BMW key - Is it "BIG BROTHER"?

[takahashi]

Only we need to know how to soft reset the ECU.

I am sure 99% of BMW will have 1 kmh over 110 kmh.

[BMWRX]

If the key can tell BMW your peak speed and driving habits, can this be used against us in the instance of a warranty claim on the engine. For example, if you track the car, can they tell this via a string of high speeds in a short period, and deny a claim based on taking the car onto a track?

[SimonB]

:-)

[Taymaishu]

Originally Posted by BMWRX

If the key can tell BMW your peak speed and driving habits, can this be used against us in the instance of a warranty claim on the engine. For example, if you track the car, can they tell this via a string of high speeds in a short period, and deny a claim based on taking the car onto a track?

They definitely can't deny a warranty claim just because of speed.

The car was built that way - it was built to do between 247-250 (Depending on what car you have).

That's why it's governed. If the car wasn't able to do those speeds, the governer would be at a much reduced speed.

[BMWRX]

True, but it was also designed to not be a racing car. I was curious if there would be something in the fine print of the warranty stating something about "normal driving conditions" or similar, which could be argued would not include taking the car onto a track.

[takahashi]

Simon

Stop showing off your telemetry data!

I want to deeply object, but it is sort of a common thinking of why warranty claim cannot be made on a car driven on the race track for sprints only? Our car is not prep for a 24 hour race anyway LOL. Sports cars are suppose to tolerate a few laps of sprints.

[BMWRX]

I had a chat with BMW Westside this morning and I asked about warranty cover should you take your car onto a track. The response I got was that it would be doubtful that a warranty claim resulting from tracking the car would be honoured. I've asked for further clarification and will discuss in person with them when I go into the dealership next week.

[Freakazoid]

Originally Posted by BMWRX

I had a chat with BMW Westside this morning and I asked about warranty cover should you take your car onto a track. The response I got was that it would be doubtful that a warranty claim resulting from tracking the car would be honoured. I've asked for further clarification and will discuss in person with them when I go into the dealership next week.

that much is obvious...there isn't a brand in the world that would honor warranty if you said you took it to the track/came from tracking the car

Hell mitsubishi used to send out reps to spot for warranty 'voids'..

[BMWRX]

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

that much is obvious...there isn't a brand in the world that would honor warranty if you said you took it to the track/came from tracking the car

Hell mitsubishi used to send out reps to spot for warranty 'voids'..

If you bought a Porsche GT2/GT3 RS, or Ferarri F430 Stradale/Scuderia, it would be very unusual that it never finds its way onto a track. Even on the cheaper end of things (although still not everyday soccer mum mobiles), the Lotus Elise 111S.

The argument here is that BMW can tell from reading the information on the key that we have tracked it without us telling them directly.

[MikeVictor]

Soooo. To think on this, lets say for example I had my car achieve a speed of over 200kmh. Now as we know this would never be done on a public road you could infer it must have been done on a racetrack.

So when BMW grabs my data, sees that clearly myself and Wolfgang were having a glorious time on a few occasions, my warranty is void because I must have been on a track?

Or do I need to prove that I took a trip to the NT with an unregulated speed road?

[supraking]

It's very simple guys... if you don't want to be caught speeding or abusing your car, don't do it. HOWEVER, be aware that legally, it's pretty tough to prove that some information on your key is A) accurate, and B) related to whatever someone is claiming you did. They don't know where/when/why you were going the peak speed on your key, so it doesn't really matter.

Also, I would think BMW understands its customers, and they know what we're going to use our cars for. We're driving Bimmers after all! It's highly unlikely they would challenge you for taking your car on the track and voiding your warranty, unless you've seriously abused your car to the point that it's damaged because of what YOU did, not just regular wear and tear. They're going to lose more customers trying to be dicks about it than just accepting that BMW drivers are going to go fast and take corners hard from time to time.

That having been said, I would be interested to know if it wipes all that data when you reset your settings (avg. consumption, avg. speed, etc.). I don't think it can store everything indefinitely. Or perhaps the CPU in the car itself stores the info for different "profiles" and when you plug in your key, it tells the computer which profile to use. A tech can access the info in the car via OBD in any case.

[bfi2906]

I can just see their next marketing campaign.

"The Ultimate Driving Machine - but don't push it too hard"

With a disclaimer at the bottom of the screen / page - in very small print saying .....

"Warning, exceeding the legislated speed limit may void warranty."

That'd sell a heap of cars to BMW's traditional customers