Warranty - Track Use

[sparoz]

For the people who owns a M, do you know if BMW covers track use?

[amk2912]

I don't think they cover you for any track activities and come to think of it I don't think your general car insurance would either. Just gives you more incentive to not do anything silly when out there.

[BMWRX]

I think this has been a hot topic for a while. My SA reckons BMW won't cover the warranty for track use but others say that BMW should cover it as the cars are designed for that sort of use. I haven't checked but I believe there is nothing in the warranty documentation stating anything about track use.

I believe that as long as you don't have your car screaming at redline all day long you should be ok. The service departments can read how the car has been driven via the key, so the speeds and revs will show track use quite clearly (my SA noted to me that my key showed evidence of track use during a service) but as long as you don't do it in a manner that any reasonable person would think is obviously damaging to the car you should be right.

[MrBlonde]

Even Porsche do not warranty track use. Once you track your car, you are on your own.

[BMWRX]

Really? So if you were to buy a GT2, Porsche seriously believe you won't take it to the track?

This topic has been discussed before (I can only find one of the threads concerning it at the moment) and at the end of the argument it usually ends up with half saying it's not covered and the other half saying the BMW will cover it.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...arranty&page=2

[05C4R]

perhaps just don't tell them you have taken it to the track, tell them you drive it like a man lol, they cannot prove otherwise.

maybe thats why people tape over their number plates at the track...hmmm tiny light bulb just came on in the darkness of my brain, i should start doing that as well.

don't bmw have thier own track days, and driver training, i don't think BMW not covering a car thats been tracked would hold up in court for long.

[MrBlonde]

Originally Posted by BMWRX

Really? So if you were to buy a GT2, Porsche seriously believe you won't take it to the track?

This topic has been discussed before (I can only find one of the threads concerning it at the moment) and at the end of the argument it usually ends up with half saying it's not covered and the other half saying the BMW will cover it.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...arranty&page=2

Even worse, Porsche will not cover a GT3 RS at a driver's day. Right after they do the corporate "track day maintenance" package.

Originally Posted by Hayden94

I recently did a trackday in my 2010 GT3RS and had a mechanical problem. Basically after 1 session the car had to be flatbedded back to the dealership and since it was at a track, porsche road side assistance was not going to help.Once back at the dealership and apart they said the car was not covered due to track usage. Someone in marketing needs to clue porsche in on that they sale it as "a track car for the street".Read your owners manual carefully and its in there.Has anyone else had a warranty problem while doing a trackday ??

Source http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/g...-trackday.html

[Hawkeye 135i]

The 135i New Vehicle Supplementary Warranty (may differ to the M warranty) provides that BMW will repair or replace any part of the vehicle found to be defective in materials or workmanship for a period of 36 months, save where that defect is, in BMW's opinion, a result of the vehicle not properly or reasonably used in accordance with normal expectations considering its design.

Further, it is the purchaser's responsibility to maintain, operate and use the vehicle in accordance with BMW's instructions and within the specified operating limitations, and that BMW will not warrant loss, damage or defects caused by misuse or exceeding any of BMW's specified maximum speeds, revolutions or load capacities.

You would need to satisfy yourself about the practical meaning of terms such as "properly and reasonably used", "normal expectations considering its design", "load capacities", "operating limitations" and "misuse". "Normal expectations" and "properly and reasonably used" are terms which would give me the most concern.

There is a risk that track use could void warranty in a some circumstances. If it was me, I would seek further written clarification from BMW regarding warranty and track use. I expect that they would be reluctant to provide this for obvious legal and commercial reasons. Failing this, I would track the car keeping in mind the terms of the warranty when using my car on the track, as well as adopting a more frequent maintenance schedule which could allay some of BMW's warranty concerns, mindful that BMW could deny a warranty claim resulting from the use of the vehicle on a track.

[amk2912]

Honestly, to exempt warranty on an M if it's used on a track is silly. The lastest BMW ad shows an AW E92 M3 on a track! So.... if you drive around a track at 50kmh and the idle control valve (or similar) blows - will they void your warranty because it is on a track??

If they can't warranty the car going at 200kmh around a track surely there's a problem with the product??

"Properly and reasonably used", "normal expectations considering its design" - Is not an M designed for high performance???

I wonder if Lockheed Martin have a disclaimer on their Joint Strike Fighter that there's no warranty if you fly the aircraft into battle??

[1q2w3e4r]

Originally Posted by MrBlonde

Even Porsche do not warranty track use. Once you track your car, you are on your own.

Not true, Porsche cover it its why I got the 996 and got rid of the R32. Maybe in the States the don't cover it but it's pretty hard when Sydney South run track days for customers with full track side support to then wipe their hands of an issue.

