BMWCanada Refusing warranty on US imported Vehicles?

RockyDogg · 10-09-2007, 08:06 PM

Hi Everyone,

I've been lurking the forum for good 6 months now and was in the works to bring over a US 335i Coupe to Canada. I just got a call from my broker that BMWCanada is now refusing to honor warranty for cars imported from the US. This was a mandate as of Oct. 1st, 2007.

The source is a BMW Service Manager (Auto West for those in Vancouver). Anyone else hear about this or is this just some local dealer trying to cut their loss of business from Canadians buying across the border?

I'm so frustrated.

kick · 10-09-2007, 08:24 PM

Lame. You're saving what, at least $10k?

I really hope some of these dealers get nailed on collusion.

DBville · 10-09-2007, 08:40 PM

Why would they honor the warranty? BMWNA and BMW Canada are separate organizations. Lets see...You go to the US, buy a car, meaning BMW Canada doesn't get a dime for it, and you expect them to warranty it?

kick · 10-09-2007, 08:52 PM

If the car is properly imported, yes, they should honor warranty.

Aija · 10-09-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBville

Why would they honor the warranty? BMWNA and BMW Canada are separate organizations. Lets see...You go to the US, buy a car, meaning BMW Canada doesn't get a dime for it, and you expect them to warranty it?

well the warranty is based by the manufacturer to the dealer to the customer. Guess the dealer is breaking off the chain if they dont want to honor the warranty.

GAM3OVR85 · 10-09-2007, 09:01 PM

call this number and ask, BMW Customer Service: 1 800 567 2691. They should cover it, no matter where u imported from, its still a BMW. My 328i coupe is from the US, but i bought it here though.
Goodluck

GAM3OVR85 · 10-09-2007, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aija

well the warranty is based by the manufacturer to the dealer to the customer. Guess the dealer is breaking off the chain if they dont want to honor the warranty.

+1000

canucklion · 10-09-2007, 09:05 PM

you know the dealerships still make money on warranty works right? they still bill BMW for the work performed. It's not like dealerships are doing the consumer a favor by providing warranty works

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBville

Why would they honor the warranty? BMWNA and BMW Canada are separate organizations. Lets see...You go to the US, buy a car, meaning BMW Canada doesn't get a dime for it, and you expect them to warranty it?

tctic · 10-09-2007, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kick

Lame. You're saving what, at least $10k?

I really hope some of these dealers get nailed on collusion.

Probably more if you start adding any sort of package or options.

And yes, do check with BMW Canada directly. You can't trust dealers with everything sometimes.

David1 · 10-09-2007, 09:11 PM

All manufacturers do this. This is not new. If I buy a BMW in Canada and bring it to the states, there is no warranty either. Mercedes is no different. Been there done that.

GAM3OVR85 · 10-09-2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David1

All manufacturers do this. This is not new. If I buy a BMW in Canada and bring it to the states, there is no warranty either. Mercedes is no different. Been there done that.

I'm sorry, yes there is warranty, but not on maintenance stuff.

sarafil · 10-09-2007, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David1

All manufacturers do this. This is not new. If I buy a BMW in Canada and bring it to the states, there is no warranty either. Mercedes is no different. Been there done that.

this is false... if you properly import the car, and contact the manufacturer, they will transfer your warranty. For example, if you import a Canadian BMW to the US and contact BMWNA they will transfer the warranty over and you'll have a warranty valid in the US (but you do not get the full maintenance).

TurboFan · 10-09-2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canucklion

you know the dealerships still make money on warranty works right? they still bill BMW for the work performed. It's not like dealerships are doing the consumer a favor by providing warranty works

No, BMW covers their costs. They don't pay markup / profit back to the dealers.

RockyDogg · 10-09-2007, 09:31 PM

Thanks MTL Bimmer, I will post an update once I've spoken with Customer Service.

DBville · 10-09-2007, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarafil

this is false... if you properly import the car, and contact the manufacturer, they will transfer your warranty. For example, if you import a Canadian BMW to the US and contact BMWNA they will transfer the warranty over and you'll have a warranty valid in the US (but you do not get the full maintenance).

