Crash Course:
- The BMW factory warranty lasts for four years or 50,000 miles from the purchase date of your new car.
- While the coverage terms aren’t bad, the BMW new vehicle limited warranty is just average among luxury automakers.
- A BMW extended warranty could protect your car from expensive repairs for years past the expiration of its BMW factory warranty.
Maintenance costs and repair services for BMW vehicles have a reputation for being expensive. Thankfully, the first four years or 50,000 miles of those needs are covered under the BMW factory warranty that comes with each new vehicle.
In the following article, our team of warranty experts will dive into details about the BMW manufacturer’s warranty. You’ll learn about its length of coverage, discover specifics about what’s protected, and find out about benefits that come with it. Since our team has researched the best extended car warranty companies, we’ll also offer suggestions to keep your BMW safe for years to come.
What Is the BMW Factory Warranty?
The BMW factory warranty offers protection against most car repair costs caused by defective parts or workmanship flaws. You won’t have to pay for initial coverage on your BMW, though the factory plan ends after only four years or 50,000 miles.
New vehicle limited warranties from BMW are made up of two parts: a bumper-to-bumper and a powertrain warranty. Bumper-to-bumper coverage offers protection for nearly all BMW parts, while the powertrain component takes care of important and pricey parts such as the engine, transmission, and drive axle.
BMW Factory Warranty Overview
In the table below, you’ll find a summary of BMW manufacturer warranty coverage. Note that these term lengths apply whether you own a BMW X5, a BMW 3 Series, or another model.
| BMW Factory Warranty Coverage | Term Length | Mileage Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper | 4 years | 50,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 4 years | 50,000 miles |
| Rust perforation | 12 years | Unlimited miles |
| Scheduled maintenance | 3 years | 36,000 miles |
| Roadside assistance | 4 years | Unlimited miles |
BMW Factory Warranty: Our Review
The BMW new vehicle warranty has middle-of-the-road term lengths among luxury manufacturers. The company’s four years of comprehensive coverage is on the generous side, while the four years of powertrain coverage is short compared to the best new car warranties. However, the BMW Ultimate Care Scheduled Maintenance Program covers several rounds of costly maintenance services, making it a valuable addition to the BMW factory warranty.
BMW Factory Warranty: Pros and Cons
Compared to other automakers, BMW’s factory coverage has a few significant advantages. However, it also includes some major shortcomings.
| BMW Factory Warranty Pros | BMW Factory Warranty Cons |
|---|---|
| Includes BMW maintenance services as a perk | Shorter powertrain coverage than most luxury automakers |
| Roadside assistance has no mileage limit | Fewer dealership service centers than other manufacturers |
| Shorter roadside assistance for new BMWs than for certified pre-owned (CPO) models |
BMW Factory Warranty Coverage
With its factory warranty, BMW offers a flat 4-year/50,000-mile term for both powertrain and bumper-to-bumper coverage. This is a departure from most automakers, which tend to offer longer terms for their powertrain warranties than for bumper-to-bumper ones.
Under the manufacturer warranty, all auto repairs must take place at licensed BMW dealerships. Car repair work will be performed by certified BMW technicians using original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts.
Bumper-to-Bumper BMW Factory Warranty
Powertrain BMW Factory Warranty
BMW offers identical terms of four years or 50,000 miles for its powertrain coverage plan. Typical powertrain warranties offer much more limited coverage, protecting only the most essential parts related to your vehicle’s drivetrain, such as the engine and transmission.
However, those components are also covered under the BMW bumper-to-bumper warranty. Effectively, then, there is no BMW powertrain factory warranty.
BMW Factory Warranty: Additional Coverage
The BMW manufacturer’s warranty also provides a few specialized coverage items:
- Rust perforation limited warranty: BMW covers the cost of replacing any body panels that rust from the inside out for 12 years or unlimited miles under what’s also known as a corrosion warranty.
- Hybrid battery coverage: BMW covers high-voltage lithium-ion batteries against defects for eight years or 80,000 miles.
- Safety belt warranty: Valid only in Kansas, the BMW factory warranty covers seat belts against defects for 10 years with no mileage limit.
Does the BMW Factory Warranty Cover Tires?
The BMW factory warranty does not cover the tires that come on new vehicles. However, those tires are still covered for a certain term length that varies based on the tire manufacturer.
BMW Factory Warranty: Included Benefits
BMW Ultimate Care Scheduled Maintenance
Eah car comes with three years or 36,000 miles of protection to cover BMW maintenance costs for the services outlined in your owner’s manual. This includes preventive maintenance services at 5,000-mile intervals such as routine inspections, oil and filter changes, and tire rotations. While this would be a valuable addition to any factory warranty, it’s a major plus for BMWs, which have notoriously high service costs.
BMW Roadside Assistance
The BMW manufacturer’s warranty also includes four years of emergency roadside assistance coverage with unlimited miles. This package offers 24/7 coverage for services that include:
- Tire repair and replacement
- Fuel and fluid delivery
- Towing for disabled vehicles
- Lockout services
- Trip interruption reimbursement of up to $1,000
BMW Factory Warranty: Exclusions
The BMW factory warranty covers a wide variety of parts, but not everything. Below are a few items that get excluded from new BMW limited warranty coverage:
- Brake pads and brake cylinders
- Windshield wiper blades
- Damage from fire, flooding, car accidents, and instances of theft or vandalism
- Damage to totaled vehicles
What Voids a BMW Factory Warranty?
