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As an Arizona resident, I have a longstanding ritual when it comes to the heat of Summer, usually a couple of weeks before or after the 4th of July. Typically, that's when car batteries die. A battery only lasts about 2-3 years on average here.

Before I had a "watch problem" I had a "car problem", and still do. I'm able to type this out right now because I'm sitting at home and my wife's car ( the family's out of town this week), a BMW X3, has a battery so dead it won't even jumpstart. No worries, we have BMW's complimentary maintenance and warrranty program. They are sending a tow truck to take it to the dealership. That sounds pretty good, but then I thought back on all the different "premium" brands I have owned, Infiniti, Mercedes, Jaguar, Cadillac and now BMW, and it's interesting to compare how each dealt with this issue.

There have been three approaches taken:

1. Infiniti, Mercedes, BMW-- Obviously, drive in if you can get the car to run, if not, an independent tow truck tows it in and replace the battery. No charge for the tow and with the BMW, no charge for the battery under free warranty and maintenance. The others had a pro rata charge.

2. Cadillac-- A GM service technician came out to the car WITH A REPLACEMENT BATTERY, hooked it up, started it, checked diagnostics with OnStar to confirm nothing else was wrong, and off we both went. Cadillac better than the Germans? Surprised me too.

3. Jaguar-- During a routine covered oil change under the free maintenance policy, my service representative noticed the car had been in service for just over two years. He said that IT WAS ABOUT TIME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, SO HE JUST DID. Never had a dead battery in the four years I leased the Jag. I had another one, but it was used and not CPO.

I know this place is a Bimmer haven, I now have two, and I'm having an absolute blast with my little 135i. Right about now though I remember how much I loved having a Jag.

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Scott

AP Royal Oak 15400, silver
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Classic Cars
Vintage gold Corum
Rolex DJ 36 TT, oyster dial, oyster/smooth
Baume & Mercier Riviera 200m, silver dial/aquamarine bezel
Breitling Superocean 57, rose/stainless

The problem on this comparison is, that it is not dependant on the brand, it depends on the local service organisation and on the abilities of the service personal. You seem to have a very smart Jaguar repair technican...

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http://www.ellert.at

You have a good point there, though for all I know that may have been the result of the company giving the dealers enough discretion to make that kind of call. If that's so, then I think Jag would still deserve the credit I gave them. If not, then I still find it a bit surprising that Cadillac has the better solution. By the time the tow truck came, took me to the dealership, put me in a loaner, and then I had to leave work a little early to pick the car back up, I had probably three hours into it. With Cadillac, maybe an hour and of course zero with Jag.

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Scott

AP Royal Oak 15400, silver
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Classic Cars
Vintage gold Corum
Rolex DJ 36 TT, oyster dial, oyster/smooth
Baume & Mercier Riviera 200m, silver dial/aquamarine bezel
Breitling Superocean 57, rose/stainless

True, so I consider myself extremely lucky since my 540iA Touring is still running on its OEM battery after 10 years of use. As a precaution, I think it would be a good idea to replace it after the summer though.

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