Split Heater Matrix AGAIIN - how long is a BMW repair guaranteed for?

[DanWorksCooper]

Suffered a split heater matrix at the tail end of March, and received some excellent advice on here. Car was repaired under warranty on 27th March, but now exactly the same thing has happened (pretty much the first time I've used the heater since the fix!). I don't have the paperwork to hand, and the warranty has now expired. What I need to know is how long is a BMW main dealer repair guaranteed for? The "fix" has lasted less than six months.

Help again appreciated.

[KillerByte]

I think you should be ok to go back to the dealer about this.

Someone else may correct me on this, but with parts replaced by MINI I think there is usually a two year warranty. This was certainly the case with the parts replaced when my airbag light came on in my old Cooper a couple of years back.

[Martin F]

The normal rule is that a repair under warranty is only warranted to last until the end of the original warranty.

However, if you pay for a repair, the replacement item is likely to be warranted in its own right for possibly 12 months, but you would need to check with the dealer. Of course you still have your statutory rights in respect of any paid-for repair in addition to any dealer warranty.

[KillerByte]

Surely that cannot be correct. If you had something replaced under warranty on your last day of warranty, are you saying it wouldn't still be covered a few days later?

[Martin F]

Yes, that is my understanding. The reasoning is that the warranty is there to provide you with a serviceable car through the warranty period. If the car is serviceable at the end of the warranty period it has fulfilled its purpose.

[B1ANK]

If your warranty runs out even repairs that were done a few weeks earlier are not covered. (official line)
If you have work carried out at the dealer outside of the warranty it gets a 2 year BMW parts & labour warranty....

[DanWorksCooper]

Hmmm. Spoke to my dealer, and they say the fix is only guaranteed for the duration of the warranty (which ran out 6 weeks after the repair...). However, as the part has failed again so soon, it is in the hands of BMW themselves as to whether or not they replace the part gratis as "goodwill" as there is no legal guarantee either on the work or the part once the warranty has ended. The garage says they are on "my side" and if the problem is indeed the same as the previous one, it "should" be fixed as a goodwill gesture...

It goes in on Thursday.

[jjenkins]

Hi, I bought a mini cooper July 2006, low milage 16000. from a fiat garage. I discovered a leak and traced it through my windscreen. Auto windscreens came out and put a new one in. To my horror the previous one was not fitted properly large gaps everywhere and the water has now got in all my electics. I am livid. Some one told me to trade it in. I want to go back to the garage. what should I do?

[DanWorksCooper]

Currently mine is being repaired at the dealer with BMW/Mini covering the cost out of "goodwill".

Thoroughly chuffed with the standard of service - just hope the fix lasts a little longer this time.

[GTT 280]

oh, so the Heater Matrix does break on normal cars then. I had to pay BMW £700 because mine broke. Even though the heater circuit has a 1.5 or 1.0 bar blow off valve.

BMW are Dorks.

Cheers,
K.

[DanWorksCooper]

Looking around online, this seems a relatively common complaint with the Mini.