There are a few ways that you can void the warranty coverage on your BMW, even if you haven’t reached the end of the term or exceeded the mileage limit. These include:
- Not attending to scheduled maintenance services
- Damaging your vehicle by neglecting to maintain proper fluid levels
- Tampering with the odometer
BMW Factory Warranty: Deductible
As with most car manufacturers, there’s no deductible for repairs performed under the BMW factory warranty. That means that you’ll face no out-of-pocket expenses for warranty work.
BMW CPO Warranty
When you buy a BMW certified pre-owned model, the automaker adds one year of coverage to the factory warranty with unlimited mileage. This coverage begins once the BMW factory warranty ends, meaning CPO vehicles get five years total of warranty protection.
BMW CPO Warranty Coverage
The components covered under the BMW certified pre-owned warranty are identical to those protected through the new vehicle factory warranty. That means an additional year of bumper-to-bumper coverage that includes all powertrain components. Similarly, the CPO warranty for BMW models also has the same exclusions as factory coverage.
In addition, CPO coverage extends the BMW roadside assistance package that’s included in the factory warranty by two years. As a result, BMW CPO vehicles get a total of six years and unlimited miles of emergency roadside assistance.
The certified pre-owned BMW warranty is transferable if you decide to sell your vehicle before coverage expires. However, you’ll need to pay a $200 transfer fee to do so.
BMW Extended Warranty Coverage
You can purchase additional coverage if you want to continue protection for your new or used BMW after the factory warranty expires. This can help to maintain peace of mind by knowing that you won’t have to shell out large amounts of money for unexpected car repair costs.
Depending on the BMW extended warranty plan you buy, coverage may look nearly identical to your new car factory warranty. Unlike initial factory coverage, however, you have many BMW extended warranty options in terms of where to buy it and how much coverage to purchase.
BMW Factory Extended Warranty
Like many auto manufacturers, BMW offers its own extended warranty options. As with the BMW factory warranty, repair work will be performed by certified technicians using OEM parts. The automaker offers three levels of coverage – see below for details:
| BMW Extended Warranty Plan | Coverage Terms | Covered Components | Exclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum plan | 7 years or 100,000 miles |
Powertrain components, fuel and cooling systems, steering components, brake system parts, climate control system, electrical system, navigation system, entertainment system, audio system, certain exterior and interior parts | Wear and tear items like brake pads, brake rotors, and wiper blades |
| Gold plan | 7 years or 100,000 miles |
All drivetrain components, fuel and cooling components, steering parts, anti-lock brakes, heating and air conditioning systems | Audio, entertainment, and navigation systems in addition to parts excluded from Platinum |
| Powertrain Plus plan | 7 years or 100,000 miles |
Engine, transmission, drive axle, fuel and cooling systems | All-wheel drive (xDrive), transfer case, and engine induction system in addition to parts excluded from Platinum and Gold |
Third-Party BMW Extended Warranty
You can also get BMW extended coverage from an independent warranty provider. Coverage agreements from third-party providers are officially known as vehicle protection plans or vehicle service contracts. While these plans don’t guarantee that work is performed by BMW-certified technicians using OEM parts, they have advantages over the automaker’s warranty plans:
- Purchase flexibility: If you want a BMW extended warranty from the automaker itself, you must get it from a BMW dealer before the BMW factory warranty expires. Third-party providers allow you to purchase used car warranties at almost any time.
- Plan options: Most third-party warranty companies offer more plans than the three provided by BMW. This lets you tailor coverage to your actual needs and budget.
- Repair network: Both the BMW factory warranty and the company’s extended coverage options limit you to the 350 or so BMW dealerships spread across the U.S. You can use coverage from independent providers at nearly any repair facility certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®). This gives you much greater flexibility and could help you get repairs done sooner if needed.
- Comparison shopping: Most independent extended warranty providers offer free quotes online or over the phone. This allows customers to compare coverage plans and costs to find their best options overall.
BMW Factory Warranty: Conclusion
The BMW manufacturer’s warranty offers average coverage terms for the automotive industry. Included benefits like roadside assistance and complimentary maintenance add significant value to the company’s factory coverage. In addition, the BMW CPO warranty adds a year of repair coverage and two years of roadside assistance to the factory plan.
With that said, the BMW factory warranty is shorter than plans from Genesis, Acura, Lexus, Cadillac, Infiniti, Lincoln, and Jaguar. The BMW new car warranty is one of the least impressive options among luxury automakers, along with offerings from Audi, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz.
Those who’d like to extend their BMW warranty may want to consider coverage plans from reputable car warranty companies. Our expert review team recommends that BMW owners read about extended coverage choices from Endurance, CarShield, and CARCHEX.
BMW Factory Warranty: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about the BMW factory warranty:
Does BMW have a 10-year warranty?
BMW does not have a 10-year factory warranty. However, you can purchase extended warranties from third-party providers that offer coverage beyond the 10-year mark.
How long is the BMW bumper to bumper warranty?
The BMW bumper-to-bumper warranty is good for either four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is the same length as the BMW powertrain warranty.
What is the warranty on the BMW transmission?
The transmission on a BMW is covered under the factory warranty for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. This coverage is shorter than from many other luxury carmakers.
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
- Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
- Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
