Extended SERVICE - How to choose L XL XXL?

Discussion in 'Starting Line - New Member Introductions' started by Sdoorly1, Jul 27, 2016.

  1. Sdoorly1

    Sdoorly1 New Member

    Jul 27, 2016
    2
    0
    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Hi! New to this forum.

    Want to know how to choose between the Mini Extended Service Contract categories of "L, XL, XXL"

    Leased brand new 2013 Countryman - lease is up next month. Will purchase this car. Financed auto loan for 5 years.

    Kept up with maintenance. LOW mileage 16K+ over 3 years of use (2013-2016).

    Just not sure which package to pick, if any.

    Thoughts??
     
  2. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    None and save your money and have a local mini specialist do your Service work.
     
  3. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

    Mar 30, 2009
    25,144
    10,052
    113
    Writer
    Short North
    Ratings:
    +10,069 / 0 / -0
    Welcome, thanks for joining Motoring Alliance, the FUN and Friendly MINI Community.

    Hmmm, had no idea they were selling them in clothing sizes. Is there a comparision chart anywhere that shows what comes with each.

    Be aware, being MINI the "cut of the cloth" mostly fit a svelte hipster European build.
     
  4. Qik

    Qik Well-Known Member

    Oct 27, 2015
    1,421
    670
    113
    IT
    Atlanta-ish
    Ratings:
    +811 / 0 / -0
    Depends on what you get for what amount. I'd say if it's a 100k factory style warranty and it's at or below $2500 go for it. If anything goes wrong it'll pay for itself in no time. My car came with a 100k mant. plan(thanks first owner) and that also may be worth the price, but these are priced differently for each car, age, mileage etc.
    Ultimately it comes down to your dealership. If you trust them and they do good work, I don't see the harm. The good thing about MINI is that if you purchase a warranty or maint package you can have it serviced at ANY MINI dealership and they have loaner cars :)
     
  5. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

    Jul 31, 2009
    11,163
    6,169
    113
    Male
    Ratings:
    +7,874 / 10 / -3
    Welcome to MA!
     
  6. 00Mini

    00Mini Well-Known Member

    Feb 24, 2013
    20,844
    2,021
    113
    Retired
    Ratings:
    +2,974 / 6 / -5
    Welcome to Motoring Alliance the onlyest MINI forum you'll ever need !!
     
  7. Sdoorly1

    Sdoorly1 New Member

    Jul 27, 2016
    2
    0
    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Great info!

    Thanks to everyone who made me feel welcome and gave me their 2 cents on their "Service Plan"

    The "Service Plan" seems like a warranty, and still not exactly sure if I will go for it.....

    They have a separate "Maintenance Plan" that covers oil changes, etc. Anyone have the "Maintenance Plan"?
     
  8. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

    Nov 7, 2012
    2,433
    879
    113
    Automotive Photographer
    Dallas
    Ratings:
    +1,059 / 1 / -0
    I have had extended warrantees on two of my cars. I had a bought a three-year, 36,000 plan for my 2007 MINI CS when I bought it used. It was $1,800 and it paid for itself. I had a similar plan on my 2004 Audi allroad quattro, and it paid out almost double what I paid for it.

    I bought the plans for different reasons. On the Audi, it was because of the twin-turbo V6 shoehorned into the front, and the air suspension. Both of those things are uber-pricey to repair. I bought the plan for my MINI because it was a five year old car that I didn't know the history on.

    So, it is really a risk vs cost thing. In both cases, I thought the risk was enough to justify the cost -- and it turned out to be a good decision.

    Maintenance plans are just pre-paid basic maintenance, from what I've seen.

    CD
     
  9. Qik

    Qik Well-Known Member

    Oct 27, 2015
    1,421
    670
    113
    IT
    Atlanta-ish
    Ratings:
    +811 / 0 / -0
    I have the maint. package and it's great even covers a clutch.
     
  10. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

    May 29, 2009
    4,033
    2,236
    113
    Male
    Retired
    Piqua, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +2,788 / 10 / -0
    #10 wmwny, Jul 28, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2016
    Welcome to M/A!:Thumbsup:

    I had the maintenance warranty on my early '03 Gen 1 R50 and it was not much of a deal [mostly wiper blade replacements...in '04, there was not much of an offering in the basic warranty]. It's hard to classify the warranty I had back then in today's MINI sizes...maybe a S/M?

    However, when I bought my wife's '06 Gen 1 R53a in 2012, it was used and I had no idea what kind of misuse the car had had during it's first 2 owners, so I bought the full extended warranty [the XXL], and it just ran out this year. I definitely got the full value off it from the money I spent for it.

    So, while some people think of the extended warranties as money wasted, I think it all goes back to the saying, "you get what you pay for". When I bought cheap, I got cheap in return.:( When I paid for the most expensive warranty, I made out like a bandit.:Thumbsup:

    It all comes down to what you want to pay and the choice you make.
     
  11. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,424
    10,031
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,656 / 2 / -0
    When you buy an extended warranty you are gambling & so is the warranty provider. Glad you won Jeff, but in most cases it is the folks who sell the warranties who win. On a MINI I feel it is money well spent.
     
  12. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

    May 29, 2009
    4,033
    2,236
    113
    Male
    Retired
    Piqua, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +2,788 / 10 / -0
    MINI is not the only maker I have warranted in the past, and I can HONESTLY say that the extended warranties I purchased for my other cars were almost like having won a lottery, in terms of having made money on that which I had spent.

    Like I said earlier, it all depends upon whether you wish to buy an extended warranty and then deciding upon which one appeals to you most...and getting it.

    For me, the one I bought for my wife's MCSa was a no-brainer, since I had NO IDEA how its miles were gotten or if the car had been tracked or driven on twisties. As far as I can tell, the Service checks had never been done to the car until I bought it, and there was no record of the previous owners.
     
  13. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    Very true for a used car. ^^^ When I was about to buy my car I actually had the VIN researched by a friend of mine at a BMW/MINI dealership. The car was custom ordered from his dealership and they had all the records for the car including order / build sheet so I knew what I was buying and it was still under warranty. :Thumbsup:

    After the warranty was over a year later and I had done all my research it was time to open my wallet and take my car to Helix and let the Mad Modding begin. :ihih::devil: Helix & RMW parts and Eric's attention to all the detail's have made my car not only fast but very reliable daily driver for all those years driving to the office everyday.

    The best thing anyone can do to make a MINI last is change the oil every 3-4k because it is the blood of your motor. Also your Trans Fluid is not lifetime fluid. :idea: If the motor fails all you have a nice 2500 lb paper weight.
     
  14. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

    Jan 25, 2010
    1,404
    688
    113
    Pilot
    Southern NH
    Ratings:
    +688 / 0 / -0
    My thoughts....
    I usually self-insure....
    Ponder this...if you will roll the warrenty cost into the loan, you are paying EXTRA in interest on a product YOU MIGHT NEVER USE, meaning if the car is stolen or totaled, or you sell it , you get zero back in most cases...
    Beyond that, if you mod you car, then the extra warrenty is likely voided....
    BUT...
    MINI has had such a bad track record reliability wise, MANY folks have come out ahead...
    And some warrenty companies WILL NOT INSURE MINI's...that's howbad they are...right up there with some supercar brands....
    So if you are 100% sure you are going to keep the car, not mod it, and LOVE YOUR DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT, it MIGHT be an ok buy for you.
    No solution is best for anybody...do the math...look at the $$, and pick the level of risk you are ok with.
    Often prepaying to matain a car is cheaper than regular dealer prices, but of a similar price as the local shop...but you have more flexibility with that local shop....
     

Share This Page