They may. Why should they? They (BMW and BMW Canada) have spent time and money to set up a dealership network to support the vehicles. Importing it (even if it is saving you money), is costing the network they setup money. If you registered the car in the US and then moved, relocated, whatever, sure. But to do it to save you money, don't hope for much. I can buy Canon cameras all day long in NY that are not warrantied by Canon in the US. Why? Because it is outside of their supply chain. Whats different?

Look, I am not saying it is right, I am just saying don't expect much else. It is their choice.

Here is a link talking about warranty on some cars....

http://www.canadaone.com/ezine/sept07/import.html

aequitas330 · 10-10-2007, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kick

Lame. You're saving what, at least $10k?

I really hope some of these dealers get nailed on collusion.

Yeah really, what's that all aboot?

discoboy1 · 10-10-2007, 08:12 AM

If tomorow 5-10 % of BMW in Canada comes from US I wouldn't be surprised if they don't honour warranties

gunner · 10-10-2007, 08:29 AM

Just my 2-cents.

It's a BMW and warranty work is billed to BMW, right? Isn't the warranty the same in the US, Canada, and Europe? Or is the maintenance only a US thing?

I would think that the service department in Canada wouldn't care where the car came from. They are in the business to make money through SERVICE.

They should want to establish a good customer relationship to ensure the BMW customer continues to use the service department after the warranty expires.

epiphone3 · 10-10-2007, 08:30 AM

If imported properly, they should have to honour the warantee.

If BMW Canada says "no," see if the exteneded warantee applies across North America. I have heard that, in some cases, if you buy the extended warantee it will be valid in both Canada and the USA.

By the way, there is currently a 2-billion dollar law suit being pushed against some car manufacturers for this behaviour because they are basically using scare tactics to prevent Canadian customers from buying the same product from the USA for a better price. This is not fair market practice.

In any case though, lets say you don't get a warantee. If you save like 10 to 15 thousand dollars on the car, maybe it doesn't matter that you don't have the warantee? Even if you have something like a $5000 repair (highly unlikely in the warantee period), you will still be ahead compared to buying in Canada!

canucklion · 10-10-2007, 08:42 AM

that is very unfair. I can understand it if the two countries have a drastically different safety requirements, but no, we are getting the same car, except for the requirement of DRL (moot point, the feature is available on US-specc'd cars) and the different speedo (another moot point, since US-specc'd cars have dual km/mi display). So in essense, they are creating a monopoly.

However, if they do reduce the price, it's a bittersweet victory for us that already own our E9x; as the resale value would be down drastically when we sell it in the future.

Quote:

Originally Posted by epiphone3

If imported properly, they should have to honour the warantee.

If BMW Canada says "no," see if the exteneded warantee applies across North America. I have heard that, in some cases, if you buy the extended warantee it will be valid in both Canada and the USA.

By the way, there is currently a 2-billion dollar law suit being pushed against some car manufacturers for this behaviour because they are basically using scare tactics to prevent Canadian customers from buying the same product from the USA for a better price. This is not fair market practice.

In any case though, lets say you don't get a warantee. If you save like 10 to 15 thousand dollars on the car, maybe it doesn't matter that you don't have the warantee? Even if you have something like a $5000 repair (highly unlikely in the warantee period), you will still be ahead compared to buying in Canada!

Rewted · 10-10-2007, 09:01 AM

When I called last month, it was still the standard "Warranty honored, maintenance is not".

If it was changed this month, then it's yet another blatant road block set by BMW to prevent Canadian consumers from buying south of the boarder. Just like the recall letter that was once free and now costs $500.

scoop · 10-10-2007, 09:10 AM

I think there is confusion between maintenance and warranty.
Given the difference in maintenance programs, the former is not covered.
But warranties almost certainly have to be transferable given the cross-border movement of business/employees.

