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Originally Posted by thecurryman
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Originally Posted by MilehighM3
BMW does still pay for maintenance! You're just spouting off misinformation. The '17 models will not include brakes and wipers, but it's still more inclusive than any other manufacturer, at no cost. For around $600 you can have the other items included in the maintenance program. Since the '17 models are still limited, that doesn't account for the decline in sales numbers, as you claim. However the increase in pre-owned sales does. That's largely in part to huge lease numbers in the past 2-3 years. The number of lease returns is off the charts, and that always hurts new vehicle sales in a price driven economy. Given the shit show of an election we have coming up, it's no surprise people are cutting back.
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The new maintenance plan is a full year shorter (3yr 36k mile) and does not include brakes (biggest maintaince repair), wipers (seriously? it costs like nothing for BMW to include that), and the clutch (also large repair cost). The maintenance plan is no longer transferable even if the car is within the year/mile limit.
"For around $600"- why should I pay $600 on top of my car's selling price just to have a maintenance plan that was longer and more inclusive?
We may/may not ever know the impact of the maintenance plan change on sales numbers, but I do know it has lowered brand perception across all consumers. People used to tell me they bought BMW b/c of the maintenance plan since Audi or MB weren't as good, but now? well not so much. |
For starters, the clutch is not a maintenance item, but it's covered by the warranty just the same. Maintenance items covered by the plan include items with an interval, not just wearable components. Those who complain about not getting free wipers as part of a vehicle price are foolish. They're cheap and most people in warm climates never even use them! The same type of person finances appliances and landscaping with the price of a new construction home for 30 years. Realistically the brakes often last more than the 36k these days since BMW switched pad compounds to reduce the brake dust, the biggest complaint of most owners the past 10-15 years. On a related note, look at the lease numbers these days- more people lease than ever and keep the vehicle 3 years or less with a pull ahead. These owners are not effected by he change. The maintenance plan hasn't transferred with the owner since a retail date of about 7/15, iirc, but is easily transferred at the dealers for about $400. If that's too much for a potential client who buys a car outside of a BMW dealer because they got a "better price", then they should ask themselves just how much that maintenance will cost elsewhere while they own the vehicle? Then perhaps they'll start to learn the difference between value and price. It's still the best maintenance plan associated with a new vehicle these days, and that's a fact.