If you think you are going to keep your cars past 50,000 miles, it is really in your best interest to get the extended warranty. When you look at the prices of components, then add the diagnosis and labor costs, it can be staggering.

I remember when one button on my 91 350SD air-conditioning stopped working and it was $600 plus, plus labor. Everything today is a component. They make them part of a group of parts because it is cheaper initially. When something breaks, you have to buy the component.

The only way to really enjoy your car and to be cost effective is to keep it for a long time.

So buy the car you want, with every option you want, cover it with an extended warranty and enjoy.

IMOH. Jimbo

 

absolutely . . . if you intend to keep the car get extended warranty when the time comes. In my case the button for the power roof came off - just a cosmetic device looks like it might cost 50 cents, can still use the power roof just doesn't look as nice. I could easily have fixed it with crazy glue. The dealer replaced the entire roof module - said that you can't get just the plastic button replaced. Lucky they agreed to do it under warranty - $800.00. Interestingly enough the first dealer said it wasn't covered by warranty. Second dealer (corporately owned by Mercedes Canada) agreed to replace under warranty. Also replaced my transmission and radiator and fixed the 'Car too low' problem !!!.

 

I agree. I wouldn't on a lexus but definitely on a benz. It makes repairs more predictable and less stressful. I am sure that the cost of the warranty will pay for itself...

 

Agreed 100%!!! On a Benz, buy the warranty. You will be glad you did. My Transmission Control Module failed at 24,000 miles (1 month out-of-warranty) and the new box was $3000 with the car at the dealer's for a few weeks waiting for the parts from Germany. The Extended Warranty paid for the full repair so it was well worth the cost. If you plan on keeping the car....buy the warranty. I also agree with your point on the Lexus...I now drive a LS430 and don't think the warranty is needed. I have had NO issues with this car at all. As a sidenote, the Extended Warranty on the Lexus is much cheaper than the same warranty on the Benz.

 

Not an extended warranty fan, but then again, I don't like to keep a car past it's factory warranty expiration.

 

what kind of prices are people paying for the extended coverage?

 

I paid $1,340 for one year of additional coverage up to 100k on my 2004 320 from someone recommended on this forum: lisa lehrbaum lisamariechico@yahoo.com

 

In 2001 my MB Factory Extended Warranty (bumper-to-bumper) cost $2550 for an additional 4 years, 100,000 miles. When I checked in 2005, the dealership wanted in excess of $3500 for an additional 3 years and 100,000 miles and the warranty was not nearly as good. When I sold my E-Class after a transmission failure at 24,000 miles and one month after expiration of the original warranty, I cashed in the remainder of my extended warranty and got $2350 back. I don't think you can cash in the newer warranties.

 

Every extended warranty I've looked at you can cash in the unused portion, should you trade in the car. If you sell the car privately, the extended warranty normally stays with the car (but as always, people should check their paperwork as rules and laws vary).

$2,550 for an additional 4 years of coverage (assuming you drive under 12k per year) is not that bad of a deal. Comes down to 637 per year, or about 53 per month. The previous poster who posted over $1,300 for one year is a bit pricey IMO.

 

I might add that every dealer seems to offer a little different package. Some you can cash in, some you cannot. Some are pushing aftermarket warranties from non-MB companies. Some dealers will negotiate the price of the extended warranties, some will not budge off the MSRP. When I purchased my warranty in 2001 it was called a Starmark Warranty....when I checked in 2005, they were no longer being offered, and the benefits were significantly less on the newer warranty. This has been my experience in talking with several dealers in the DFW area. Everyone is offering a different package, and the prices vary greatly.

 

I recently bought a 1998 E320 Wagon with 55k miles on it. I also bought a 3-yr/100k miles care package from First Automotive. Does anyone here have experience with them? They don't have a website (not sure if its common for an aftermarket provider to have a site). Thanks.

 

One thing to note: State law mandates whether or not an extended warranty company is required to give you a refund if you trade in your car early. In California for example: Even if the warranty is "backed" by the manufacture (as Starmark warranties are), they are still not a "true" extension of the factory warranty and are still limited to coverage or non-coverage of certain listed items, and may be subject to a deductible. A (extended) warranty backed by the manufacture does not mean it is better than other after market warranties, so it's best to do your homework and to shop around.

 

I agree with the title of this thread. I have a 2003 E320 with an extended warranty for three extra years beyond the new car warranty. Let me give you a current example on another Mercedes I have.

Today, I took my 7 1/2 year old SLK230 in for some work. It has an extened warranty from MBUSA that I bought when the car was less than a year old (this is still a requirement for the Mercedes warranty). At that time, you could get four more years added to the warranty.

Today they replaced the heater/ac blower motor, the blower motor control, the ignition switch, the microswitches in the folding top and a few other minor things. Cost $0. The tail lights will be replaced as soon MB gets new ones manufactured. I am sure today's work cost much more than I paid for the warranty. Before today, I had a MAF replaced and I am sure that was several hundred dollars as well.

True, the MB warranty does not cover everything. For instance, it would not cover the dimming outside mirror. It also does not cover the radio, any other "electronics" or "trim" items but it covers a lot and there is no deductible. One of the main advantages of the Mercedes warranty is that it is in the MBUSA computer (can be viewed by any Mercedes dealer) and if things are covered, you see no bill, no filing of claims, nothing and they use genuine Mercedes parts to fix the car. After it is fixed, you just pick up your car and leave the dealership.

I have owned about 15 Mercedes over 40 years and as much as I like Mercedes, they are not trouble free now and never have been. However, the only time I was really stranded was in 1969 with a new 1969 230 sedan that had a bad clutch at about 1200 miles. Even my first Mercedes, a 66 230SL that I bought new (still have it), had a new engine at about 1 year old. Then and now, for me, Mercedes has always stood behind their product.

One last thing. If you sell a Mercedes with the MBUSA extended warranty to an individual, the warranty can transferred to the new owner. If a dealer is involved, Mercedes or otherwise, the warranty goes away.

 

Rev unfortunately this is only the case in CA. Most other states you lose your money if you trade in the car. Also the policies changed in 2001.

 

I would really want a warranty on a W211 to specifically cover electronics because I guarantee you that you'll wish that it did otherwise.

I would only pay for an extended warranty on two things - real travelling laptop computers that take a beating and early W211s.