Would you buy a used SE without the benefit of a warranty?

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AndysComputer said:
And based on what I know of that I’d be fine with no warrant just so long as the battery was covered.
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If there was no warranty, what would be covering the battery?

(Thanks for the response — have enjoyed perusing your Mini-related content on your YouTube channel!)
 
Quiet Mini said:
Why would you assume the factory warranty not transfer to the second owner? Check with Mini for sure but this says 50,000 mile warranty and 100,000 mile battery warranty. At 114 mile range, that’s 877 charges give or take. https://www.miniusa.com/model/electric-hardtop.html
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Call it a hedge. I’ve seen both outcomes in various google searches; that the coverage is transferable to the second owner, and that “coverage probably transfers to the second owner, but it depends.” But, specific to the Mini SE, I did just find this on miniusa.com:

FD9E2E7E-5D70-4E30-8517-F8228077AEAE.webp

That clause with the asterisk leaves some room for intepretation regarding how “coverage” is defined, given that the word coverage was not otherwise used in that paragraph. Is the coverage the complementary maintenance? Or is it the various warranties from the first sentence?
 
In my US ‘22 owner’s manual warranty booklet, it says 50k warranty with 100k on the battery. There is also a post card in the back to send in for address or ownership change. It certainly would not hurt to reach out to Mini. They were always very helpful when I would call asking delivery questions. https://www.miniusa.com/footer-navigation/contact.html

Also don’t forget that even though the federal credit died, some states still have rebates.
 
Quiet Mini said:
In my US ‘22 owner’s manual warranty booklet, it says 50k warranty with 100k on the battery. There is also a post card in the back to send in for address or ownership change. It certainly would not hurt to reach out to Mini. They were always very helpful when I would call asking delivery questions. https://www.miniusa.com/footer-navigation/contact.html

Also don’t forget that even though the federal credit died, some states still have rebates.
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Appreciate it! After looking at the carfax reports for a few used listings, it seems like a pretty good bet that the warranty transfers. (Not every report indicated that, but enough reports did to give me some confidence there.)

As far as state rebates are concerned, my state (Virginia) did pass some form of rebate, but it hasn’t been funded or implemented. Seems that it’s stuck in some kind of legislative/gubernatorial purgatory.
 
gosjsgdi said:
Call it a hedge. I’ve seen both outcomes in various google searches; that the coverage is transferable to the second owner, and that “coverage probably transfers to the second owner, but it depends.” But, specific to the Mini SE, I did just find this on miniusa.com:

View attachment 18657
That clause with the asterisk leaves some room for intepretation regarding how “coverage” is defined, given that the word coverage was not otherwise used in that paragraph. Is the coverage the complementary maintenance? Or is it the various warranties from the first sentence?
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It's only the maintenance that is only covered for the original owner. At least the Mini dealer I bought mine from stated that. It's also how BMW treated the i3 after 2016 I think... I know my 2014 i3 included the maintenance for the second owner, but my 2018 i3 didn't.
 
My experience with MINI is the warranty transfers with the car, but optional extended warranty can only transfer if sale is from owner to owner. Any extended warranty is nullified if car is sold to dealer.
 
As a rule, if a late-model car is offered at a dealership without a warranty, there's a reason for it.
YMMV, but caveat emptor.
 
I would have no issue buying without a warranty. Plus you can always buy an aftermarket warranty if you are concerned.
 
gosjsgdi said:
From what I’ve seen, used SEs sold by Mini dealers tend to get the benefit of some combination of a 1-2 year Certified Pre-Owned Warranty and/or the balance of the original manufacturer’s warranty. Used SEs sold by non-Mini dealers seem to come with a 30-day warranty (and maybe a warm handshake).

I know that EVs are generally more reliable and involve fewer maintenance costs relative to ICE vehicles, but at least the problems and the costs associated with ICE vehicle maintenance tend to be known. With the SE, they’re just new enough that I haven’t seen a single post in this forum about Part X failing and it costing $Y to replace. It like anyone buying an SE without the benefit of any kind of warranty is risking becoming that Chevy Volt owner receiving a quote of $30K to replace their battery.

Would love to hear the groupthink on this one. I’m not sure that I want to go through with the order I placed for a BRG Iconic as the value proposition doesn’t really make sense to me anymore without the benefit of the tax credit, but a gently-used (5K miles or less) priced in the lower $30Ks might.
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I can only speak to our experience, but as others have said, I wouldn't hesitate IF a used SE was priced right. Ours has been trouble free and seems to be well made with above average components and materials. I would add, if you want an EV sports car, you really don't have another affordable option. What is priced right? One where the seller has knocked off the $7500 they got back on their taxes when they bought. Nothing makes me more frustrated than the individuals who are gaming the tax credit policies and buying and selling EVs to claim the tax credit over and over again while not passing on their savings to the buyer.
 
Be mad at me Cindy, as that GAME is the ONLY reason I have an EV.

market sets the resale price, not the "deal" that the buyer got.
 
gosjsgdi said:
Right. And I have a crackpot theory that I’m waiting to see how it plays out — The tax credit going away causes folks to back out on their orders. Folks backing out on their orders causes inventory to rise. Inventory rising brings prices down for both used and new SEs.
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I, a fellow crackpot, also I ascribe to this theory.

I predict February and March will see a huge decline in see car prices and an increase in new car supply.
 
First part of the gosjsgdi's theory seems to be coming true: the number of SEs for sale by dealerships has now risen over 10 fold since passage of the IRA. Although most are the lower model, more and more Iconics are starting to pop up.
 
CuriousGeorge said:
First part of the gosjsgdi's theory seems to be coming true: the number of SEs for sale by dealerships has now risen over 10 fold since passage of the IRA. Although most are the lower model, more and more Iconics are starting to pop up.
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I don't know how many were available on August 16th--what number is 10-fold? How many are new SEs? Are there many used without warranty?
 
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