Warranty Repair Denied Due To Mods!!!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 277
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From: PA
CLS 55 AMG
Warranty Repair Denied Due To Mods!!!
Guys need some advice on how to proceed. My 01 clk 430 has been modded with full Lorinser body kit and H&r lowering springs with Bilstein Sport shocks. I take my car to local Mercedes dealership because my car has been burning a lot of oil lately. They diagnosed it with an engine leak and power steering pump cracked and leaking. My extended Warranty Co. is deny to pay for claim due to suspension mods. How in the hell is suspension mods related to engine and power steering leaks. I am waiting for a supervisor to call me back after getting no where with rep.
Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 183
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From: Boca Raton
01 430 CLK, 85 RR Silver Spur, 90 Bentley Turbo R, 93 FLSTN
Read the "fine print" in your insurance policy to find out if it mentions anything about mods.
If it doesn't I don't think they have a leg to stand on.
If it doesn't I don't think they have a leg to stand on.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 946
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From: Bay Area
03 C32 gone, 06 CLS55, 16 Tesla X
Sorry to hear this. It's always aproblem when you are dealing with insurance company. They never ask you why you pay for the warranty, but they will dig into such as small problem like if you ever change the nut on the wheels. Seriously, they will never want to pay for anything.
I'll will look for a experience tech or at least some official sources that can tell you that the leaking is not related to your mods. Then bring them to a small claim. They may say that since you moded it, you might have beaten it really bad, which caused the leaking, but even though, you still might have beaten it if it's stock and to claim this they have to prove that you have beaten it real bad which they can't.
Anyway, good luck!
I'll will look for a experience tech or at least some official sources that can tell you that the leaking is not related to your mods. Then bring them to a small claim. They may say that since you moded it, you might have beaten it really bad, which caused the leaking, but even though, you still might have beaten it if it's stock and to claim this they have to prove that you have beaten it real bad which they can't.
Anyway, good luck!
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2008
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CLK430 cabriolet 2000
Check the small print I'm sure you'll see "ANY modification" voids the warranty.
The mod doesn't necessarily have to be related to the specific claim - they can deny all claims where you voided the factory warranty in any area - just like a hi-fi box or computer - if you break the seal at the back then you break the warranty.
That's why I waited until my warranty expired before making any mods...
The mod doesn't necessarily have to be related to the specific claim - they can deny all claims where you voided the factory warranty in any area - just like a hi-fi box or computer - if you break the seal at the back then you break the warranty.
That's why I waited until my warranty expired before making any mods...
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 277
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From: PA
CLS 55 AMG
The mercedes service rep. even said that its very common for customers to lower there suspension and go to larger wheels and if the repair wasn't a suspension component it "would be covered".
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Joined: May 2005
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From: KCMO, but Houston is my home.
01 CLK 430
That is correct!!! Only if the item that is installed causes the factory component to fail will the warranty on that particular part be voided. It's the law, google Magnus Act or something like that to see what it says.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 277
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From: PA
CLS 55 AMG
After having a long talk with the head honcho at my extended warranty co. he agreed that it should only affect my suspension not my engine. so they are going to pay for the repairs!
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From: bay area, CA
'06 E350 Iridium Silver with pano
Good job on standing your ground!!! They cannot void something that isn't related. just curious...did you purchase the extended warranty at the dealership or one of those outside ones?
Thread Starter
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From: PA
CLS 55 AMG
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Insurance (any kind) is the greatest legal scam in America. They collect all your premiums and once a situation comes up, the first thing they do is look for ANYTHING to deny your claim. I wouldn't be surprised if this was their normal operating procedure. Indiscriminately deny any claim that comes in and wait to see if the customer gives up or not. If they don't, they pony up, as they should have in the first place.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 277
Likes: 1
From: PA
CLS 55 AMG
Insurance (any kind) is the greatest legal scam in America. They collect all your premiums and once a situation comes up, the first thing they do is look for ANYTHING to deny your claim. I wouldn't be surprised if this was their normal operating procedure. Indiscriminately deny any claim that comes in and wait to see if the customer gives up or not. If they don't, they pony up, as they should have in the first place.
