How should warranty claims be handled?

[320iFunCar]

Seriously (you can make jokes, too) I would like to know how you present, argue for, and fight warranty claims. I have to present a claim for the infamous 5-series radiator burst and simultaneously a slipping auto trans (that people always ask about). Both deficiencies are verified by the new car dealer's service people. The warranty is a non-BMW one, which for right now, I will not name. There are no problems at this point, because the process has just begun. I was sold a deluxe warranty with many bells and whistles. So the radiator, thermostat, and trans are covered.

I'm not sure coverage applies to the thermostat housing, water pump (which is a good time to get at), belt tensioners and pulleys.

What has been your experience? [bmwdance]

 

[320iFunCar]

After I posted the first question, the warranty company stated that the transmission is covered under my warranty. They want to know what exactly in detail became defective to cause the problem in the trans. So they asked me to authorize the tear down of the trans, and the cost for this is to be paid by me, not the warranty company. Was I born yesterday?
I of course said no. [bmwkick]

 

[sinisterE36]

doest your car still have any of the factory warrenty left at all ?

 

[320iFunCar]

doest your car still have any of the factory warrenty left at all ?

No, it doesn't. It passed that point a little while back. But I do have this extended warranty, the one that I am dealing with.

 

[Tom]

I can see your problem, but in order for the warranty company to pay for your repair they have to know what it is. If it is indeed an item that is covered under your warranty then they should be reimbursed for the tear down fee. However if it's not then you're pretty much on your own.

 

[320iFunCar]

The warranty company has chosen to bypass my permission regarding the tear-down of the transmission. They instructed the dealer to tear-down the trans. The dealer is not equipped to rebuild a torn-down trans. So this means I will get a replacement trans, not meant to be a new trans. I'll be asking if anyone has had this happen to them, in a new thread. [thumbd]

 

[320iFunCar]

I can see your problem, but in order for the warranty company to pay for your repair they have to know what it is. If it is indeed an item that is covered under your warranty then they should be reimbursed for the tear down fee. However if it's not then you're pretty much on your own.

It's not like I abused the trans, because I have not. The dealer's service dept is in the middle of all this, and they have not found any abuse of the trans. What would not be covered if the trans was not abused? [driving2]

 

[epj3]

It's not like I abused the trans, because I have not. The dealer's service dept is in the middle of all this, and they have not found any abuse of the trans. What would not be covered if the trans was not abused? [driving2]

It doesn't matter, if the warranty doesn't cover a specific item, it won't cover it! What kind of transmission is it, automatic?

 

[Big Daddy]

What model BMW are we talking about, what year?

 

[320iFunCar]

What model BMW are we talking about, what year?

[bmwdance] I have a 2000 528i. As mentioned in the starting post, it blew the radiator tank as is common with this year and model. At the same time, the automatic transmission showed slipping, so was inspected when in the BMW dealer shop. It is under an after-market, non-BMW, extended warranty. Every procedure was going very slow because of the warranty procedures, requests, requirements, or whatnot. My worry, and the reason why I posted this, was that the auto trans, a covered item, would be denied coverage due to some "clause" or inspectional "finding". Anyway, skipping ahead from June to August, since much time has now passed, the auto trans has been replaced by a remanufactured item, covered by my warranty.