Is anyone driving there C320 or C280 out of Warranty or extended warranty?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Is anyone driving there C320 or C280 out of Warranty or extended warranty?
I would like to buy an 05 c320 4matic or a 06 C280 4matic some where in the 20k miles range. I want to keep the car to 120k miles before selling it. From what ive read on this forum, some think that driving without warranty is a bad Idea but i wanted to see what everyone thinks.
I had a 2001 audi a6 2.7t that i drove from new to 145k miles before selling it so I am accustumed to that german cars maintenance bills. But its not a Mercedes and i dont know what they cost to maintain. thanks for your input.
I had a 2001 audi a6 2.7t that i drove from new to 145k miles before selling it so I am accustumed to that german cars maintenance bills. But its not a Mercedes and i dont know what they cost to maintain. thanks for your input.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,840
Likes: 1
From: MA
E90 M3
I have an '02 C320 recently out of warranty. Not really a big deal, I guess.
But, I doubt you'll be able to drive the car up to that kinda mileage, not because the car won't withstand it, but because if you're someone that has to buy a relatively new Mercedes, it'll be hard to be the same guy that drives a car that will be deemed 'old' by the time the mileage gets up there. Unless, you drive A LOT and will get there in no time or if you're one of those really adaptable people.
But, I doubt you'll be able to drive the car up to that kinda mileage, not because the car won't withstand it, but because if you're someone that has to buy a relatively new Mercedes, it'll be hard to be the same guy that drives a car that will be deemed 'old' by the time the mileage gets up there. Unless, you drive A LOT and will get there in no time or if you're one of those really adaptable people.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 1
2005 C320wz
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 4
From: Boston
2004 C32 ///AMG
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 1
2005 C320wz
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,498
Likes: 4
From: San Diego, CA & San Jose, Costa Rica & Stuttgart, Germany
1959 220S / 1979 230 G / 2002 A210 AMG / 2003 C320 SC / 2004.5 C320 SS / 2005 ML350 SE / 2008 smart
driving a 2003 C320...
my original 4yr/50k warranty expires in September,
however, i bumped up to 100k warranty, after purchasing the car back in 2003.
my original 4yr/50k warranty expires in September,
however, i bumped up to 100k warranty, after purchasing the car back in 2003.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Well, how many of you are sorry that you are driving out of warranty? I mean I drove my a6 from 50k to 145k out of warranty almost another 100k miles! I just want to know if the Mercedes will be comparable in cost out of warranty or If it will be more...
I spent about 4000 in repairs over that time from 50k to 145kmiles so its not like it was perfect worry free car, but I still enjoyed it.
I spent about 4000 in repairs over that time from 50k to 145kmiles so its not like it was perfect worry free car, but I still enjoyed it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 0
From: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
ML63 AMG
My C320 (2003) is out of warranty later this year, and I'm extending it!! I would NEVER EVER DRIVE OUT OF WARRANTY (unless it's cheaper car brand -- cheap to fix/parts/etc). Just about 1.5 weeks ago, my car just slowed down on the highway - like a fuel cut-off. My car was towed (for $90), and taken to Mercedes-Benz dealership, where the next day they repaired the Cat. Convertor (for $1,300). Also, while it was there I did my last Service B under warranty (34,000 miles) for FREE! Cost: $590.
So basically in the last 1.5 weeks, I saved $1,980 on my car, just for having warranty. So, these are issues you should think about. Mercedes-Benz is not a very realible car, you will experience problems, it's a huge investment so consider warranty!
For the most expenses things you buy in life, a house and a car, you should protect your investment. For a DELL a 90-day warranty is cool; why spent $300 for a $400 computer, if it breaks, just buy a new one.
Just my 2 cents.
Tee_Tz.
So basically in the last 1.5 weeks, I saved $1,980 on my car, just for having warranty. So, these are issues you should think about. Mercedes-Benz is not a very realible car, you will experience problems, it's a huge investment so consider warranty!
For the most expenses things you buy in life, a house and a car, you should protect your investment. For a DELL a 90-day warranty is cool; why spent $300 for a $400 computer, if it breaks, just buy a new one.
Just my 2 cents.
Tee_Tz.
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Richmond, B.C
2007 C280 Avantgarde
meh, it really depends on your luck. I have friends with 320s, 240s without any problems even after their warranty. However, my C240 had a lot problems before and after the warranty expiration.