10-09-2007, 08:06 PM	#1
RockyDogg Private 3 Rep 62 Posts Drives: TBD Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (1)	BMWCanada Refusing warranty on US imported Vehicles? Hi Everyone, I've been lurking the forum for good 6 months now and was in the works to bring over a US 335i Coupe to Canada. I just got a call from my broker that BMWCanada is now refusing to honor warranty for cars imported from the US. This was a mandate as of Oct. 1st, 2007. The source is a BMW Service Manager (Auto West for those in Vancouver). Anyone else hear about this or is this just some local dealer trying to cut their loss of business from Canadians buying across the border? I'm so frustrated.
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10-09-2007, 08:24 PM	#2
kick Private 3 Rep 70 Posts Drives: 1985 E28 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lethbridge/Calgary iTrader: (0)	Lame. You're saving what, at least $10k? I really hope some of these dealers get nailed on collusion.
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10-09-2007, 08:40 PM	#3
DBville Private 2 Rep 84 Posts Drives: Not yet Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Birmingham, AL iTrader: (0)	Why would they honor the warranty? BMWNA and BMW Canada are separate organizations. Lets see...You go to the US, buy a car, meaning BMW Canada doesn't get a dime for it, and you expect them to warranty it? __________________ ----------------------------- '08 E90 335i Sparkling Graphite PCD 11/28
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10-09-2007, 08:52 PM	#4
kick Private 3 Rep 70 Posts Drives: 1985 E28 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lethbridge/Calgary iTrader: (0)	If the car is properly imported, yes, they should honor warranty.
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10-09-2007, 09:01 PM	#6
GAM3OVR85 Major General 315 Rep 8,050 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal, QC iTrader: (18) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [0.00] 2010 Sea-Doo RXT-X 260 [9.00] 2007 E92 328i [10.00]	call this number and ask, BMW Customer Service: 1 800 567 2691. They should cover it, no matter where u imported from, its still a BMW. My 328i coupe is from the US, but i bought it here though. Goodluck
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10-09-2007, 09:11 PM	#10
David1 Brigadier General 814 Rep 3,953 Posts Drives: 09 E92 09 X5 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (1)	All manufacturers do this. This is not new. If I buy a BMW in Canada and bring it to the states, there is no warranty either. Mercedes is no different. Been there done that.
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10-09-2007, 09:31 PM	#14
RockyDogg Private 3 Rep 62 Posts Drives: TBD Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (1)	Thanks MTL Bimmer, I will post an update once I've spoken with Customer Service.
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10-10-2007, 08:12 AM	#17
discoboy1 Lieutenant Colonel 121 Rep 1,555 Posts Drives: E82 1M VO/F30 328D Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Montreal iTrader: (3)	If tomorow 5-10 % of BMW in Canada comes from US I wouldn't be surprised if they don't honour warranties
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10-10-2007, 08:29 AM	#18
gunner Private 10 Rep 65 Posts Drives: Black 2006 330i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Louisville, KY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	Just my 2-cents. It's a BMW and warranty work is billed to BMW, right? Isn't the warranty the same in the US, Canada, and Europe? Or is the maintenance only a US thing? I would think that the service department in Canada wouldn't care where the car came from. They are in the business to make money through SERVICE. They should want to establish a good customer relationship to ensure the BMW customer continues to use the service department after the warranty expires. __________________ Scott
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10-10-2007, 08:30 AM	#19
epiphone3 Lieutenant Colonel 111 Rep 1,772 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW X3 35i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	If imported properly, they should have to honour the warantee. If BMW Canada says "no," see if the exteneded warantee applies across North America. I have heard that, in some cases, if you buy the extended warantee it will be valid in both Canada and the USA. By the way, there is currently a 2-billion dollar law suit being pushed against some car manufacturers for this behaviour because they are basically using scare tactics to prevent Canadian customers from buying the same product from the USA for a better price. This is not fair market practice. In any case though, lets say you don't get a warantee. If you save like 10 to 15 thousand dollars on the car, maybe it doesn't matter that you don't have the warantee? Even if you have something like a $5000 repair (highly unlikely in the warantee period), you will still be ahead compared to buying in Canada!
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10-10-2007, 09:01 AM	#21
Rewted Captain 313 Rep 909 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	When I called last month, it was still the standard "Warranty honored, maintenance is not". If it was changed this month, then it's yet another blatant road block set by BMW to prevent Canadian consumers from buying south of the boarder. Just like the recall letter that was once free and now costs $500.
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10-10-2007, 09:10 AM	#22
scoop Second Lieutenant 10 Rep 249 Posts Drives: 08 335i coupe Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	I think there is confusion between maintenance and warranty. Given the difference in maintenance programs, the former is not covered. But warranties almost certainly have to be transferable given the cross-border movement of business/employees.
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