blowing off Steam
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 27
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From: Florida USA
2013 E350
blowing off Steam
My 2013 E350 had less than 25000 miles, and I owed it for three plus years. Took it for its annual maintenance check, and the service adviser advised that I needed an alignment on the rear right wheel, and the tire on that wheel needed to be replaced. Cost, about 600 dollars, give or take a few dollars. Any help from the dealership, no. Covered under normal or extended warranty, no. Took the car to Carmax and sold it, not because of the 600 dollar price, but I have a car that I barely drive with less than 25000 miles, no claims against the warranty, etc. At minimum I should have gotten the wheel alignment done for free. I already have prepaid maintenance, a year remaining on my regular warranty, and a three year extended warranty that I have not used. I just saw the future and did not want to deal with it. Maybe the service advisor could have looked at the car's record and said, let me see what my supervisor can do for you, instead of we have coupons coming up next month. Nice cars, but for the money, I just don't know.
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From: Down Unda
W204 C63 AMG, W212 E250 CGI, C207 E250 CGI
as much as i understand your frustrations. 1 descent tyre shouldnt cost you more than $300. alignment, less than $100 for 4 wheels. point is, there are places other than dealerships. and tyres are normal wear and tear so not sure why youre shooting for warranty on that.
you said it yourself, you never had to use your warranty from new meaning it has given you worry free driving for the last 3 yrs, dont matter if you dont drive it that much, still been reliable i reckon.
imo, its a very shallow reason to get frustrated, more so sell the car. but its your car, your money. its like saying "i ran out of gas and dealership wont fill it up so i have to sell it". again, sorry you had that experience with your dealership.
you said it yourself, you never had to use your warranty from new meaning it has given you worry free driving for the last 3 yrs, dont matter if you dont drive it that much, still been reliable i reckon.
imo, its a very shallow reason to get frustrated, more so sell the car. but its your car, your money. its like saying "i ran out of gas and dealership wont fill it up so i have to sell it". again, sorry you had that experience with your dealership.
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Joined: Feb 2014
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
I don't know what you really expected. They did nothing wrong. Your expectations were out of line. I don't know any car company that covers tires. Alignments are one of those things where any pothole can knock it out of alignment. Tires are never covered under any extended warranty or pre-paid maintenance. I think you should have read the exclusions instead of trying to read the future. This is SOP for any car manufacturer. You just had unrealistic expectations. Last time I had a flat tire, it was a screw near the rib of the tire, couldn't be patched nothing to do but pay $220 for a new tire mounted and balanced. I just get my alignments at Goodyear, they sell a 3 year warranty for $169, there's other companies like Firestone, NTB that also do the same.
Also when you buy the car, you can also buy a wheel protection package that typically covers flat tires and damaged rims. If you didn't buy that, you had no right to feel that the dealer would cover your problem. They're there to make money not give away free service just because you're "loyal".
Also when you buy the car, you can also buy a wheel protection package that typically covers flat tires and damaged rims. If you didn't buy that, you had no right to feel that the dealer would cover your problem. They're there to make money not give away free service just because you're "loyal".
Last edited by cetialpha5; Sep 28, 2016 at 09:09 PM.
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From: Northwest Illinois
2014 E350 also restored: 1969 Camaro convertible SS 1957 Chevy Belair 2dr hardtop
There has to be something else that would cause you to sell the car. Something is missing. Think about it, you get rid of are car after 3 years worth of use and 25,000 miles and you get rid of it because of a tire and alignment when you already paid for a maintenance program and extended warranty. Just does not make sense something is missing??? At 25,000 you are almost due for 4 new tires, The batteries are almost through and should be replaced and you probably need to have it polished. All of this is normal maintenance as with any car. Oh well good luck with what ever you buy
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Maryland
2013 E550 4Matic
Maybe you should get a Tesla... granted, it does require tires, but everything else is just a software update. You can probably fit wooden wheels on it so that you don't even need tires, and the narrow wheels should help with aerodynamics to get even more range out of it. And if they start doing the battery changing "fuel up" stations, you won't even need to buy new batteries for it since you'll always get a freshly charged one whenever it gets low.
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Joined: Mar 2014
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From: West Central Florida
2011 E550 P2 4M Sedan
If you don't need a car, then I understand selling it. Hopefully you didn't get ripped off by carmax. But I don't get how a bad tire and/or alignment or what is perceived as lack of service at the dealer prompted the sale. I've never had a dealer step up on a tire issue unless it was within the first year. No way after 3 years.
