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BMW WARRANTY SIMPLIFICATION PROGRAM

2020-01-16

MODEL
All

INFORMATION
The Warranty department wants to help your center to drastically reduce the amount of repair-related notes
and time a technician spends entering comments for all claim-related repair order line items in the Dealer
Management System (DMS).
This will be accomplished by applying the new technician documentation minimum requirements and
providing high-level repair-related notes through the use of:

Diagnosis Category Identifiers;
Repair Category Identifiers; and when applicable in conjunction with
High-Level notes
Unless otherwise required by State law.
Using Diagnosis Category and Repair Category Identifiers the technicians still need to make sure to provide
sufficient information for claim coding in order to get reimbursed the proper amount.
In addition to the minimum requirements the burden of creating a time record for each repair order line item
is reduced for flat rate only repair orders by introducing a one on/off punch policy.

SITUATION
After a successful pilot in 2019 the above Warranty Simplification measures are rolled out to all centers
across the US.

PROCEDURE
Diagnosis Flat Rate/Work Time Guidelines
For each repair order (RO) line item with diagnosis work time (DWT) performed, in place of entering longform comments, the technician would either just simply enter:

The two (2) character Diagnosis Category Identifier (below); or
High-level repair notes (only state what was checked/diagnosed/repaired/replaced).
Diagnosis Category Identifiers
For standard operation vehicle test and charge battery
Diagnosis
Category

DCI Code Descriptions

D1

Hook up battery charger, perform vehicle test, applicable fault found/not found (name
component fault is pointing at), continued with (D3 – D6)

D2

Hook up battery charger, perform vehicle test, applicable fault found/not found (name
component fault is pointing at), found applicable SIB

For claim-related repair order (RO) line items with one (1) to five (5) FRU of diagnosis work time.
Diagnosis
Category

DCI Code Descriptions

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D3
D4
D5
D6
D7
D8

Visual diagnosis (ex: Inspected for oil leaks)
Mechanical diagnosis (ex: Swap ignition coils from cylinder to cylinder)
Perform test plan after vehicle test
Electrical diagnosis (ex: checking resistance in wires)
Noise complaint diagnosis
Drivability complaint diagnosis

Repair Flat Rate Guidelines and Repair Category Identifiers
Again, in place of entering long-form comments, the following list Repair Category Identifiers (one or more)
can be used to document a repair. These codes can be used regardless of the amount of time (FRU) an
established flat rate operation allows.
The codes listed below include all necessary steps as outlined by the associated repair instruction and/or
applicable flat rate description/inclusive positions in AIR.
When using the RCI codes to document consequential repair work, the repair comments need to state the
reason why the additional repair work and/or component replacement was needed.
Repair Categories Identifiers
Repair
Category
R1
R2

RCI Code Descriptions
Completed eligible Maintenance Program service task (name services).

R5

Replaced defective part (name component)
Reference the SIB number and the work package (Pkg) number performed (For
example: R3 B00 00 20 WP 1)
Program and encode the vehicle’s control units (standalone or with part replacement)

R6

Additional programming after first failed programming session

R7

Additional programming after second failed programming session

R8

Confirmed effectiveness of the repair

R0

No Problem Found (NPF)

R3

New Technician Documentation Minimum Requirements
Work Performed

Documentation requirements

Vehicle test, charging battery faults found/not found.
SIB found/Not found
Diagnosis time up to 5 FRU (excluding vehicle
test/charging battery)
Diagnosis 6 FRU and above (excluding vehicle
test/charging battery)
Maintenance, recall/service action, repair vehicle

D1 or D2 Diagnosis categories
D3, D4, D5,D6, D7, D8 Diagnosis categories
High Level repair notes
R1 – R0 Repair categories

For examples of notes and coding, please see the attachment.
Recording of Flat Rate Times – New One Punch Policy

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Only one on/off punch is required per repair order if there isn’t any worktime, i.e. diagnosis, removing broken
bolts, during the repair visit.
This includes:

Maintenance, recalls/service actions and/or warranty, CPO or EVP repairs.
Consequential damage if documented in the technician notes.
Add-on repairs if documented in the technician notes and approved before the repair is carried
out.

If worktime is required it needs to be:

Identified with a separate, identifiable and clearly labeled punch times for each repair
occurrence.
All work time must be clearly explained on the repair order and in the “comments” section of the
claim
Valid documentation that supports the time claimed must be maintained.
Note: Punch times are recommended as a best practice for monitoring technician/workshop efficiency.

WARRANTY INFORMATION
Claim Comment and Coding Examples
Coding worktime/diagnostic time

Worktime for non-ISTA diagnosis should be claimed using main group xx99000 or 0012351 flat
rate codes
Worktime for ISTA diagnosis should be claimed using specific diagnosis code for ISTA
diagnosis. For example 6610000, 6100009, 6590000. Please refer to AIR for full list of work
time labor operations that cover ISTA diagnosis.
Combined work time for diagnosis with and w/o ISTA should be claimed using ISTA work time
labor code. Please see above statement.
Worktime needed for steps in repair process that are not covered by the flat rate
description/repair instruction (i.e. rusted bold torn off) needs to be claimed using xx99000 flat
rate codes
Claim coding with the Diagnosis Categories
Below is an example of normal Technician comment:
Before: Connected the battery charger, conducted short test. Fault present for passenger restraint
system, passenger side airbag. Test plan indicates improper resistance measurement for passenger
airbag. Gained access to ACSM module and inspected wiring from ACSM module connector A11*1B to
gas generator for front passenger side airbag connector z1281B. No faults present. Removed passenger
seat and inspected wiring from connector X12*1B to connector B69*1B. Discovered improper ohms
measurement within passenger side airbag harness. Side airbag replacement required. Completed
replacement of the passenger seat side airbag, reinstalled passenger seat, cleared fault memory and
verified repair. No Faults present. New airbag serial number 18B0250A5594
With these Diagnosis categories the Technician comment from above would now look as follows:
Using DCI + RCI: D1. Fault for passenger side airbag. D5. Improper resistance in wiring of side airbag.
R2 passenger side bag.
With these Diagnosis categories were able to shorten the Techs comments from 8 lines to just 1 line.
Example of how this would be coded for claim payment:

