Dealer Add-On's

[spokelizard]

OK, as I posted yesterday, I purchased a 2007 X3. And as usual the last step is for them to try to sell a bunch a "insurance" type items. I declined them all but I have a couple of days to reconsider them. Some were tempting (of course, they're designed to be tempting!)

Now I'm still a newbie here, maybe I should be posting this somewhere else in the forums since it's not X3 specific. And I've already searched a few of the items. But you've all been helpful so much that I thought I'd start by posting here as your thoughts and comments would be greatly appreciated. Especially if you think one of these items is not a ripoff.

OK, here goes:

Resistall. $1,069. This is some sort of paint protection + 7 years of protection against small tears in the leather. I was surprised how tempting this was. But I think regular detailing is a better solution.

BMW Maintenance Program. $2,195. I got CPO which gives me another 2 years / 25,000 miles (50,000 miles minus the 25,000 already clocked) on the BMW maintenance program. As I understand it, paying the $2,195 gets me still another 2 years + 50,000 miles. this program extends the complete BMW Maintenance Program. Might be worth it! But I understand I can buy into it at any time up to my initial 4 years / 50,000 miles at the then current price, so I think I have roughly another 2 years to sign up for this, and I'd rather wait. Then based on the kind of dealer service I'm getting, I'll decide whether to sign for the program, or go with my indie mechanic.

Security system. $859. Actually I'd like to have this, even though I know it's major function is to wake the neighbors in the middle of the night, but at least I'll find my car in the parking lot at the mall. But searching these forums, looks like it's way overpriced. I can buy it cheaper and then either install myself or shop a cheaper installation.

Tire and wheel guarantee. $990. I don't know what this is, he didn't even try to sell it to me.

Phantom Footprints. $259. Ditto.

Vehicle service contract. $2,853. Ditto. I imagine this is some sort of 3rd party extended warranty, worthless when I have CPO.

LoJack. $935. Don't know too much about it. Don't see any reason to get it from the dealer though, I'm sure I can add it later at probably a better price.

Windshield Protection. $735. The finance guy played this one straight, said I have no need for this as it's already covered in my auto insurance.


The one add-on that I wanted they wouldn't sell me -- I want to get privacy glass. Salesman said take it to a local shop, the dealership subs it out and they don't want to do it on the used car.

Thanks for listening!

[Evlengr]

Couple of things I am confident on posting with reference to the add-ons:

Top of the line security system that will call or e mail you when car has been jeopardized, and emit a sonic signal so painful thief can't stay in vehicle:

$400

APRS tracking systems uses gps to track vehicles exact location and speed not directional antennae that act more like a blood hound:

$800

3M protective laminate for road dings:

$400

Looks like dealers are doing what they can to boost profits.

[spokelizard]

The 3M product sounds like what I want. Is it applied to the whole exterior, or just the front like a bra? I'll research local pricing.

[Evlengr]

The 3M product sounds like what I want. Is it applied to the whole exterior, or just the front like a bra? I'll research local pricing.

It is primarily applied to front facing parts of the vehicle. Such as hood front quarter panels, lighting, side mirrors. Any notable body shop will have it.

[Mystic1]

The extended maintenance contract costs the dealer around $1300-$1500, so they are making a good profit at $2200. You can probably get them down to $1500-$1700 if this is something you really want. You will get your money back with an inspection and brake replacement, but if you are inclined to do the work yourself, you will save some money there.

[Jakked]

APRS tracking systems uses gps to track vehicles exact location and speed not directional antennae that act more like a blood hound:

$800




P.S. GPS requires line of sight to work -- meaning it won't work if the car is in a storage garage or shipping container. Also, pro car thieves are getting wise to this stuff and are starting to carry GPS signal jammers. They're not very expensive.

Just a heads up.

[AzNMpower32]

None of the above that your dealer suggested is worth it.

[codog2]

10k grand of potential add-ons - ~30% more than the price of the car. No wonder they call them stealers

I'd check the fine print - there are usually disclaimers that basically get them out of paying for any claims

I remember going every year to Midas to get a free replacement muffler on my wife's Honda CRX Si when it would crap out; but I'd end up spending $100 on clamps

[Evlengr]

P.S. GPS requires line of sight to work -- meaning it won't work if the car is in a storage garage or shipping container. Also, pro car thieves are getting wise to this stuff and are starting to carry GPS signal jammers. They're not very expensive.