But yeah, BMW don't even want to warranty issues that happen on the road let alone the track (E46 rear end issues)

[05C4R]

bmw M driver training is not really angled at street driving so i cannot see a legal leg for them to stand on after reading this

M Dynamic Training.
After completing our Intensive Training
course, drivers can take their skills to another
level with this high-performance course that
has been designed to test their ability to
the fullest.
This course is conducted by BMW Chief
Instructor Geoff Brabham along with his
team of highly-trained instructors. Drivers
will be behind the wheel of BMW M3
Coupés and Sedans, doing the rounds
of Australia’s leading race tracks.
M Dynamic Training is an adrenalin-fi lled
programme that incorporates high-speed
cornering and braking, as well as oversteer
and understeer techniques. Exercises will take
place on the Motorkhana course, wet skid
pan and track. Participants will be constantly
challenged to be more assertive, while
continuously improving their driving ability.
The Ultimate in spirited driving, M Dynamic
Training concludes with the spectacular
experience of a BMW Driver Training
Instructor taking participants on a
heart-pumping hot lap of the circuit.

[Hawkeye 135i]

Ads show off-roaders driving through saltwater and tackling off-road terrain at stupid speeds too. Jeep doesn't even warrant off road use....think of their recent ads as well as 60 plus years of history as arguably the world's most capable 4WD. There's a big difference between marketing and a representation that a car is warranted for a particular use IMO.

Just because they offer driver training doesn't mean they warrant your car for track use.

And driving on a track at 50km/h - we are talking about use/abuse, not location. Abuse can happen on public roads as well as private ones. There's nothing to suggest in the warranty that cars can't be used on tracks, it is how the car is used that could potentially cause problems.

At the end of the day it only matters how BMW see the issue, unless you want to test the issue in court. All I am saying is that the warranty creates uncertainty, and that only BMW can provide you with more comfort on the terms of the warranty re track use.

[Alpine*]

Never tracked my M, in 3 years of ownership.... Sad. The 1M won't get tracked either I am sure. So can't help.

[05C4R]

holy shit how do keep control of yourself with so many fast cars, my license would explode

[nez]

I track my M. Yeah its uninsured But the way I see it , I'm wasting money if I don't track it as I could have gotten a cheaper car that would have been just as effective for the road. (looks at 335i with procede). So by tracking it , I'm justifying the premium I paid for an M.

I mitigate the risk by making sure the car is in good nick , I dont go mad on the track and run really long sessions ( 20 min or less) and I always keep dsc on

If it breaks well, shit happens. I did read many years ago that some track days were considered to be driver training which may be coveted under some insurance policies. Doubt BMW would recognize it.

[sparoz]

No expectation on insurance, but you would think warranty should cover moderate track use for cars designed for the track?

I would like to track the 1, but from the warranty it sounds to me reasonable track use would be cover.

[nez]

I suspect at the end of the day it's going to depend on the type of claim and the relationship you have with your dealer.

And as much as I love the abilities of my M I don't consider it to be "a car designed for the track". That's just marketing speak. In my mind the modern day Ms are just the top the range model designed to make owners look and feel sexier. A true track car wouldnt weigh 1700kgs, have single pot calipers which weren't ducted properly and threaten to melt your pads at the first hint of prolonged brake usage. I'm referring to the m3 btw. The 1m would be the closest to a track M IMHO and even then that's a stretch.

[amk2912]

At the end of the day if I was serious about the track I would buy a second hand 2008 E92 M3, strip it out,mod the exhaust and tune the engine.

As it is I only get out there about once or twice a year but the adrenaline lasts a looong time!

[WAY]

Porsche Australia definitely covers track driving. Years ago my Boxster S at the time had an issue with the gear linkage (it broke) during a track day. I called my dealership service manager and he sent a flatbed tow truck and fixed the car under warranty. He even gave me a loan car for a day. And for that reason I continue to buy Porsches. I would be mighty pissed if something went wrong on my GT3 and they tell me that sorry, a car they sold to me equipped with Pilot Sport Cup can't be used on the track without voiding warranty!

Oh yeah, and BMW definitely doesn't warrant a car that has been used on the track. Ask me how I know haha.

[sparoz]

Originally Posted by WAY

Oh yeah, and BMW definitely doesn't warrant a car that has been used on the track. Ask me how I know haha.

But that wasn't a M - and highly (and insanely ) modded. So you think they will take the same view with a M?

[WAY]

Originally Posted by sparoz

But that wasn't a M - and highly (and insanely ) modded. So you think they will take the same view with a M?

My friend once showed me his E92 M3 handbook. It specifically stated that warranty will be voided on track use. Now as I have never opened my M3's handbook, I don't know if the clause is still there, but I cant see why they would have taken it off a couple of years later.

[MrBlonde]

Originally Posted by 1q2w3e4r

Not true, Porsche cover it its why I got the 996 and got rid of the R32. Maybe in the States the don't cover it but it's pretty hard when Sydney South run track days for customers with full track side support to then wipe their hands of an issue.

But yeah, BMW don't even want to warranty issues that happen on the road let alone the track (E46 rear end issues)

Benny, ahh so here's at least one way we get it better than the Yanks!