It's really just... luck, and how you treat your car. If you drive up the mountain insisting on using the 5th gear, you might break something, or if you insist on going 50 in gear 2, then you might break something as well. It really depends on luck, and how you treat it.
It's really just... luck, and how you treat your car. If you drive up the mountain insisting on using the 5th gear, you might break something, or if you insist on going 50 in gear 2, then you might break something as well. It really depends on luck, and how you treat it.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
These cars, esp. the early ones (the first few years) have lots of quality control problems (see the thread stuck above on how to fix the many squeaks and rattles they develop) and use a lot of substandard parts.
It's a big risk to own it out of warranty.
I bought an extended warranty right before my factory warranty expired, and it fully paid for itself within the first 6 months.
It's a big risk to own it out of warranty.
I bought an extended warranty right before my factory warranty expired, and it fully paid for itself within the first 6 months.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,211
Likes: 2
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
It all depends on you. Personally I don't think it even comes close to worth it. First off, the assumption is MB dealers are honest and will do everything they can for you under your extended warranty. This is not a good assumption. They get paid very little, both in rate and billable hours compared to non-warranty repairs so they do the minimum required to get it back to you. If it's an intermittent problem, they just give it back to you without looking at it and put down couldn't reproduce in the paperwork. On the otherhand, without a warranty, some dealers have been known to do uneccessary repairs for the sake of revenue. Also a 1 hour job is charged 3-4 hours which they can't get away with under warranty.
If you are going to keep your Benz after the expiration date (40k/5yr), then either learn to fix it yourself and/or find a good reputable and honest independant. Don't look at what he charges hourly, that's just a bogus number. It's more important that he's honest. For example, my dealer charges about $800 if you need a MAF sensor, my independant charges under $400 yet the hourly rates are about the same. My dealer wanted $3,455 to fix an oil leak my independant charged $60 to fix.
If you are going to keep your Benz after the expiration date (40k/5yr), then either learn to fix it yourself and/or find a good reputable and honest independant. Don't look at what he charges hourly, that's just a bogus number. It's more important that he's honest. For example, my dealer charges about $800 if you need a MAF sensor, my independant charges under $400 yet the hourly rates are about the same. My dealer wanted $3,455 to fix an oil leak my independant charged $60 to fix.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,020
Likes: 0
From: SoCal, Irvine
Stage 2 C7 A6, QX60
I don't think mainteance between Audi and Mercedoes will be that different in price, however I would recommand you get a warranty
I think warranty is definitely worth the money
I think warranty is definitely worth the money
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
It all depends on you. Personally I don't think it even comes close to worth it. First off, the assumption is MB dealers are honest and will do everything they can for you under your extended warranty. This is not a good assumption. They get paid very little, both in rate and billable hours compared to non-warranty repairs so they do the minimum required to get it back to you. If it's an intermittent problem, they just give it back to you without looking at it and put down couldn't reproduce in the paperwork. On the otherhand, without a warranty, some dealers have been known to do uneccessary repairs for the sake of revenue. Also a 1 hour job is charged 3-4 hours which they can't get away with under warranty.
If you are going to keep your Benz after the expiration date (40k/5yr), then either learn to fix it yourself and/or find a good reputable and honest independant. Don't look at what he charges hourly, that's just a bogus number. It's more important that he's honest. For example, my dealer charges about $800 if you need a MAF sensor, my independant charges under $400 yet the hourly rates are about the same. My dealer wanted $3,455 to fix an oil leak my independant charged $60 to fix.
If you are going to keep your Benz after the expiration date (40k/5yr), then either learn to fix it yourself and/or find a good reputable and honest independant. Don't look at what he charges hourly, that's just a bogus number. It's more important that he's honest. For example, my dealer charges about $800 if you need a MAF sensor, my independant charges under $400 yet the hourly rates are about the same. My dealer wanted $3,455 to fix an oil leak my independant charged $60 to fix.
Work done under the extended warranty does not have to be done at the dealer.
Like all insurance, it is nothing more than legalized gambling. At the end of the extended warranty, either the owner or the extended warranty company is going to have ended out coming on top. With these relatively unreliable cars, and with the cost of modern parts, over 3 or 4 years, it won't take much for the owner to come out on top. But there's no guarantee of that. You could be one of the lucky ones and have no repairs from years 5 though 8.
I think you'd have to be very, very lucky to not have $1400 (the cost of my 4 year extended warranty) in years 4 through 8.
