Pripaid Maintenance Package Pro and Cons
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 130
Likes: 2
From: Ottawa, Canada
MY16 C300
Pripaid Maintenance Package Pro and Cons
Hi All
It's time for me to think about whether I should buy the MB Canada maintenance package. Based on 2015 prices the 36 month package is $949. I was told that individual A maint is $350 and B is $550. So the package (A,B,A) is about 24% less than the individual prices. Sounds good on the surface.
Questions:
1. Do individual service prices ever get discounted (my annual requirement will be in late August to early October), which would mitigate the motivation to buy the prepaid package.
2. There are a few MB specialists here in town that do the maintenance for 35-50% less than Mercedes regular prices... which would make their prices less than MB's prepaid package. They come highly recommended. At least one I know is run by a former MB technician. If they use MB certified parts, is there a downside to using one of these?
3. I'm still deciding on the Extended Warranty. I wasn't planning to buy it right away though. But one line in the Extended Limited Warranty brochure concerns me. "The Extended Limited Warranty can be purchased at any time during the new vehicle basic warranty period as long as the current owner purchased the vehicle from, and regularly maintained it at an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Would using a non-dealer specialist jeopardize my ability to buy the extended warranty later? Is that real?
So, do most of you buy the extended maintenance package? Anything else I should consider?
I'm sure this has been discussed somewhere else in the forum, so please point me if you can find it (I couldn't).
Thanks
It's time for me to think about whether I should buy the MB Canada maintenance package. Based on 2015 prices the 36 month package is $949. I was told that individual A maint is $350 and B is $550. So the package (A,B,A) is about 24% less than the individual prices. Sounds good on the surface.
Questions:
1. Do individual service prices ever get discounted (my annual requirement will be in late August to early October), which would mitigate the motivation to buy the prepaid package.
2. There are a few MB specialists here in town that do the maintenance for 35-50% less than Mercedes regular prices... which would make their prices less than MB's prepaid package. They come highly recommended. At least one I know is run by a former MB technician. If they use MB certified parts, is there a downside to using one of these?
3. I'm still deciding on the Extended Warranty. I wasn't planning to buy it right away though. But one line in the Extended Limited Warranty brochure concerns me. "The Extended Limited Warranty can be purchased at any time during the new vehicle basic warranty period as long as the current owner purchased the vehicle from, and regularly maintained it at an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Would using a non-dealer specialist jeopardize my ability to buy the extended warranty later? Is that real?
So, do most of you buy the extended maintenance package? Anything else I should consider?
I'm sure this has been discussed somewhere else in the forum, so please point me if you can find it (I couldn't).
Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 333
From: Tampa, FL
2019 E450 4Matic & 2018 E400 4Matic
I purchase the pre-paid maintenance plan. It guarantees the service for the duration of the service years you paid for, regardless of whether there is a price increase along the way.
And yes, if you have your car serviced somewhere other than Mercedes could indeed jeopardize your ability to purchase the extended warranty FROM Mercedes. There are many non-dealer after market extended warranty plans, but I wouldn't buy one.
And yes, if you have your car serviced somewhere other than Mercedes could indeed jeopardize your ability to purchase the extended warranty FROM Mercedes. There are many non-dealer after market extended warranty plans, but I wouldn't buy one.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 114
From: Mass
2026 GLE 53 Coupe
Since I don't plan on keeping my 2015 W205 for more than 4 years, I did not purchase an extended warranty. I did though buy a 3 year wheel/tire insurance plan ($998) since I have the 19" wheels. Those AMG wheels are like $700 each...and the run-flat tires are over $300 a piece! Replacement of just one wheel/tire combo would negate the entire cost of the insurance plan.
I also purchased the pre-paid maintenance plan as well to save money over paying full price at time of service, but I ended up purchasing a 2 year contract (A & B) for only $750 figuring to perform an "A" service oil change myself at 30,000 miles to save even more money.
One other thing to consider...I'm a big fan of some sort of "Clear Bra" for the front end. Even after a couple years through New England Winters, the paint on the front end of my past cars that had this protection still looked like new. I paid less than $700 for my "Top of the Line" self-sealing paint protection on the nose / front of hood / outside mirrors / top of rear bumper...which was installed at the dealership.
I also purchased the pre-paid maintenance plan as well to save money over paying full price at time of service, but I ended up purchasing a 2 year contract (A & B) for only $750 figuring to perform an "A" service oil change myself at 30,000 miles to save even more money.
One other thing to consider...I'm a big fan of some sort of "Clear Bra" for the front end. Even after a couple years through New England Winters, the paint on the front end of my past cars that had this protection still looked like new. I paid less than $700 for my "Top of the Line" self-sealing paint protection on the nose / front of hood / outside mirrors / top of rear bumper...which was installed at the dealership.
Last edited by MASSC450; Aug 20, 2015 at 01:48 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 130
Likes: 2
From: Ottawa, Canada
MY16 C300
Xpel Ultimate Paint Protection is in the cards. Probably bumper, full hood, partial fenders, mirrors and top of rear bumper. Probably done by an aftermarket provider within the first week of ownership if I can arrange it.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: Southern California
2015 C300
It sounds like it is much cheaper in U.S. We usually can get a discount on the pre-paid maintenance package. The deal is $15+tax. Which comes out to about $18.xx after tax added to your monthly payment. Even if you don't elect to go with the pre-paid maintenance. Service A is only about $16x.xx+ tax with coupon. This is true at least in Southern California, where I live.
Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 179
Likes: 2
From: BELGIUM
2015, W205, C 220 BlueTEC AMG Line
Knowing that you cannot guarantee the service price increase throughout the lifetime of your car, I imagine prepaid is probably cheaper on the long run.
I opted for a full service (everything) for the peace of mind (priceless).
I opted for a full service (everything) for the peace of mind (priceless).
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
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
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 393
Likes: 25
From: S. Ca.
2015 C300, 2015 F-350 Platinum, 1969 Mach 1 428cj, 2007 Roadking
I took the extended warranty and am doing the services myself. As long as they're done to the schedule, you use approved parts and have the receipts they cannot deny warranty. The service A cost me app. 80 bucks to do myself. The A service says to change the ext. cabin filter. I pulled it and it's like new. Bet any money the dealer would not have tossed it and put in a new one. If they did they trashed a perfectly good part.
Last edited by mikbar2; Nov 6, 2015 at 03:33 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Central Oregon
2019 E450 4Matic Cabriolet, Dune Silver Metallic / Black Leather
