Buying Extended Maintenance/Warranty

[melisnis]

Bought my MINI S new in 2009. This summer my warranty/maintenance expires. I have been quoted around $1700 to purchase the extended from D & R. I have even thought about trading it in for new instead of purchasing extended. I really would like to keep my original and get to the point of NO car payment. I realize it's a gamble, but I need some advice on purchasing the extended. What's a yearly oil change/inspection cost without the extended.

[apexslide]

Well the oil changes you can do yourself, fairly easy. I think 40-50 should cover it. If you go to D&R it's over $110 for the oil change I believe. Brakes are 1200-1400 from what I have heard but I haven't gone there yet. Again I think/hope brakes can be done by myself for 1/2 the price.

If you can't or don't want to do any of the work yourself than I would say buy it. If you can do a little wrenching you might be better off saving the $ and put it toward the parts/supplies you would have to buy.


Myself I have been considering the Extended warranty not the maint plan. I haven't made up my mind on it yet.

[MINI Fireman]

Something to keep in mind is that the extended maintenance plan stays with the car once it is purchased. Therefore you'll get more for it if you trade it in on a new MINI or can ask more for it if you sell it yourself. It will also mean that you have an easily verifyable maintenance history on the car for any future buyers (all they have to do is drop by the dealer for a key reading to see the whole history of work done on the car at the dealer).

It's a good value if you can't or are not willing to do the work yourself.

[welsh01]

I believe I'm in the same predicament, what to do...?
'09 MCS sport pkg. limited slip diff. manual trans.
Spec'd out and ordered new.

First off, let me start by saying I still REALLY like this car -been pining for one maybe five years prior to actually ordering it. My plan was to drive this guy at least a decade.

Well here goes, enough of that.

Background- my 'ol buddy 'cold start rattle' IS BACK AGAIN (this is the third time). Just about 33k on the odometer this time.
Just so happened to coincide EXACTLY with scheduled maintenance I had just scheduled to be performed. So I had the opportunity to correct two situations at once. Cold start rattle came on quick and hard. One day nothing, within about three days later, it was rattling big-time, all-the-time during startups.
So, anybody had their engine opened up THRICE to have this corrected?

Or four?

I'm bummed.
OK, upon recieving my car (with it's engine now thrice redone), I discussed extended warranty (an option I'm considering) also extended maintenance (probably not) with the SA. Had him give me the cost if somebody were to pay this rebuild out of their own pocket --EEE-gad man $4k. Say, for that amount, why not go ahead and get a 2010 or 2011 engine? OK, that price would be 1/3 the cost of A NEW CAR! ($10k they said)

Ok, once the warranty has expired, I'm fearful I might've gotten hold of a rolling money pit. THAT is not going to sit well on the 'ol homefront.

Come Ye, all you Mentors of MINIdom...I see advice and nuggets of wisdom of ye.
If any of you seen yours go downhill such as this? Is this the bottom? Anybody purchased the extended warranty, and felt it to be worthwile?

What say ye?

And a thousand pardons for the length of the post.

Thanks.