I went to pick up my 1999 pre-owned C280 today. Of course the salesperson wanted to sell me an extended warranty (NOt MB, because my car has 77K on it and does not qualify) Bottom line is, do you have an extended warranty and if not do you just suffer through MB service pricing. OR do any of you who are out of warranty find you can have your car serviced, and fixed, by independent mechs who charge less than MB but are competent to work on MB?

BTW I bought the plan the salesperson offered. IT seems very good ($2500 for bump to bump for 3yrs/3600mi) It is through MAP. Anybody have them? As I read through the plan, it seems that they can refuse to pay if a part has a breakdown due to normal wear and tear. This sucks, because with 77K on the car, wear and tear is probably the main factor that a system part might fail.
I need to have them clarify. Fortunatly, I read in the fine print I have 30 days to cancel for a full refund.

 

These warranties are really a personal choice, when I bought my 99 C280 almost 4 years ago, it had 22K miles and was certified, I also bought an additional Starmark for $775 to cover the powertrain until July of this year. Since I bought the car I've had 3 occasions to use the Starmark. An 02 sensor, MAS and a short circuit in the taillight. But if I had to pay for the O2 and the Mass your looking at $500 plus. The short was labor and the car was in the shop for 2 hours so at $90 per hour another $180. With the warranty you bought, there might be provisions for having the car serviced regularly or coverage ceases, or preexisting conditions, or who knows what. I've known people who bought these and never had anything fixed as they warranty didn't cover the particular part. As with most warranties the seller is usually the winner. I bought a surround sound receiver over a year ago. I started getting letters for extended warranty coverage to the tune of $150 a year, which I throw away. Their is a rule in electronic of these types a engineer once told me, if it doesn't fail withn the first 60 days of operation, it is OK. If you average out warranty repairs on electronics he is correct, also these products ar cheap enough these days to be throw aways if something goes wrong, as the price to fix a minor problem is usually more the you paid for the receiver or whatever. Cars are different as they a lot more complicated. Also, the car you bought is getting up there in mileage, and is a mechanical device and cars do have system or part failures, whether its a ford or benz, but the odds are usually better with the benz then with a ford or chevy, etc the parts and systems will last longer. I think you made a sales driven decision, But at the going rate for mercedes parts and labor and if your not a DIY your warranty might come in handy someday. As far as normal wear and tear, all cars flag out on normal wear and tear, brake pad, disc etc. What you need to find out what the warranty specifies is normal wear and tear and what parts come under nornal wear and tear. One thing I have to say, I think you paid too much for the warranty, bumper to bumper, is a very broad statement. You should have a list of warranty, none warranty and wear and tear items with the warranty papers. Here in Mass it is the law. You have the option to cancel, if the warranty doesn't clarify what or what is not covered, get your money back.

 

Park Place Benz here in Dallas. It's swank as hell, from the moment you drive into the service area on what looks like marble

 

Wizard,

I did make a sales driven decision and I realized that on my trip back. I was so relieved when l I found the small print that explains I can cancel with in thirty days and get a full refund..well, minus a $50 cancel fee.

I have located some extended warranty co. online and need to check them out. First, their prices are lower. (you were right again) They were lower even with 0 deductible. Second, (and this is what I need to verify) they cover a part when it stops working...period. What parts are covered depends on the plan one buys.

What amazes me is that I can get a warranty on a car w/ 77K on it. One plan for $2,700, covers virtually everything a "bumper to bumper" new car warranty covers for 4 years or 48,000 miles! That would cover all expensive repairs up to 125,000mi.
Once again, the part is covered when it stops working, period. No issues with "normal wear and tear". ( Why would anyone want a warranty that excluded the part if it can be shown that wear and tear caused the failure. If the part made it to 77K miles, one assumes wear and tear caused the failure. no?)

I'll probably opt for a 2yr plan with 0 deduct.


Thanks for the feedback.


Anybody else have a positive or negetive expirence w/ and extended warranty from other than MB?

 

It really isn't amazing to get a high priced warranty on your car. As they odds are still in favor of the seller. If you did have a major breakdown, most likely the seller would tray and get out of it for wear and tear etc. Even if they did pay out, they have insurance underwritten backing them, so they really loose nothing. If you can find one around a $1000 or less and not too many wear and tear BS, I would probably go for it. But that might not be realistic price for these warranties. My son bought a used Acura, 4 years ago, with a "free" warranty for one year. I couldn't go with him to check things out as I was recovering from back surgery. About a month after he got the car the clutch went, he had to pay as it was a wear item. It didn't cost him anything, but it didn't cover anything either, seems every system on the car was excluded for wear and tear. Since then this dealer has gotten a reputation of ripping off people, but they still sell cars?

 

Do you have the name of that warranty provider? Sounds like it might be worth looking in to.

 

No as I have never bought these types of warranties, for the reasons I stated. The only thing I can tell you is search the internet as you have done and read, what's covered and what's not covered. I have my cars serviced at a local shop Mercedes BMW and Audi trained Techs, and until my Starmark runs out, I have it fixed at the dealer I bought it from. When that runs out I'll have it fixed by the shop that service it. There labor rate is $45 per hour and the dealer is now up to $95, but that includes a free loaner car, I always say to the dealer folks $95 per hour is awful expensive and the comeback with the loaner business and highly trained their techs have to be, which is true I guess. But the garage is where the really money is for a dealer I am told. When I take it to the shop, I'm on my own for transportation.

 

First, I not recommending the following warranty company.

I have spent some time reviewing their plans and communicating with a sales rep.

There are less expensive warranties out there ( and I intend to study them) but my feeling is, when I have a breakdown of a covered part, I don't want there to be any squabbling about whether or not the warranty co will pay.

The truth is that the difference in dollars between the expensive co. and the less expensive co. is 2-4 hundred dollars over one, two or even three years. However, the kind of breakdown I'm concerned about is the one that cost $1,000 to fix and up. So, coming through when it counts is what is important.

Here is the co I'm looking at: http://www.1sourceautowarranty.com/d...x?Referrer=214

BTW, Anybody have any expirence with 1 Source Auto Warranty.com ?

 

I'm now considering Warranty Warehouse. I need to get clear on their pro-rated refund provision.
I'm thinking of purchasing their 3yr./ 36K plan for $2,232; $0 deductable. If no major probs occur after 12mo./12K, I might cancel.
(They don't offer a 1 year plan for my car) The pro-rate is supposed to be a simple per-month cost of $62, so count up the months left on the original plan and multiply by 62 and you have your refund.

Warranty Warehouse


Along the way, one of the reps gave me some simple wisdom. When you buy warranty ins., you are betting something will go wrong with your car. The warranty co. is betting the nothing will. One of you will win the bet at the end of the warranty period. That is really all it is about. Of course, they also win if, when something breaks they weasel out of their agreement. This is where research comes in. A good fig. to look at is the ratio of money paid in claims versus policy income. Also, if one can get a fig. on the # of claims filed vs claims paid.

 

I have worked with 1 Source Auto Warranty.com with Audi's and can say that they pay quickly and are fast to either agree to pay or decline repairs ( equals faster turn around time for the client )

I can also say that through personal experience, any AIG backed policy will be good.

Yep, an extended warranty is equal to repair insurance, but you will most likely win.

Steve

feel free to e-mail me w. questions, I'll be happy to help.