More BMW Extended Warranty tales for my 4.8

[CondorX5]

Despite getting the E70 recently, we kept the E53 - dealer had just replaced the DSP amp and BM54 radio /amp unit the same week I took delivery of the E70.    However, it came back with non-working BT and a strange noise, like a hum, from the steering column on turning.  And yet another rear bulb not working.......
So booked it in again, this time they collected it - the BT was their own bodge up - hadn't replaced the connector properly when sorting out the radio and amp.
Steering column replacement, I am told, and also advised that the CD changer was no longer communicating with the ecu and was working intermittently so that is being replaced as well. 
Total of about £2500 again, on an 11 year old semiretired X5. Luckily warranty covering it all. 

While the 4.8 has never let me down mechanically, without the warranty it would have been an expensive nightmare to keep it all as it was intended to work..........this was a low mileage, single owner car when I bought it as an AUC, has a fully BMW main dealer service history and is well looked after, but without the warranty I would definitely not have managed to keep it going this long as the costs would have been prohibitive.

Here is a list of what has been repaired or replaced under warranty since I bought the car in 2010.

1. Alternator replaced
2. Panoramic sunroof part replacement
3. 2 satnav units replaced
4.DSP amp replaced
5. BM54 radio amp unit replaced.
6. CD changer replaced
7. Self levelling suspension- new ECU, new compressor, several height sensors, new air strut, airbag replacement
8.oil cooler replacement
9. Gear box leak - repaired and fluid changed.
10. Replaced rear light cluster
11. Steering column replacement
12. Multiple parking sensors replaced plus control box.


Can't remember any others at the moment, but there are bound to be some I have missed.

It might be cheaper to buy privately or from a non-BMW dealer, but the AUC warranty and its extension over the years has really been worth its cost to me and has kept my old wheezy 4.8 going a lot longer than it would otherwise have done. Its on 135K miles now -will still keep it under warranty for a few months longer, am worried the entire engine and gearbox will implode if I stop the warranty now  ::)

[Ricko]

Totally agree – I still have my 4.8is and have renewed the BMW warranty every year although it now costs over £1000 for the full comprehensive policy plus breakdown but it has been worth every penny.
I renewed back in May and since then have had two trips to the main dealer in respect of self levelling suspension issues.

The warranty covered all the diagnostics – the replacing of the compressor, control unit, accumulator and two levelling sensors.

The total cost of the work above if I was to have paid for it myself would be a touch shy of £2400.

If I was to add up the costs of all the work carried out under warranty through my ownership and compare it to what the warranty has cost me I am well ahead.

[RCVantage]

If the 4.8 IS is so "delicate" once aged, why buy them - the 4.4 Sports i've always preferred have been trouble free for over 350K miles now between them !

Steve

[CondorX5]

All modern vehicles become more prone to various electronic and/or mechanical faults as they age and pile on more miles - its a bit of a lottery. I have known spectactular engine or gearbox failures on 4.4 and 4.6 variants as well as the usual minefield of electronic stuff.  The more complex a cars electronics and the more gadgets it has, the more likely it is to go wrong at some point. Don't think the 4.8 is any worse than any other similarly complex car, but buying a relatively ancient one with age related mileage on it means you are likely to be spending time and money on it unless you are very very fortunate.  Same applies to the others as well.