Hi- I just bought a C230 K Coupe with 58K miles. Car is like new, purchased from a friend so no mysteries in it's past. I understand I can possibly buy an extended warranty from a MB dealer. Not sure of cost. My question is based on the age/year of this car is it likely to be in my favor to buy an extended warranty or not? Are there known and expensive problems with this model/year that are not being covered by any factory extended warranty? The car has the sunroof and auto trans.

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

As you probably know, there are people who believe the extended warranties are worth it, and another group that feel they never are. I suppose it depends on what it would cost you and how you feel about having to repair it if something should happen later.
I am not aware of any major engine or tranny problem for that car, but I don't own that year car so I really don't know. It's a roll of the dice, but I personally feel, on this one, the odds are probably with you. Others may feel differently. All it takes is one A/C compressor to fail and you're looking at a bunch of money. But will it?

 

It's a case of 6 of 1, half a dozen of the other. You might buy the extended warranty & never get to use it till it expires 3 years later & then what?????
Take a gamble!

 

I am having a power drain problem at 52000 which i have no idea how to fix and with no warranty it certainly sucks, i am honestly trying to get rid of the car which is in a good condition with navigation, power seats, bose system and not able to get more than $12K for it...

 

As some memtioned it is six to one, half dozen of the other. If you bought the car from a Mercedes dealer you probably could have gottena StarMark warranty.

Other warranty's out there, you really have to read between the lines. Deductibles could run from $20 to $200 per repair. Some are garage specific, so if there isn't a name garage when you are a 100 miles from no where, you have a problem.

Others have wording that makes you responsible for everthing that happens to the car, wear and tear, or usually use of car, are some of the wordings used. They are very expensive, if a company wants to charge you say $700, the warranty is probably worth $200 at the wholesale level. Some are "everyhing warrantied for 100K" or wording to that effect, and when you read the fine print, most of everyhting is excluded due to normal maintenance item or normal wear and tear.

This all being said and the car is a good one. Mercedes had terrible elecrical problem with the W203's the first two model years, 01 and 02. By 03 most were worked out. If nothing has failed by now electronically, you should be OK. There is an old saying about complex electrical conponents. If they don't fail with 60 days of buying, they are OK. A electronic repair man told me this several years ago.


Also, you approaching the mileage whre normal maintenance items, ie O2, MAS will start to fail, not because there defective, but they just wear out. Include brakes, rotors, etc.

My advice, see if you can get a engine and drivetrain warranty only. If the seller wants more then $500 walk away. These warranties are like going to a casino, the house always wins, even if they do have a few big winners.

I was asked to stop playing blackjack two weeks ago at a casino in CT. I won $15K and management accused me of card counting. I don't count cards. However I have this gift of remembering what cards whee on the table???? Is this counting? Again, the house gets nervous. I was banned from the blackjack tables, for a measly $15K. Thank God they didn't take me to the back room for a talk.

American Indians for you, they are as bad as the whiteman?

 

I wholeheartedly agree, Wiz.....some great thoughts there. Great advice!

 

Make sure that ALL of the fluids are changed out. I would definitely get the extended warranty, see if you can get a discount. All it takes is one trip and it pays for itself, especially if you do lots of driving. Any time you take the car in, figure at least $1,000 or more... :-)