BMW currently offers the industry-standard level of warranty cover.
That means all BMW models have factory coverage for three years, albeit with no mileage limit. This is the same level of coverage as most other brands, but isn't as long as companies like Kia, MG or Toyota.
We'll explain BMW's warranty in simple terms here, covering key inclusions and the main exclusions. In addition, we'll look at what might void the warranty to help you avoid that mistake.
BMW three-year warranty overview
- Applies to all BMW car models
- Grants three years of coverage with no mileage limit
- Also includes roadside assistance should your car break down
- Doesn't cover parts that are considered wear-and-tear, or damage caused by accidents, misuse or neglect
- Automatically transfers between owners for as long as the cover remains valid
- High-voltage EV and hybrid batteries are covered under a separate warranty
How long is BMW's manufacturer warranty?
BMW's manufacturer warranty lasts for three years with no mileage limit. The three-year period is counted from the day your car was first registered. You can find the exact registration date using the DVLA's vehicle information checker.
Coverage against perforation (rust) or against degradation of high-voltage batteries in EV and PHEV models is handled by a separate policy with different limits – covered in more detail below. The three-year warranty period also includes roadside assistance.
What does BMW's three-year warranty cover?
BMW's warranty will only cover items if they fail as a result of a defect in their material or quality of their manufacture. That excludes any kind of failures that happen because of accident, misuse or neglect – i.e. failures that can't be blamed on BMW's workmanship.
Parts that are considered wear-and-tear, such as brake pads or suspension shock absorbers aren't covered under warranty.
Key parts covered under BMW's warranty include:
- Engine
- Fuel system (not including fuel filter)
- Cooling system (not including the coolant itself)
- Gearbox (not including gearbox fluid)
- Driveline
- Suspension (not including shock absorbers)
- Steering system
- Braking system (not including pads, shoes, discs or drums)
- Electrical parts (not including fuses)
What does BMW's three-year warranty not cover?
For an exhaustive list of exclusions, your local BMW dealership can supply you with detailed warranty terms and conditions. However, key items not covered by the warranty include:
- Wiper blades
- Drive belts
- Fuses
- Filters
- Brake pads and linings
- Clutch linings
- Spark plugs
- 12V batteries
- Bulbs
- Shock absorbers
Like other car warranties, you'll need to keep your BMW serviced in line with manufacturer recommendations to keep your warranty valid. BMW's service intervals are typically once every year or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first, but you can double-check this in your car's user manual. If your car fails as a result of poor maintenance then BMW can refuse your warranty claim.
You must inform your BMW service centre as soon as you notice a problem with your car. Continuing to drive the car after a problem arises could cause further damage and void your warranty. In addition, any inspection and repair work must be carried out by an authorised BMW service centre. Any non-authorised work cannot be guaranteed by BMW, so could invalidate your warranty.
Lots of drivers like to personalise their BMWs. However, you might want to hold off on customisations during the warranty period as any modifications from manufacturer specs is grounds for voiding your warranty. That also applies to any tampering with the car's on-board systems, such as modifying the mileage.
BMW's warranty also forbids using the car for any "racing, rallying or similar competitive sports". It's not clear whether this covers use at non-competitive track days, so we'd suggest talking to your BMW retailer before booking your car in for a circuit session.
BMW warranty limited coverage items
Wheel alignment and balancing
BMW's warranty includes any wheel alignment or balancing issues that arise in the first 12 months/12,000 miles. Faults are only covered if they're the result of a manufacturing defect rather than caused by external sources.
Adjustments
Adjustments to the car are generally seen as normal service items and are not covered under warranty.
Wiper blades
Wiper blades are only covered under warranty if a fault arises due to a manufacturing defect. Blades that wear out in normal operation aren't covered.
Paintwork
Any problems with your BMW's paintwork that are caused by faulty manufacturing are covered for 36 months with no mileage limit. Claims will be rejected for any paintwork damaged by external sources.
Is BMW's three-year warranty transferable?
Yes. As long as the warranty conditions are followed, your BMW's factory warranty automatically transfers to each new owner when the car is sold. That means the service intervals have been stuck to, the car remains unmodified and is less than three years old.
Most nearly new BMW cars for sale at Motorpoint include the balance of their original factory warranty. Each individual Motorpoint vehicle listing flags up exactly how much warranty remains on the vehicle. If the car is out of its original coverage window, Motorpoint includes a free three-month warranty as standard.
How long is BMW's hybrid and EV battery warranty?
BMW now offers a selection of plug-in hybrid and fully electric cars. These use high-voltage battery packs that are covered under a separate warranty agreement. This coverage allows for some reasonable degradation over the warranty period, so your warranty will only kick in if your battery pack falls below 70% of its original capacity within the warranty period.
For plug-in hybrid models, coverage length depends on what generation of BMW PHEV you have. For BMW PHEVs up to and including fourth-generation models, the warranty period is six years or 62,000 miles – whichever comes first. Fifth-generation BMW PHEVs started arriving roughly around 2020 and are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. You can check with your BMW retailer what generation of PHEV you have.
For fully electric BMW models, the high-voltage battery warranty is eight years or 100,000 miles – whichever comes first. Again, this only kicks in should the pack fall below 70% of its original capacity within the warranty period. We expect most EV packs to last substantially longer than this, with most modern models predicted to last the entire life of the car. Keeping charge below 80% during normal driving and only using the full 100-0% range for long drives will help your EV battery last as long as possible.
What is BMW's anti-perforation (rust) warranty?
Like most brands, BMW offers a separate, longer warranty to protect against perforation. This is essentially any rust caused by faulty materials or manufacturing that eats away at metal parts enough that a hole forms through them – i.e. they become perforated.
This does not cover any corrosion that forms as a result of unrepaired damage, such as dents or scratches that expose the car's unprotected metalwork to the outside world. In addition, any surface rust that forms on parts from environmental exposure won't be covered.
Can you extend BMW's three-year warranty?
Yes. BMW offers a selection of extended warranty products. This includes a fully comprehensive extended warranty that offers protection similar to the new-car warranty. Alternatively, you can choose 'Named Component' cover, which warranties a wide selection of parts for a slightly lower price, or 'DriveLine' cover which only focuses on engine and mechanical parts, again for a reduced price.
However, you're not restricted to buying an extended warranty from BMW itself. You also have the option to buy an extended warranty from third-party providers, which might work out cheaper than going for BMW's manufacturer coverage. Motorpoint has its own extended warranty package available across all our BMW cars for sale.
Does BMW's three-year warranty apply to all models?
Yes. BMW's factory warranty applies to all car models up to three years old. It remains active even if the car is sold provided the terms and conditions have been stuck to.
That means everything from the compact BMW 1 Series hatchback, through the dramatic BMW Z4 sports car, to the family-favourite BMW X3 SUV are all covered for the first three years.
