Shopping for a used BMW vehicle often leads many drivers to consider certified pre-owned options. BMW is one of many manufacturers that have a certified pre-owned (CPO) program. Each car manufacturer structures their CPO program differently; read on to learn about the specifics of the BMW CPO program.
In order to be considered a BMW Certified Pre-Owned car, vehicles must be under six years old, and have less than 60,000 miles. These vehicles come complete with a 24 month/50,000 miles Certified Limited Warranty.
Inspection
In order to ensure that every BMW Certified Pre-Owned car is “The Ultimate Driving Machine”, each vehicle must pass a 196-point inspection, which includes:
- Safety Features
- Vehicle Performance
- Wear and Tear
- Comprehensive Road Test
If anything fails to meet the high standards of the BMW technicians, it must be fixed. If it cannot be fixed and meet the proper factory standards, the vehicle cannot become a Certified Pre-Owned BMW.
Warranty
BMW CPO vehicles come with a warranty, which covers repairs or replacement to any part that becomes defective under normal use within the first 24 months or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. The warranty requires a $50 deductible for each service visit. It also includes:
24-hour Roadside Assistance: CPO vehicle owners can reach BMW 24 hours a day for flat tires, dead batteries, and emergency fuel delivery. This benefit also includes towing services up to 50 miles, and lock-out services reimbursement up to $100 per incident.
Vehicle History Report: Every CPO vehicle owner gets full access to the CARFAX service report, maintenance history, and reviews of their particular BMW car.
Pricing
Buyers who choose to obtain a vehicle through the BMW Certified Pre-Owned car program will see a difference in the overall bottom line. The price will usually be around 10% higher than a regular “used” BMW vehicle.
For example: at the time of writing this article in April 2016, a used 2012 BMW M3 Coupe is priced around $38,952 on Kelley Blue Book; the same vehicle under BMW’s CPO program is priced around $42,858.
Compare BMW to Other CPO Programs
Whether you decide to go with a CPO car, it's always wise to have an independent certified mechanic inspect any used car before buying it. Certified Pre-Owned does not mean the car is in perfect condition, and any used car can come with serious issues that aren't apparent to an untrained eye. If you're in the market to buy a used car, schedule a pre-purchase inspection for total peace of mind.
