.

Psycho Sonny · 15 Nov 2019 at 15:15

Tell them to do the turbo for free and you will get the DPF done elsewhere.

However this may invalidate your warranty.

Liquidfox · 15 Nov 2019 at 15:57

[TW]Fox said:
I agree, it's a very expensive consumable part. But sadly a consumable part it remains and it's specifically written into the policy that it's not covered.

Don't they have a clause for repairing/replacing parts that are damaged by covered parts?

Psycho Sonny · 15 Nov 2019 at 16:04

Liquidfox said:
Don't they have a clause for repairing/replacing parts that are damaged by covered parts?

Exhaust isn't covered. I think that draws the line. Otherwise it would turn into a grey area and people arguing it was caused by something else, etc.

In this case can it be proven that the turbo caused the DPF to need replacing?

If the DPF light isn't on then does it even need replacing? I'd be tempted to just get the new turbo and drive it hard for a week in an attempt to clear the DPF.

Also does the car require fluid to help the DPF to burn? Has that been replaced or topped up?

Nasher · 15 Nov 2019 at 16:53

Problem is a knackered/blocked DPF can kill the turbo, so you might end up killing the new one too.

Scania · 15 Nov 2019 at 19:15

Nasher said:
Problem is a knackered/blocked DPF can kill the turbo, so you might end up killing the new one too.

Was just about to post the same thing.

Interesting they regard the DPF as consumable yet not the Turbo, 100k isn’t a low mileage for a turbo to fail although some last many times that.

Dandle · 15 Nov 2019 at 21:34

Psycho Sonny said:
Exhaust isn't covered. I think that draws the line. Otherwise it would turn into a grey area and people arguing it was caused by something else, etc.

In this case can it be proven that the turbo caused the DPF to need replacing?

If the DPF light isn't on then does it even need replacing? I'd be tempted to just get the new turbo and drive it hard for a week in an attempt to clear the DPF.

Also does the car require fluid to help the DPF to burn? Has that been replaced or topped up?

Depends how the turbo went. If the seals went and it dumped oil or filthy oily exhaust into the DPF then it will have ruined it and likewise if the turbine has been damaged the parts would have gone straight into the DPF causing damage. My money is on the DPF not even needing replacing but the garage doing it on all cars when they change the turbo whether it needs changing or not. Most times out of warranty there will be no quible and people will pay.

Dangerous Dave · 15 Nov 2019 at 22:20

Scania said:
Was just about to post the same thing.

Interesting they regard the DPF as consumable yet not the Turbo, 100k isn’t a low mileage for a turbo to fail although some last many times that.

I would be annoyed if a turbo went under 100k. I sold my old 530d to a friend with just under 100k on it he's run it to 150k odd and the turbo has no noticeable shaft play. It did snap it's timing chain which is why the turbo was checked before stripping the engine to replace the chain. Not a job I am going to offer to help with again.

Scania · 15 Nov 2019 at 22:28

Dangerous Dave said:
I would be annoyed if a turbo went under 100k. I sold my old 530d to a friend with just under 100k on it he's run it to 150k odd and the turbo has no noticeable shaft play. It did snap it's timing chain which is why the turbo was checked before stripping the engine to replace the chain. Not a job I am going to offer to help with again.

Sure, I'd be narked too!

I recall turbo failure on an (S2) Escort RS Turbo back in the day, it had just north of 70k on it and wasn't chipped (remapped as they call it now) and was told it was "about right" by Turbosystems, at the time a very respected tuner of RS cars...

Equally, I've known new trucks blow turbo's at 6 months old, on the other hand , I know of million + mile examples that are still as they left the factory.

I'm surprised BMW have blown the OP a raspberry mind you, given he's got their extended warranty you'd think they'd be thinking of customer goodwill and cutting him some slack, instead, its a big .i.. in his general direction, no doubt they'll be surprised his next car isn't a BMW, ever again.

The short sightedness of "premium" marques never ceases to amaze me, never mind that the experience you receive from the majority of their dealers is FAR from premium.