Partner content: This content was created by a business partner of Dow Jones and researched and written independently of the MarketWatch newsroom. Links in this article may result in us earning a commission. Learn More

Purchasing a certified pre-owned (CPO) BMW is a more affordable way to drive a luxury vehicle. If you’re considering an older model, it’s important to understand the BMW CPO warranty that comes with eligible vehicles.

We at the Home Media reviews team have reviewed the best extended car warranty options for CPO vehicles to see how BMW’s plan compares. We’ll help you determine which options can give you the ultimate peace of mind after the BMW CPO warranty ends.

The BMW Certified Pre-Owned Warranty gives drivers 1 year/unlimited miles of coverage. This protection starts once the 4-year/50,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty or SAV Limited Warranty expires.

The BMW CPO warranty is similar to bumper-to-bumper coverage and protects important powertrain elements like the engine and final drive assembly. This protection plan is exclusionary, meaning the vehicle components that aren’t covered will be listed in your contract.

Any repairs covered under the CPO warranty must be done at a BMW dealership. Transferring your BMW CPO warranty to a new owner requires a $200 fee.

Here are some highlights of what’s not covered in the BMW CPO warranty:

While BMW’s CPO protection plan has its limitations, it also has perks. Here are some of the benefits that come with the CPO warranty:

Not just any used BMW coupe or SUV can become a CPO vehicle. Before a vehicle goes up for sale again, it’s carefully inspected by one of the automaker’s well-trained technicians. It’s also taken on a road test and has its vehicle history checked.

The experts at BMW look through each vehicle’s Carfax or AutoCheck report to make sure the vehicle has genuine BMW parts and has regular maintenance history. If a vehicle doesn’t meet the criteria above, it will be sold as a used car rather than a CPO one.

Every vehicle that becomes a CPO BMW has between 300 and 60,000 miles on the odometer, so you won’t receive a particularly high-mileage vehicle through the BMW CPO program.

Since you won’t gain long-lasting coverage through the one-year BMW CPO warranty, you may want to consider the reliability of the automaker’s vehicles. It’s hard to determine exactly how dependable your car will be, as BMW receives quite mixed results.

RepairPal gives the company a reliability score of 2.5 out of 5.0, ranking it as the 30th-most reliable out of 32 brands. These results are somewhat balanced out by the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM, which places BMW as the 15th-most reliable out of 32 brands.

Our team reached out to BMW for a comment on its reliability ratings but did not receive a response.

Regardless of how dependable your BMW is, expect to spend a considerable amount whenever you head to the repair shop. For repairs and maintenance, RepairPal found that BMW owners pay an average of $968 per year versus the industry average of $652.

To give you an idea of what you could spend on repairs, this table with data from RepairPal outlines average repair costs for some BMW models.

Owners should consider purchasing extended warranties before their one year of coverage from the BMW CPO warranty expires. The company’s reputation for reliability is spotty at best, and it tends to have much higher repair costs than most brands.

Those who’d like to add extended warranty coverage when their BMW CPO warranty ends may consider the automaker’s plans. BMW has three extended protection plans, but vehicles under the CPO warranty are only eligible for the Platinum level.

Through the Platinum plan, you can maintain protection on your CPO vehicle for a total of up to 7 years/unlimited miles. The seven-year period begins on your vehicle’s original in-service date.

The automaker’s Platinum protection plan covers most components, from the engine to the transfer case to the cooling and electrical systems. This extended vehicle service contract includes 24-hour BMW roadside assistance, and covered repairs are done by BMW-trained technicians using genuine BMW parts.

The BMW extended warranty can be expensive compared to extended warranties from third-party providers. Also, choices from the most reputable extended car warranty companies may offer longer terms and are often equally or more extensive in coverage.

We recommend considering extended warranty options from independent companies before settling on BMW’s Platinum plan for CPO vehicles. Offerings from providers such as Protect My Car and Endurance tend to come with exceptional and long-lasting coverage at reasonable rates.

Below are some of the benefits of purchasing extended warranty coverage from a third-party provider:

It’s worth looking at extended protection plans from BMW and third-party providers. Compare all of your warranty options to learn how to best keep your BMW running well for years to come.

The BMW CPO warranty offers 1 year/unlimited miles of extensive coverage after the expiration of the 4-year/50,000-mile new-vehicle warranty. In addition to protecting most vehicle components, it comes with roadside assistance, trip-interruption benefits and loaner vehicles or alternative transportation for repairs covered under warranty.

Yes, you can extend the BMW CPO warranty by purchasing the automaker’s Platinum coverage, which lasts for up to 7 years from your car’s original in-service date and has no mileage limit. You can also purchase extended protection through third-party warranty providers.

The BMW CPO warranty doesn’t cover regular maintenance such as oil changes and tire rotations. It also excludes wear-and-tear components and damage due to accidents, negligence or the environment.

Because BMW has mixed reliability ratings and its repair costs tend to be higher than the industry average, buying a vehicle with a BMW CPO warranty could save you money in your first year of ownership compared to buying a used, non-CPO BMW vehicle.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

Get a Quote From Our Most Affordable Provider - CarShield

Plans as low as $99 per month

Copyright © 2022 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved.

By using this site you agree to the Subscriber Agreement & Terms of Use, Privacy Notice, and Cookie Notice.