MaTRiX

Hello Guys, i have some Really interesting information from BMW Road Side Assistance, im sure this will be really important if you were to be in a situation like me:

Facts

If your car were to break down, and the breakdown point is under 80 Kms from your house, BMW Road Side will re-imburse you UPTO $100 ( which can include transportation, food, accomodation etc). Unless ofcourse the situation is different where another tow truck comes, and you choose that over the one BMW sent, which i had to choose as the Police Officer helping me there asked me to do ( Since the first time my car broke down, i waited over 1 hour and noone showed up), and the tow truck charge was like $400 bux who came before the one bmw was trying to send, BMW Road Side Assistance promised to cover it, but its been like 5 weeks and i havent heard back from the claim centre so i am a bit worried.) The rep on phone said, that new years is their Busy time, so the claim may actaully take over 6 weeks to process.

If you car were to break down, and the breakdown point is over 80 kms from your house, BMW Road Side will re-imburse you upto $800!!! ( Which can include transportation, food, accomodation etc).

They did offer me to stay in the hotel overnight with friends ( Fallsview Hotel ) which actually costs under $800 for the overnight stay, my transportation back home was $150. Food/Hotel/Transportation would have been covered in that bill Who knows maybe the casino expenses maybe covered?

Another important thing to note is, BMW Roadside assistance towed my car to the nearest dealer, but the bmw roadside assitance customer service rep said, they are suppose to tow it to dealer of choice within 80Kms of the breakdown point . IF i knew that, i would have it towed to the dealership that is a bit near to my house.

Now to pickitup, i have to take a "Commercial Transportation" again to the dealer and re-submit that under the same claim as my earlier one, and i should get all of it re-imbursed as its over 80Kms away from my home.

I hope this information comes in handy, if any of you guys were in my position. Unfortunately i did not know this information!!!!!!!!

If i actaully receive the money that i claimed for, which will be totalling now about $650 after the second claim i make, i will really be a happy customer. And im actually thinking of re-newing BMW Assist, now that im more educated about it, i actually really think its WORTH it for the customers experimenting with first year models, like i did.

EBMCS03

Good info... now what are the rules that apply to the states?

cobradav

It should be noted that this is from BMW Roadside Assistance in the US using the same rules and is free. This is not BMW Assist which only adds a few features but nothing more than what maTRIX got. In the US you would not need to subscribe to BMW Assist to get this reimbursement. Of course our measures are in miles (50 = 80km) and is the same. Tow to nearest dealer unless a preferred dealer is within another 50 (80km) .

MaTRiX

Yes i think Cobradav is correct, the features of BMW Assist/Road Site assistance are similar in both USA/Canada.
But the thing is, most members wont know what i just revealed because i think roadside would try to save money by not telling the customers that it can be towed to the preferred dealer within 80 kms. I say that by experience, because i wasnt told that in my 2 experiences with BMW Roadside until now when they found out that my car breaking point was over 80Kms away, because she kept saying i would only be re-imbursed, and i said to her that i was told that i would be re-imbursed fully at the time i spoke to Roadside via SOS, and they obviously knew that i was over 80 Kms away because they said they can only tow it to the nearest dealer and not the preferred dealer.
And the reason why i would re-new BMW Assist on this car is simply because i know its so very likely now that i will probably be needing bmw assist if i keep this car after May, which is when my 1 year subscription to it expires. I just like the convenience of having to speak with BMW Assist via the SOS button, i just wish that we could use the same system to make regular phone calls as the reception is i think 8x more clearler than a regular cellphone.
BTW i forgot to tell you guys, IT ACTAULLY allows you to make regular phone calls, it actually gave me the option to make an emergency call to a regular number and enter the numbers but i obviously did not choose it and didnt think of it much as i was trying to contact SOS, and totally forgot about that option after the ordeal!!!!! IDRIVE actually gave me a lot of options on the phone call thing. I just cant remember it clearly atm.

znod

Thanks much. Your info helped me.

needforspeed

In the UK this seems to work differently.

I have had only one breakdown ever in 7 years of BMW ownership, but when my 320d touring popped a valve spring BMW assistance took me to a local dealer (about 5 miles).

The dealer then sorted me an official BMW hire car (320d) and sent me on my way within about an hour.

This was in Southampton and I lived about 200 miles away!

After a couple of days the dealer called to confirm all was resolved and arranged for my car to be delivered back to my house on the back of a low loader, which then took the loaner back to Southampton.

The service in this case was so completely exemplary that I entirely forgot to be cross about the breakdown itself.

This was all paid for direct by 'bmw' - which I guess means the dealer paid and claimed it all back as warranty work.



BTY the dealer was Scotthall Hampshire.

vern

I understand that in MY 2007 although the price of the car will be higher you will get BMW Assist free for four years so you should be able to do everthing through SOS.
cheers
vern

1600

Roadside asisstance.... roadside assist.... bmw assist....tow or no tow.........reimburse or not reimburse.........subscribe or not.....under warranty or not.....I think my head is about to explode....POW!

cobradav

I know, I know. But truly, BMW Roadside Assistance is free, and you get a credit card style card with the essential facts right on the card including your VIN and 1-800 number. The key point MaTRiX was trying to emphasize for members to be aware of is printed on the card quoted here "Emergency towing to the nearest BMW center or up to 50 additional miles to the BMW center of your choice" If you do not have this card or are not familiar with this process it would be easy to over look and ASSUME the tow is just to the nearest BMW center. It's good to have real samples of just what is covered and the experiences as members, unfortunately, have to use them as MaTRiX has provided.

And do go to www.bmwusa.com/roadside for more details if you have not received your info in the mail or in a package received on delivery.

znod

OK, cd, I'm still confused. I have roadside assistance free for a year, right? Why don't I have a card? Go to link above? Why wouldn't/doesn't BMW automatically take care of sending cards. Why doesn't Tesla just send you a new meter?