Just a heads up.

Respectfully stated:

APRS GPS does not require line of site to work. The same methodolgy used by this and your Garmin are very different.

And Lojack is ten times easier to JAM using a simple RF counter and some other gear.

Although it is not infallable it is MUCH better than lojack. I have deployed and used both.

EE
Certified Broadcast Radio Engineer

[Jakked]

Respectfully stated:

APRS GPS does not require line of site to work. The same methodolgy used by this and your Garmin are very different.

And Lojack is ten times easier to JAM using a simple RF counter and some other gear.

Although it is not infallable it is MUCH better than lojack. I have deployed and used both.

EE
Certified Broadcast Radio Engineer

Ok, I'm intrigued. Care to explain how it works without los?

[Evlengr]

Jakked,

In a nutshell APRS is a tactical situational awarness program developed by a HAM operator. It was not designed to track vehicles but because it uses a combination of both RF and GPS it is much more accurate and not hampered by many of the limitations that use Lojack or GPS. It uses a lower frequency range that has greater penetration in areas that would normally blind a GPS and not the higher frequency used by Lojack.

I first used it back in the late 1990's and it became very robust around 2004 with the marriage of GPS. We had a problem with interns not using company vehicles correctly. We were able to plot exact route, speed, departure, and destination points.

Later, it was installed in another engineers vehicle. Several weeks later it was stolen and when we reported the theft are comments to the police were, "It's traveling down front street at 34 mph and should be passing the police station in about 3 minutes".

Much more effective than beep beep beep ---I think its over there.

However, after posting my comments I realized that this is not a turn key operation and the average user may just be better with a set and forget like Lojack.

[T1T2GRE]

So Evlengr, what do you recommend security-wise?

I am taking delivery on an '09 soon, and I declined the noisemaker (even the dealer said it was effectively useless) option.

i.e. is it "worth" Lojacking?

[UncleJ]

Personally i think it depends on where you live. If you are in an urban high crime area then anything to help recover your vehicle makes sense. If you live in the low crime rural areas then a couple of big farm dogs are probably of more use when parked at night.:angel:

[Evlengr]

So Evlengr, what do you recommend security-wise?

I am taking delivery on an '09 soon, and I declined the noisemaker (even the dealer said it was effectively useless) option.

i.e. is it "worth" Lojacking?

I toyed with the idea of using the APRS, but around here if they steal it, its stripped in less than 4 hours. My neoghbor had his vehicle stolen on Saturday/Sunday morning at approximately 2 am. The state police found it at 7 am on the side of the road completely stripped.

However, what I did do that is very effective was to mount additional horns in the cabin (won't say where--defeats the effectiveness). They were only $30 a piece and are so shrill and loud that you can't stay in the cabin without excruciating pain after 10 seconds. It is strong enough where you can't keep your eyes open. Can't steal what you can't see. And the physical damage is not permanent unless you are stupid enough to stay in the vehicle for several minutes or longer.

This was added on to your top of the line Viper/Ungo alarm system.
After breaking into my wife's car they attempted to break into mine, and fled the second the alarm activated. Nine other cars were hit that night in our neighborhood. I later pulled up the web cam logs from my house and turned them over to the police.

Unfortunately, we're not originally in a high crime area but because of recent overdevelopment and easy accesability to 95 criminals have found our affluent area a smorgasbord for theft.

Also, most insurance companies will reduce your rates if the system is installed by a professional company.

Even the best systems are around $400

[spokelizard]

But doesn't an aftermarket alarm require another send/receive unit in addition to the key?

I've been convinced that alarms are generally worthless, except for finding the car in a parking garage and the beep beep to confirm I've locked the car when I'm walking away from it. But I want the unit for those purposes, so if there's less hardware it still makes sense to me to get the BMW unit. But from reading various posts on these forums, I don't have to buy it at time of sale, instead buy aftermarket at a lower price, try to install it myself, and pay labor to have the dealer code it.

[spokelizard]

I'm going to check out cost of lojack aftermarket vs. dealer. I'm hoping the dealer price is highly inflated.

[spokelizard]

BMW Maintenance Program. $2,195. I got CPO which gives me another 2 years / 25,000 miles (50,000 miles minus the 25,000 already clocked) on the BMW maintenance program. As I understand it, paying the $2,195 gets me still another 2 years + 50,000 miles. this program extends the complete BMW Maintenance Program. Might be worth it! But I understand I can buy into it at any time up to my initial 4 years / 50,000 miles at the then current price, so I think I have roughly another 2 years to sign up for this, and I'd rather wait. Then based on the kind of dealer service I'm getting, I'll decide whether to sign for the program, or go with my indie mechanic.

