cmaustin

It’s been a while since I’ve been here and it’s good to be back. I’m facing a situation I was hoping someone could help with. I bought a 2003 E500 and February 07 my factory warranty expires. I’ve had LOTS of maintenance issues but generally like the car. In fact, I’ve had so many issues that MB gave me a free one year warranty extension. That would extent my warranty to February 08 with slightly lesser coverage.

I would like to extend my warranty for another 3 years and I’m ok with a third party warranty company but prefer the minimal hassle if the dealership would file the claims. They said if I buy the warrant from them this is how it would work.

The problem is they will only sell me a warranty that starts immediately and overlaps my free one year extension. So if I buy a three year warranty I’m only really getting two more years at the end but paying for three!

I have to buy before February since it gets a lot more expensive if you buy a warranty outside the original factory warranty that ends this February.

Can someone provide advice on what to do?

slk55lvr

Buy a 4-6 year / 100,000 mile warranty from warranty direct. That way you'll still be getting the additional 3 years, and they don't cost much more than a 3 year warranty. They seem to be the best 3rd party warranty co (according to my SA).

SEC1939

I purchased an aftermarket extended from Warranty Gold a couple of years ago only to learn 6 months later they filed for Bankruptsy makeing it worthless, good bye $2500

sosh

This is a typical ploy plus others of aftermarket warranty companies. You must be careful of whose you buy. The one that went bankrupt most likely started up again with a different name. I for one do not believe in extended warranties as they are profit centers and the odds are always in their favor. Why not just pay for any repairs yourself.

paulv

When I bought my 03 E320 the financial guy was trying to sell me an extended warranty, so I told him "that since he was pushing this warranty, then that tells me that the car has a very high probablity of a major failure after the factory warranry runs out, so I should forget about buying an MB and look for something more reliable." he didn't say anything else after that comment.

Regards,
paul...

rodE350

I myself is in a dilemma if I have to get the extended warranty now, later or not at all. I figure I will probably trade in my E350 to a E550 on or before the 4th year.

SEC1939

This is exactly what happened to me the co went bankrupt & then started up again. Of coarse a class action suite filed. Just a waist of money.. one said it right, self insure put $2500 in a savings account and pay as you go.

TPAbnz

After some amount of research, I purchased a WarrantyDirect contract for my wife's car. I checked with two MB service managers who said (of course) that the MB warranty was the best, but that of third parties, WD was fine to deal with and both service departments never had a problem with them paying, approving repairs, etc. The warranty covered NAV and even the cell phone. It was about 25% less than the MB warranty.

WD has been around for a while.

cmaustin

Oh boy, hearing all of this maybe I'll listen to SOSH and pay for the repairs myself. I just dread the "your dash controler needs replacement" call with a price of $5000 or something.