Benz-O-Rama

So my warranty expires in about 200 miles or so and I've been debating with myself about buying an after market warranty or not. From my research, it looks like about 3500-4000.00 to purchase a 100K mile true bumper to bumper warranty, depending on who you go with. Since the car already has 50K on it, I'm really looking at a 50K mile warranty. Since I drive 20K miles a year, it now turns into a 2.5 year/50K mile warranty for 3500-4000.00

My question is this:

You guys think it's better to take that 4 grand, and stick it away somewhere and just pay for repairs out of that? Or just bite the bullet and buy the warranty?

Who here has put a significant amount of miles on thier W211 past the 4/50K factory warranty?

I should state that my car has seen it's share of shop visits but not for anything major. My MB dealer is right next door to my job and I've been super picky since owning the car. Hence the many visits. No doubt, the shop visits would be much less if it wasn't so convenient for me to just stop in and drop my car off.

Anyway, opinions please.

jbec.keane

I have a 2003 E320 with 145,000 miles on it. Near the end of the original 50,000 warranty, I purchased a one year extended warranty that was good until the car had 100,000 miles on it or was 5 years old. Since I was putting more than 30,000 miles a year, the one-year extended warranty was the right fit.

I paid about $1,700 for the warranty from my local MB dealer. I bargained the price down and got about a 15% discount.

The warranty may have paid for itself (or not). The extended warranty covered replacing the ball-joints and the motor mounts. I probably broke even.

JK

Flash Gordon

It's a tough call. It really depends on how lucky you are. If any of the air suspension related parts go wrong, it would cost you dearly. I think the engine and the tranny should hold out OK, these are proven parts. 4K into 2.5 years is $1600/year. Unfortunately, based on the realiability record of 03 and 04, 2.5 years is a long time for you, especially you are doing 20K a year, that's a lot of miles. But if you think of it as an insurance, then perhaps it may justify the 4 grand. On the other hand, how much can you expect to pay for repairs for the next 2.5 years, 2K, 4K, 6K? My suggestion is to maintain it well and gamble on that luck is on your side.

konigstiger

Two years more is all you need to sweat out then you’ll be ready for the w212! On the other hand, many third party warranty companies allow for prorating the unused portion is refunded.

Benz-O-Rama

Check this crap out!

On my home from work today I laid my arm on the center console, as I always do when I drive, and found that it was burning hot! I then noticed that the rear vents were blowing scorching hot air as well as the center console pass through venting! I immediately looked at my odometer and it read '49,864'. I called my S.A. from the car but had to leave him a message.

Looks like my heat exchanger finally went bad, and just in the nick of time too. This might be a good sign? WHEW!


**Edit**

Oddly enough, I just went to the garage to move my car and the climate control system seems like it's back to normal. Friggin Germans!

hecdog

Put the $4k into Apple Stock and assume the risk of repairs. $4k buys a lot of repairs, and I know of a few good things coming from Apple in the near future, and I don't mean the iPhone...

Randy B

Within twelve months of selling I had the following repairs out of pocket:

Both Front ball joints and thrust arms with liquid bushings=$919.00

Charcoal cannister purge leak=$785.00

Fuel Reservoir purge leak=$792.00

Right front air strut failure=$712.00

Fuel Tank 'O' Rings failed and caused purge leak=$278.00***
***Dealer insisted on replacing the fuel tank to solve problems, and would not guarantee the 'O' ring replacement would work. Estimate for this repair was $1482.00

The car was coming up on needing a set of tires, and I threw the towel in.

I should note that MB says the charcoal can has to be replaced somewhere around 60K or 70K?

And let's face it the strut was not meant to last forever either, it is a wear item.

And so are the ball joints and thrust arms. My car just seemed to need them all within twelve months of each other.

So basically I would have been coming up on the break even point of a $4K warranty pretty soon.

My $.02 worth.

Randy B

BudC

How about a smaller Mac Pro? New displays?

JDM_SXE-10

My SBC pump went out recently and I had to pay $1800 for a new one plus $450 for the labor out of pocket. Needless to say, I wasn't happy about that.

BudC

I thought they extended the warranty on the SBC controller to 10 years. If they did, you shouldn't have to pay for it.

Also, the pump should have been inspected in an earlier recall.

ProV1

i'd not spend $4k. bank it, invest it, and consider it a downpayment towards a new W212. and keep your current car and bam as soon as the first big $$$ repair hits you, get rid of that sucka and buy a new one.

JDM_SXE-10

I actually had the dealer run my VIN and they said it wasn't covered. They did some of the other recall work already.

ProV1

btw, MB needs to step up and match/crush all other manufacturer's warranties. at least do 5yr/50k full warranty, 10 yr powertrain and 10 yr rust! even a f##King hyundai comes w/ those warranties! don't just say the quality is improving, back it up w/ a better warranty

BudC

See Konigstiger's post below.

Originally Posted by konigstiger
Netstar message “Extended Limited Warranty on SBC Hydraulic Units” dated 5/5/06 now provides coverage for 10 years / unlimited mileage. Recall campaigns 2005110001 & 2005070007 have both been revised accordingly.
A letter will be sent to owners of 2003-2006 211; 2006 219; and ALL 230 vehicles informing them of the new extended warranty.

hecdog

OT: my lips are sealed.

BudC

mbuskuhl

Lot's of against, I'm for. I've never bought an extended warranty in my life until 2 months ago. My MB went out of warranty in April 07, had about 33k on the clock. I got a 3yr/80k bumper to bumper for $3500 from the dealer. I didn't even have to write the check, they offered 0% 12 month ACH withdrawal. I won't get to the 80k miles or may not keep the car more than another 2 years, however the warranty will be good for resale value and peace of mind. I don't have to "worry" about any problems happening and I can continue to drive the car rather than baby it.

Check back on this post in the future, my bet is you will have at least $3500 in repairs over the next 50k miles. Let's get real, these aren't cheap to fix and we want them to run right.

NCE500

Tough call, but I think your last post sort of answers your question. If you had to pay for the heat exchanger, it would probably repay for a notable % of a warranty.

If I were in your shoes, I would either get a warranty for as long as you will own it/miles you will drive it, or would trade it for a new one....you can probably get a very good deal on an 07 with the multiple dealers in the DC market.

Barry45RPM

My best guestimate would be that your repairs would be $1200-2500 per year.

(Its amazing how much LESS picky & finicky owners will be after the warranty runs out! LOL)

ATS

I would buy it..

glojo

Dear oh dear
ALL European Mercedes-Benz come with free MobiloLife

John

WEBSRFR

Are things like leaks and ball joints covered under the MB extended warranty?

TECHNICIAN

I had an 03 211 the other week with 178000 miles on it.

jbec.keane

Wow! I thought mine with 145,000 was a lot.

barrafp

I would also like some advise on warranties. I have an 2006 E350 (purchased Aug. 2006) and I was sent a letter from MB stating that my warranty is almost up and was suggesting I buy an extended warranty. I haven't had any problems yet with my car and I have 10,000 miles on it now. Any thought on buying the extended warranty on my car? I don't really want to spend that much money on a warranty. My first scheduled maintenance is also coming up in a few thousand miles by the way.