Additional Cost Questions
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 180
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From: Wausau, Wis.
'04 CL500 '08 ML320CDI
Additional Cost Questions
These may be dumb questions, but I have to ask: 1) does a Starmarked used Mercedes cost more - and how much - than one that isn't? 2) would a person expect to pay more for the same used Mercedes at a Mercedes dealer as opposed to a dealer that isn't a Mercedes dealer? (Buying from an individual isn't an option in my case.) Thanks!
Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 207
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From: Houston, TX
MY2004 E320
Yes a star-marked mercedes costsmore becuse:
1. It is warrantied typically until 100,000 miles
2. It has passed the rigorous checkup by stealer
3. It has to have low miles
IMHO, you can buy from any dealer if you like the car itself. If they are selling a warranty, and you feel its adequate financially then grab the vehicle. Starmark covers almost the whole vehicle, but major third-party warranties do that too.
Starmark is like the Lexus pre-owned, or ACURA pre-owned program where a mercedes dealer is selling their own brand pre-owned so they can offer a warranty that exceeds the typical 5/50 on MB vehicles.
1. It is warrantied typically until 100,000 miles
2. It has passed the rigorous checkup by stealer
3. It has to have low miles
IMHO, you can buy from any dealer if you like the car itself. If they are selling a warranty, and you feel its adequate financially then grab the vehicle. Starmark covers almost the whole vehicle, but major third-party warranties do that too.
Starmark is like the Lexus pre-owned, or ACURA pre-owned program where a mercedes dealer is selling their own brand pre-owned so they can offer a warranty that exceeds the typical 5/50 on MB vehicles.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 180
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From: Wausau, Wis.
'04 CL500 '08 ML320CDI
Same Car
Moby: sounds like we have the same car! Dark green '97 E420 - mine doesn't have the Xenons, but everything else [except sunroof] you could get on one then. I absolutely love the car, but I'm starting to see a lot of rust. I had been thinking of trading-off the V8 for 4Matic and moving to one in the '99-'00 range, but I just discovered a '00 E430 4Matic with low miles - hope I can swing that. Your answer confirmed what I had thought about Starmark, and I don't mind: when I picked mine up at the Audi/Saab/VW dealer the aftermarket extended warranty was humongously expensive [part of that is Wisconsin's laws concerning that type of insurance] so I didn't get it, so I think the extended Starmark is right for me, and fairly priced. Thanks. Pete
Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 207
Likes: 2
From: Houston, TX
MY2004 E320
Hi Pete, Sorry to hear about your rust problems. I guess youguys get a lot of snow because in Houston, Texas we seldom see rust. As a matter of fact, the only rust I have ever seen is on cars that come from North.
I am very happy with mine. I travel a lot to Louisiana, and my particular car has pneumatic heated seats. I love these features as I can adjust firmness of seat cussion, lower back and upper back. Mine has no rust on it being a Houston/Dallas local vehicle. I love the V8 too, make sure you are happy with the 6 before you get it because on preowned, the price difference is negligible and gas economy on these advanced engines is also comparable.
The third party insurance is also cheap her ein Houston. May I suggest that you visit Houston and purchase here to drive or ship back to WI. Check out park place mercedes and sugar land mercedes. They have websites and will negotiate 3-4K on web advertised vehicles.
Good Luck Hunting.
I am very happy with mine. I travel a lot to Louisiana, and my particular car has pneumatic heated seats. I love these features as I can adjust firmness of seat cussion, lower back and upper back. Mine has no rust on it being a Houston/Dallas local vehicle. I love the V8 too, make sure you are happy with the 6 before you get it because on preowned, the price difference is negligible and gas economy on these advanced engines is also comparable.
The third party insurance is also cheap her ein Houston. May I suggest that you visit Houston and purchase here to drive or ship back to WI. Check out park place mercedes and sugar land mercedes. They have websites and will negotiate 3-4K on web advertised vehicles.
Good Luck Hunting.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 180
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From: Wausau, Wis.
'04 CL500 '08 ML320CDI
Seats
Yeah, Moby, I really like the air [contour?] seats as well - I get real antsy sitting, and they work wonders! Needless to say, heated seats are a must in this climate, but I've found they can help the back as well during long drives. I found a V8 model comparably priced to the V6s, which kind of surprised me. And we do get a ton of salt on the roads up here, although I'm still surprised a Mercedes rusted this soon! I don't think I'll be on a buying trip to Texas - hell, Milwaukee, Chicago & Minneapolis are far enough - but thanks for the tip. I do believe, however, that Starmark has somewhat national rates for their coverage, and that is what I'll look into. Pete
