Track days voiding BMW warranties?

[rage2]

http://www.pistonheads.com/trackdays...p?storyId=5790

Kinda stupid decision on BMW's part IMO.

[Ben]

Obviously BMW doesn't believe in the quality of thier vehicles

[infamous]

yeah that was a really stupid decision on BMW's part. if i am going to go out and spend $75,000 for a new m3, i expect that i should be able to take it to the track. why wouldn't they allow it? are they that scared of the build quality??

[speedracer]

That makes sense. I don't understand him argument - take it out to the track. Car is damaged from the track useage and he expects warranty to cover the damage?

Where can I sign up?

However I do see the gray in Track day - Is it a driver improvment course or race....I would class it as a race the way I see it.

I have a clause when I purchase my vehical that I would not be racing the car. If I do the manufacturer has no liabilities and all warranties void. However, competition and driving courses (solo 2) are allowed.

[infamous]

what do you drive?? and if you spend 75k on a new bmw m3, don't you expect it to stand up when you drive it hard???/

[RickDaTuner]

I Though BMW dealers have there own thing were you go and learn the basics of track driving? noe there prohibiting it ?
damn as much as i love that car, ill wont even think of getting one with that line of though

who would want to any way when the dealer could just screw you over and say that any damge could be caused by track use

[4wheeldrift]

Ultimate driving machine whatever

[buh_buh]

does it count as a track day when you go to the BMW driving school?

[gpomp]

Originally posted by buh_buh
does it count as a track day when you go to the BMW driving school?

I thought BMW provided cars for you...?

[4wheeldrift]

If its a BMW arrive and drive type event, you are generally using BMW provided vehicles. If you are showing up at a BMW club sponsored event, you are driving yours.

[rage2]

It's funny how BMW pushes their cars as the ultimate driving machines, yet you're not allowed to push the cars as it's designed for. Unless of course you're a street racer .

[buh_buh]

Originally posted by 4wheeldrift
If its a BMW arrive and drive type event, you are generally using BMW provided vehicles. If you are showing up at a BMW club sponsored event, you are driving yours.

so it voids your warranty when you attend a BMW club sponsored event? sounds stupid to me.

[szw]

It would probably be okay if your car broke during the track events (provided you don't do anything stupid) since it could be bad publicity that it happened on THEIR turf. Unless they made you sign something with microscopic print!

Who knows how that would have turned out though.

The WRX is touted as a rally car in all their commercials. If you damage it and they find out you were competing in a rally, or even an auto-x, I think they would do the same thing. Of course you pay more for BMW, so I guess those people expect more.

Either way, it sucks.

[4wheeldrift]

Originally posted by buh_buh

so it voids your warranty when you attend a BMW club sponsored event? sounds stupid to me.

Pretty sweet scam eh? Entice the drivers to join the BMW sponsored BMW clubs, then void their warranties for showing up. Tough to lose with an arrangement like that.

[4wheeldrift]

Originally posted by szw
It would probably be okay if your car broke during the track events (provided you don't do anything stupid) since it could be bad publicity that it happened on THEIR turf.

Who knows how that would have turned out though.

The WRX is touted as a rally car in all their commercials. If you damage it and they find out you were competing in a rally, or even an auto-x, I think they would do the same thing. Of course you pay more for BMW, so I guess those people expect more.

Either way, it sucks.

The BMW dealer has absolutely no proof that what happened to that vehicle happened at the track day. If the car had shown up on a flatbed with the tranny busted, directly from the track then yes, they might have cause to deny the claim. This situation is a bit different. Most manufacterers have clauses in their warranties stating that any damage during any sort of competition event is not covered by the warranty, but I've never heard of anyone getting their warranty voided unless they are trying to claim damage done during an event of that type happened at another time and the dealer finds out. I've been completely honest with the dealer abotu what I'm doing wtih my subie, and they have never given me any trouble at all.

[max_boost]

Man, thats BS!
Rage, thats why I don't go to track events!

[rage2]

Originally posted by max_boost
Rage, thats why I don't go to track events!

What a waste!

[///M Power]

Dammit BMW, I love their cars, but the organization sucks ass.

[buh_buh]

Originally posted by 4wheeldrift
Most manufacterers have clauses in their warranties stating that any damage during any sort of competition event is not covered by the warranty

but our track days isn't a "competition event". It is merely a "lapping day", does that count?

[///M Power]

Originally posted by buh_buh

but our track days isn't a "competition event". It is merely a "lapping day", does that count?

As long as there is nobody clocking the laps it shouldn't void the warranty, for most companies anyways.