OP, I think you can get a refund on your extended warranty since it never kicked in. Check with your dealer.
OP, I think you can get a refund on your extended warranty since it never kicked in. Check with your dealer.
Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 236
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From: SoCal
W212
Maybe you should get a Tesla... granted, it does require tires, but everything else is just a software update. You can probably fit wooden wheels on it so that you don't even need tires, and the narrow wheels should help with aerodynamics to get even more range out of it. And if they start doing the battery changing "fuel up" stations, you won't even need to buy new batteries for it since you'll always get a freshly charged one whenever it gets low.
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From: Sacramento , CA
2010 e550 p2
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From: Northwest Illinois
2014 E350 also restored: 1969 Camaro convertible SS 1957 Chevy Belair 2dr hardtop
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 27
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From: Florida USA
2013 E350
I do not regret selling it. And I understand wear and tear. I had an SL 500 and did not think much about Mercedes Benz maintenance before giving them another chance with the E350. I had BMWs and Lexus, and those guys are great. At one time one of my BMW front end bushing was torn, the service advisor inform me about it, and said do not worry about it, we will take care of it. And that was a 5 year old BMW. A car three years old with less then 25 thousand miles, needs one alignment in the rear passenger side wheel, and the tire replace. I could understand a front wheel alignment. But anyway it is history now. I got my debt of 14000 dollars cleared, in addition to a check for 10K. I am happy. By the way, my other three tires quote from the dealer "perfect, lots of life, does not need to be replace. Just that one tire".
Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 236
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From: SoCal
W212
I do not regret selling it. And I understand wear and tear. I had an SL 500 and did not think much about Mercedes Benz maintenance before giving them another chance with the E350. I had BMWs and Lexus, and those guys are great. At one time one of my BMW front end bushing was torn, the service advisor inform me about it, and said do not worry about it, we will take care of it. And that was a 5 year old BMW. A car three years old with less then 25 thousand miles, needs one alignment in the rear passenger side wheel, and the tire replace. I could understand a front wheel alignment. But anyway it is history now. I got my debt of 14000 dollars cleared, in addition to a check for 10K. I am happy. By the way, my other three tires quote from the dealer "perfect, lots of life, does not need to be replace. Just that one tire".
Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 206
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From: Southern
2014 E-350
Glad you're happy with your decision to sell. I'd agree with others, tires and alignment are rarely dealer/factory provided unless it is within the first year or 10K miles. Too many bad drivers out there (not you) who jump curbs, hit every pothole, and take their corners so fast they tear tires apart.
However, $600 does sound high. I recently put new Continental ContiProContacts, staggered, for less than $300/tire with full road hazard, mounted and balanced. Alignments are typically $89.99-$159.99 depending on the shop and their level of sophistication.
Let us know what you end up buying!
However, $600 does sound high. I recently put new Continental ContiProContacts, staggered, for less than $300/tire with full road hazard, mounted and balanced. Alignments are typically $89.99-$159.99 depending on the shop and their level of sophistication.
Let us know what you end up buying!
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Joined: Oct 2015
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2019 E300
I do not regret selling it. And I understand wear and tear. I had an SL 500 and did not think much about Mercedes Benz maintenance before giving them another chance with the E350. I had BMWs and Lexus, and those guys are great. At one time one of my BMW front end bushing was torn, the service advisor inform me about it, and said do not worry about it, we will take care of it. And that was a 5 year old BMW.
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E 350
As "dnldpr" suggested this was not the only issue. People don't generally sell cars for a tire alignment. That would be stupid. There has to be something else which prompted the OP to sell the car. And it appears that he wasn't happy about the general level of service from that particular dealer. He preferred service from Lexus/ BMW and you can't blame him for that.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2015
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2019 E300
As "dnldpr" suggested this was not the only issue. People don't generally sell cars for a tire alignment. That would be stupid. There has to be something else which prompted the OP to sell the car. And it appears that he wasn't happy about the general level of service from that particular dealer. He preferred service from Lexus/ BMW and you can't blame him for that.
Do you agree that the OP's expectation is unreasonable? Free wheel alignment and tire after 3 years of ownership?
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From: on my way
2012 CLS63
there are too many OTHER places to go these days for alignment and tires......IMO going to a dealer: any dealer is setting yourself up to be disappointed.......that's just my experience with dealers in my area......
