BMW Precision World Elite Mastercard: Decent Rewards at a Steep $99 Price

BMW Precision World Elite Mastercard Review

The BMW Precision World Elite Mastercard is something of a rarity in the auto rewards credit card space. The card, from U.S. Bank and issued through Elan Financial Services, is strange in that it charges an annual fee of $99, where many auto cards feature no annual fee. Fortunately, it offers some impressive features that recoup that yearly charge.

How to Earn Rewards

First, the positives. The BMW Precision Card earns an impressive 5X points on eligible BMW purchases. This is more than the 4X points the basic BMW World Elite Mastercard earns. The card also earns 3X points on gas station purchases and 2X points on dining. All other purchases with the card earn 1.5X points per dollar spent.

The 1.5X points per dollar spent is an excellent perk that is reminiscent of the Discover It Miles Card. Sure, the 1.5X is also similar to the Chase Freedom Unlimited, but that card benefits from the greater value that comes with the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, taking it out of the BMW Precision’s league.

On the negative side, the enhanced earning rates on both gas and dining purchases are exactly the same as you get with the no-annual-fee BMW World Mastercard. This similarity means that unless you plan to make use of the 5X points or 1.5X points categories (or get the special signup points bonus), the $99 annual fee might not be worth it.

Additional Introductory Bonus Offer

Like other BMW credit cards, the BMW Precision World Elite Mastercard comes with an introductory bonus. That bonus is 7,500 BMW Rewards Points after making $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of opening a new account. This 7,500 bonus is 2,500 more than comes with the no-annual-fee BMW Mastercard – a $31 value for BMW rewards or a $25 value when redeeming for anything else.

How to Redeem Rewards

BMW Rewards Points are the currency of all BMW credit cards, and points apply to several award options:

The best redemption value lies with BMW purchases and services. The card provides 25% more points value when choosing this option, which is excellent news for those who love to accessorize themselves or their vehicle in BMW-branded merchandise. It also goes without saying that this option is worthwhile whenever the occasional servicing or oil change is required.

Other reward options provide lower value. Still, the ability to select from multiple redemption options for points is welcome news – especially as most auto rewards credit cards are designed only for use with specific dealerships or brands.

BMW Credit Card Comparison

	BMW Mastercard	BMW Motorrad Mastercard	BMW Precision Mastercard
Annual fee	$0	$0	$99
Rewards on BMW purchases	4X	4X	5X
Other rewards	3X on gas, 2X on dining, and 1X on everything else	3X on gas, 2X on dining, and 1X on everything else	3X on gas, 2X on dining, and 1X on everything else
Credits	N/A	N/A	$70 dealership credit
0% intro APR	12 months on purchases and balance transfers	12 months on purchases and balance transfers	N/A
Other	N/A	N/A	Priority Pass Select
Network	World Mastercard	World Mastercard	World Elite Mastercard

Is the Annual Fee Worth It?

Unlike other BMW credit cards, the Precision Card does not feature a 0% intro APR on either purchases or balance transfers. Instead, BMW offers no foreign transaction fees and a $70 BMW dealer credit each year. For the frequent global traveler, the waiver of foreign transaction fees is tempting. Since the card’s terms and conditions do not state that eligible purchases for dining must be made in the U.S., it also opens the opportunity to use the card as a powerful global dining rewards credit card.

The dealer credit is another great feature, though only for those who plan to use it yearly for oil changes or other basic maintenance. Doing this can help offset the annual fee significantly.

Other Card Features

Given the $99 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, it’s no shock that the BMW Precision Card is a World Elite Mastercard. World Elite offers the pinnacle of Mastercard perks and protections, including:

The card also provides lounge access with the Priority Pass Select; for a $99 annual fee the BMW Precision is a decent little travel card with auto rewards.

Elan Financial Ratings

How does Elan stack up as a credit card issuer? Here is a selection of ratings for the bank:

Should You Apply for the BMW Precision World Elite Mastercard?

So, is the BMW Precision World Elite Mastercard worth the $99 annual fee? If you own a BMW and take a trip to the dealership on more than one occasion per year, the answer is probably yes.

The $70 annual dealership credit is a nice bonus – as is the 5X points on BMW purchases and 25% additional reward redemption with BMW. These three benefits likely recoup the $99 annual fee – and the addition of 1.5X points basic earning rate, 3X on gas, and 2X on dining certainly help, too.

While World Elite Mastercard features don’t include lounge access, the addition of no foreign transaction fees and no visible language stating global dining doesn’t apply towards the 2X restaurant rewards, and the BMW Precision World Elite Mastercard is an excellent all-around credit card for the BMW enthusiast.