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Labor Op #
00 00 006
Or:
00 00 556
61 21 525
61 99 000
72 12 503

01 01 20_BMW WARRANTY SIMPLIFICATION PROGRAM

Description
Performing vehicle test

FRU Value
4

Performing vehicle test (Plus work)
Charging battery
Working time without specification/electrical system
Removing and installing or replacing passenger airbag module

2
1
4
42

Claim coding with Diagnosis Categories/High Level repair notes
What are high level technician notes?
Technicians are really good at writing down every step they take during diagnosis but rarely does Warranty
need that kind of detail for claim payment. We really only need the main things the Technician did.
Example detailed Technician repair notes:
Before: HOOKED UP BATTERY CHARGER PERFORMED SHORT TEST FOUND FAULTS FOR RAIL
PRESSURE MONITORING. FC 249300. RAN TEST PLAN. CHECK WIRES GOING TO AND FROM
INJECTORS. REMOVED SPARK PLUGS AND INSPECTED. REMOVED QUANTITY CONTROL VALVE
TO INSPECT AND FOUND NO METAL SHAVINGS. HIGH PRESSSURE PUMP REQUIRES
REPLACMENT. REMOVED CLYINDER HEAD COVER. REMOVED IGNITION COILS. DISCONNECTED
PRESSURE LINE AND FUEL SUPPLY LINE. REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE PUMP. WENT FOR
TESTDRIVE. ALL OK
Same Technician notes rewritten with Diagnosis categories and high level notes:
Using DCI + RCI: D1 Found FC 249300. D5*. Checked injector wires, spark plugs and quantity control
for possible metal shavings. No defect found. R2 high pressure pump.
*At D5 the technician reached the 5 FRU limit on diagnosis so he must now write high level notes instead of
using D4 to explain the mechanical diagnosis.
How this statement would look coded in the DMS:
Labor Op #
00 00 006
Or:
00 00 556
61 21 525
61 00 006
11 99 000
13 51 517

Description
Performing vehicle test (Main work)

FRU Value
4

Performing vehicle test (Plus work)
Charging battery
Vehicle Diagnosis-Carrying out the ABL (test plan)
Job time without allowance/Engine
Replacing high pressure pump

2
1
6
8
15

Parts of the Technician statement above and why Warranty does not need them:
CHECK WIRES GOING TO AND FROM INJECTORS
The claim specialist can infer that by just saying “Checked injector wires” that the tech is going to check all
wires going to and from the injectors.
REMOVED SPARK PLUGS AND INSPECTED. REMOVED QUANTITY CONTROL VALVE TO INSPECT

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AND FOUND NO METAL SHAVINGS
By just saying “Checked spark plugs and Quantity control valve” the Claim Specialist knows that you need
to remove these items to inspect them.
REMOVED CLYINDER HEAD COVER. REMOVED IGNITION COILS. DISCONNECTED PRESSURE
LINE AND FUEL SUPPLY LINE. REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE PUMP. WENT FOR TESTDRIVE. ALL
OK
The Claims Specialist doesn’t need written documentation of every part that was removed to replace the
pump. By just stating “Replaced high pressure pump” the Claim Specialist can combine that statement with
repair instructions to determine what needed to be done to replace the pump.

Supporting Materials
picture_as_pdf 20190103_Warranty_Simplification_Onepager_WD.pdf

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WARRANTY SIMPLIFICATION
Diagnosis Categories
Diagnosis
Category

Description of Code

D1

Hook up battery charger, perform vehicle test, applicable fault found/not found, continued with (D3 – D6)

D2

Hook up battery charger, perform vehicle test, applicable fault found/not found, found applicable SIB

D3

Visual diagnosis (ex: Inspected for oil leaks)

D4

Mechanical diagnosis (ex: Swap ignition coils from cylinder to cylinder)

D5

Perform test plan after vehicle test

D6

Electrical diagnosis (ex: checking resistance in wires)

D7

Noise complaint diagnosis

D8

Drivability complaint diagnosis

Repair Categories
Repair
Category

Description of Code

R1

Completed scheduled maintenance (name service)

R2

Replace defective part (name component)

R3

Completed campaign/service action (name SIB and work package number if available)

R5

Program vehicle

R6

Additional programming after first failed programming session

R7

Additional programming after second failed programming session

R8

Confirmed effectiveness of repair

R0

No problem found

Example #1

Example #2

Complaint: (as per repair order)

Complaint: (as per repair order)

Cause: D1 Air bag D6 high resistance in air bag wiring.

Cause: D2 SIB XX XX XX

Correction: R2 airbag

Correction: as per SIB R2 component/R5; or
Correction: R3 SIB WP x

Example of Technician Punches in the Order They Should Occur
Type of Time Punch

Description of Punch

Flat rate

Vehicle test, charging battery, finding faults

Diagnostic work time punch

Investigating faults, looking up SIB, calculating test plan, running test plan*, establishing repair needed

Flat rate

Performing repair as per diagnosis result

Diagnosis and Repair Categories Available for Warranty Documentation as of 01/01/2020.