I'm quoting my own post here :D. Just because I didn't really get a response -- anyone agree with me that even if I want BMW Maintenance Program it still makes sense to push the decision 1 year + into the future.

[spokelizard]

Jakked,

In a nutshell APRS is a tactical situational awarness program developed by a HAM operator. It was not designed to track vehicles but because it uses a combination of both RF and GPS it is much more accurate and not hampered by many of the limitations that use Lojack or GPS. It uses a lower frequency range that has greater penetration in areas that would normally blind a GPS and not the higher frequency used by Lojack.

I first used it back in the late 1990's and it became very robust around 2004 with the marriage of GPS. We had a problem with interns not using company vehicles correctly. We were able to plot exact route, speed, departure, and destination points.

Later, it was installed in another engineers vehicle. Several weeks later it was stolen and when we reported the theft are comments to the police were, "It's traveling down front street at 34 mph and should be passing the police station in about 3 minutes".

Much more effective than beep beep beep ---I think its over there.

However, after posting my comments I realized that this is not a turn key operation and the average user may just be better with a set and forget like Lojack.

The APRS is really intriguing. But I'm not enough of a techie for a do-it-yourself electronics project, and sounds like there's no other alternatives?

[Evlengr]

But doesn't an aftermarket alarm require another send/receive unit in addition to the key?

I've been convinced that alarms are generally worthless, except for finding the car in a parking garage and the beep beep to confirm I've locked the car when I'm walking away from it. But I want the unit for those purposes, so if there's less hardware it still makes sense to me to get the BMW unit. But from reading various posts on these forums, I don't have to buy it at time of sale, instead buy aftermarket at a lower price, try to install it myself, and pay labor to have the dealer code it.


Yes it does. but you may have missed my point about a good system.

If anyone attempts to break into my vehicle I am notified via cell phone text and the added piezo horns are so deafening the thief cannot remain in the vehicle. So they would pretty much have to flatbed it to steal it, and if they can't open their eyes because of pain threshold they can't steal anything inside.

Plus, if some "jacks" my vehicle I can let them have it. Kill the motor and lock them in.

I'll look some things up for you and PM

[LMC]

I'm quoting my own post here :D. Just because I didn't really get a response -- anyone agree with me that even if I want BMW Maintenance Program it still makes sense to push the decision 1 year + into the future.

Yes. There are healthy mark-ups on the BMW warranty and maintenance programs and they can be had at significant discounts. And you can buy from any BMW dealer -- to include on the internet.

Everything offered by the selling dealer F&I person is huge markup and high cost. Just say no.

[spokelizard]

Yes. There are healthy mark-ups on the BMW warranty and maintenance programs and they can be had at significant discounts. And you can buy from any BMW dealer -- to include on the internet.

Everything offered by the selling dealer F&I person is huge markup and high cost. Just say no.

Thanks, I didn't know I could shop it on the internet. That means I can buy it from any dealer in the US.

[UncleJ]

spoke, go over to the Ask-a-Dealer forum in the Best of Bimmerfest section and ask your question about discounted warranty programs available. You should get some good info from sponsoring dealers, be sure that those are BMW approved warranties and not some third party thing that not every BMW dealer will honor:bigpimp:.

[TheCritic]

Tire and wheel guarantee. $990. I don't know what this is, he didn't even try to sell it to me.

Windshield Protection. $735. The finance guy played this one straight, said I have no need for this as it's already covered in my auto insurance.


You should probably check whether your insurance covers glass or if you can add it. I've not had any insurance in California yet that covers the windshield, and my understanding is that the specialty-coated glass on the X3 (esp. if you have rain sensor) can cost at least that much to replace once... Even so I don't think I'd get it.

Tire/wheel insurance can be a really good idea though, but other BMW owners (with runflats) need it more than we do, it's also a great idea for anybody leasing.

[UncleJ]

Critic, my USAA insurance covers glass. I have already had one windshield in the wife's Audi replaced at a cost to me of $100:cry: which was my comprehensive deductable. I suspect that wheel damage caused by something other than continuing to run on a flat tire may also be covered but I don't know that for sure.:dunno: