Insurance claim service at dealership vs third party shop

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Feb 15, 2018 | 06:01 PM

jakc

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Joined: Aug 2012

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From: New Jersey

2016 C300

Insurance claim service at dealership vs third party shop

So my C300's engine is in need of replacing after being hydrolocked. The insurance company is asking if I want it replaced at the Mercedes service dealership or another service provider. Are there any pros or cons with either one? If I go with a third-party service and it's cheaper, would it potentially not increase my insurance premium as much?

Feb 15, 2018 | 06:16 PM

Mikey53

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From: Oklahoma

2016 C300 4Matic traded in for a 2022 E450 Coupe

Has the 3rd party shop ever replaced a C300 engine? If not, I would stick to the dealer. In fact, I would use the dealer no matter what for long term peace of mind.

Feb 15, 2018 | 07:34 PM

jakc

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Joined: Aug 2012

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From: New Jersey

2016 C300

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey53

Has the 3rd party shop ever replaced a C300 engine? If not, I would stick to the dealer. In fact, I would use the dealer no matter what for long term peace of mind.

Would your decision change if the car was a lease that's to be returned this August anyway?

Feb 15, 2018 | 08:01 PM

Elbandito

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Joined: Dec 2017

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2015 c300

If insurance is paying for it, I'd go with the MB dealership. Why deal with the uncertainty in having a random repair shop doing a fix that could potentially (and most likely) void the warranty?

Feb 17, 2018 | 01:58 AM

fabbrisd1

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A gaggle of MB's

Let me put it to you this way - if there is a independent shop capable of replacing a C300 engine - that would be a new one on me...

Feb 17, 2018 | 08:11 AM

Mikey53

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Joined: Nov 2015

Posts: 1,193

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From: Oklahoma

2016 C300 4Matic traded in for a 2022 E450 Coupe

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakc

Would your decision change if the car was a lease that's to be returned this August anyway?

maybe, but I don’t lease so I can only guess

Feb 17, 2018 | 02:22 PM

Racin_fool

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Joined: Feb 2007

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From: Dallas, TX

2008 E63 wagon (1 of 62)

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabbrisd1

Let me put it to you this way - if there is a independent shop capable of replacing a C300 engine - that would be a new one on me...

Seriously? You think it's that hard to find someone with a shop that actually follows MB service and repair procedures? After 14 years in the dealership world, replacing an engine would be an easy repair. You want to talk about a difficult repair, Rebuild a v12 engine that caught fire and the insurance wants to replace everything that is burnt or melted together and you have to make sure all the vacuum lines and hoses are correctly connected after it's done. Or how about putting together a vehicle from another shop where they tore the car apart for diagnosis and then decided to give the customer the middle finger with his car in many boxes to reassemble elsewhere.

All you have to do is ask around. Talk to the owners or techs at a local shop and make your own determination of their integrity and honesty. Stop using everyone else's opinion, because opinions like this are not true in all cases.