BMW X3 extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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BMW X3s are known to have below-average reliability, so an extended warranty can help cut down on expensive repair bills and provide peace of mind.
We’ll break down what a BMW X3 warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new BMW X3s come with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a four-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
Jump to insightQuotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 X3 ranged from $2,091.36 to $5,412.50 a year. That’s more expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightBMW has below-average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on an X3 gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightBMW X3 extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your X3 comes with. For context, BMW X3s come with the following warranties from the factory:
- A four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A four-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 3-year-old car with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 30,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.
For an extended warranty on your BMW X3, you have two options:
- Buy the official BMW extended warranty, called BMW Extended Service Contract.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your car to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
Regardless of whether you go with an extended warranty from a dealer or a third-party provider, you’ll typically get the most value by purchasing whichever plan offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum). These plans cover 90% or more of the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive Gold, Silver and powertrain plans are less expensive, but the coverage they provide may leave you no option but to pay out of pocket for pricey repairs.
Most Americans can't pay for a $1,000 repair bill with cash, according to a ConsumerAffairs investigation. Nearly 13% of drivers have no way to handle a bill that large — even by borrowing.
Note that auto warranties only pay for repairs and replacements of parts that are specifically covered and fail from normal wear and tear. They don't cover damage from accidents or aftermarket modifications. Repairs also aren’t typically covered under warranty if you don’t properly maintain the vehicle.
In general, here are the differences between what a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty cover:
| Warranty type | Typically covered | Not covered |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper | ||
| Powertrain | Parts that create power and deliver it to the wheels | Parts not related to the engine, transmission or drive axle |
Note that some extended auto warranty plans fall somewhere between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.
» LEARN: What to know about manufacturers’ extended warranties
How much does a BMW X3 extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $5,412.50 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 BMW X3 registered in Austin, Texas, with 55,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $2,091.36 annually for 30 months of coverage for the same vehicle with the same mileage. Both quotes assumed a $100 deductible. Note that both of these are third-party extended auto warranty companies.
The “official” BMW extended warranty is called BMW Extended Service Contract, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local BMW dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 X3 with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
For context, the average cost of an extended warranty is around $1,000 per year of coverage. The quotes we collected for our hypothetical 2021 BMW X3 were more expensive by comparison.
It's worth it to get quotes from multiple providers so you get the best deal for an extended auto warranty.
While you may get a lower quote for a powertrain plan, the downside is your coverage will be significantly less comprehensive. If the damaged part doesn't create power and deliver it to the wheel (e.g., engine, transmission, drive axle), you'll likely have to pay out of pocket for repairs.
Remember that some extended warranty plans, particularly those from manufacturers, start from the date that the original owner purchased the car. In such a case, if you're getting a "seven-year/100,000-mile" warranty and the factory warranty is three-year/36,000 miles, you're really paying for four years or 64,000 miles (whichever comes first) of additional coverage.
Is a BMW X3 extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a BMW X3 extended warranty is worth it. In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:
- Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability.
- The warranty costs less than you expect to spend on repairs.
- A big repair bill could hurt you financially.
- You don’t mind paying for peace of mind.
BMW as a brand has below-average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking BMW 9th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability. As for the X3 specifically, RepairPal gave it a 2.5 out of 5.
Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers reported issues with their BMW X3s.
Steven in Utah wrote that “2019-2021 BMW X3 M has faulty sensors in the HVAC and dash system. … While driving my lights randomly go on and off and can't fluctuate correctly with the lighting and will either whitewash out or blackout. Go to the bimmer forums, you can research the fact that hundreds and hundreds of other people are having the same problem that I am.”
“The engines in the BMW x3 28i from 2013-2017 are garbage,” according to Pete in Florida. “After 70k miles and routine care by BMW, my engine seized.”
These stories from real customers mentioning issues with BMW X3 maintenance suggest that an extended warranty is a good idea. The likelihood of needing repairs and the prices we found for BMW X3 extended warranties means you’re likely to come out ahead by purchasing a protection plan.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:- J.D. Power, “Vehicle Dependability Slumps as Rate of Deterioration Increases, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
- RepairPal, “BMW X3 Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
