BMW 218i Gran Coupe M Sport
This difference in price is significant enough that it actually makes models like the BMW X1 and 218i Gran Coupe M Sport appear to be much cheaper than they actually are. In the case of the aforementioned X1 and 218i, both of these models would come to less than RM200,000 under the new recommended retail price .
Now, it certainly is very tempting to look at that cheaper price tag and make the purchase. Sure, you could always purchase the extended warranty or service package separately within the first two years of owning the car. But consider that it would make a lot more sense to add that extra warranty cost into your car loan in the first place. You wouldn’t want to have to spend an additional RM10,000 to RM40,000 if you suddenly decide that you should have extended your warranty.Let’s get this out of the way and call a spade a spade. This practice by BMW is simply a marketing gimmick that artificially gives the impression that their cars are suddenly cheaper.
This could be misleading as customers who are not aware of the change may accidentally buy a car without realising that the new warranty period is less than half of the previous duration. Consider that most carmakers in Malaysia, from Proton, Honda, Toyota and even Volvo, offer at least a five-year warranty. Even competitors like Mercedes-Benz offer their cars with a four-year warranty. This would mean BMW has the dubious honour of offering the shortest warranty period for a new passenger car.