Is BMW's USA Extended Warranty Pricing Fair?

[adamchandler]

4 year extension on an R1250RT = $1320
4 year extension on a R18 Pure = $3630

2022 BMW RT - $25,000 at the cheapest
2022 BMW R18 - $14,000 at the cheapest

So warrantying an R18 is 26% of the out the door price and warrantying an R1250RT is 5.2% of the cost.

That doesn't seem very fair. What was BMW thinking?

Shouldn't the warranty be a sliding scale? like same example, a G310GS is $1090 for a 4 year extension which is over 20% of the MSRP price for a G310. I think their warranty needs to be re-thought and ignore CCs and simply price the warranty as a 5-10% cost of the sticker versus straight CC based. It incentives people to spend more on the bike to make the warranty less of a percentage.

 

[pbosik]

You have until 3 yr/36k to decide on the warranty. By then, I will either purchase one, or trade the bike. I won't own a BMW without a warranty, as the repair costs are silly.

 

[adamchandler]

You have until 3 yr/36k to decide on the warranty. By then, I will either purchase one, or trade the bike. I won't own a BMW without a warranty, as the repair costs are silly.

I am pretty sure the price will be much higher in 3 years.

I would argue repairing an R1250GS will be much higher than an R18. the GS has far more electronic gizmos to fail. I'd just like BMW to experiment with variable pricing per model instead of lumping R18s in with K1600GTLs which are much more labor intensive to repair.

 

[pbosik]

I am pretty sure the price will be much higher in 3 years.

I would argue repairing an R1250GS will be much higher than an R18. the GS has far more electronic gizmos to fail. I'd just like BMW to experiment with variable pricing per model instead of lumping R18s in with K1600GTLs which are much more labor intensive to repair.

Possibly, it may come down, once BMW realizes that the R18 isn't prone to failures.

 

[BobW]

Agree with Adam. We can't forget the K1600 is the only other model in "Our" Group so the costs factors are split between the two literal opposite ends of the spectrum. I'm just glad to see them finally offer it in the U.S. and with prices that honestly appear very reasonable given the price we pay for an exhaust or custom seat, etc. Buying it before the original warranty expires is a real incentive as to value and having it would make it a no brainer which bike I would buy if shopping used.

 

[Deleted member 1344]

The boxer motor is relatively easy to work on compared to some bikes. With my R1200C I was able to adjust valves, change out clutch slave cylinder, replace fuel pump..........etc.
The boxer geometry is laid out so that access to various repairs is out in the open. I hope my R18TC doesn't need much maintenance however. I'm over 60.

 

[nielsm]

The boxer motor is relatively easy to work on compared to some bikes. With my R1200C I was able to adjust valves, change out clutch slave cylinder, replace fuel pump..........etc.
The boxer geometry is laid out so that access to various repairs is out in the open. I hope my R18TC doesn't need much maintenance however. I'm over 60.

I’d argue it is the electronics on bikes that are the most likely to need warranty repairs. My S1000R is a 2015 model, so it has also been out of warranty for 4 years now…. No problems even though it has the most electronics of all my bikes. My GSA is 10 years old and I’ve had no issues since the warranty ended 7 years ago. Boxers tend to be built tough. My 1972 R75/5 did have an issue a couple years ago where some of the wiring harness shorted, but I can’t say that is surprising since at the time the harness was nearly 50 years old. I just swapped the starter this year, since after 50 years it was a bit tired, but again I would say after that long it can be considered a wear item. The mechanics are still going strong.

I will note that I do keep up with maintaining the bikes. Regular fluid changes according to the schedule. I keep the chain clean and lubed on the S1000R every 500 miles. Replace bearings as needed as well. I can’t say in 25 years of BMW ownership I’ve ever had an out of warranty repair that would have been covered by an extended warranty such that the expense of the warranty was less than the repair.

 

[adamchandler]

If I think back to my BMW non-maintenance Repairs since buying my first one in 2016:

1. Steering Head Bearing, F750GS, ended up being added to running-in service later as a required 600 mile check
2. Heated Grips (Oil cooled GS)
3. Oil Fuel Level Sensor (Oil cooled GS)
4. TPMS sensor (8 years old GS)
5. Left wonder wheel and control switch housing (2017 GS)
6. ESA Motor failure (2018 GS).
7. Non-True spoked wheels from the factory leading to 18 loose spokes on each wheel (2018 GS)

so 7 issues, 2 'mechanical' and the rest related to electronics or electrical gizmos. So I'd say Neil's data tracks which is why when it comes to warrantying the R18, the warranty will pay for itself if over the next 7 years, the LED Headlight ($2400) and the TFT on my bagger ($1500) both fail. I honestly have little concern about the boxer motor or the final drive in the first 7 years. All my concerns come down to sensors and electronics.

In 7 years, I'll probably be able to get both of those high dollar parts on eBay from parts bikes that are used so they just have to last 5-6 years for me to not have buyer's remorse on skipping the warranty.