Originally Posted by RandyMarsh25

What is wrong with a 3rd party warranty? I thought this is common for used cars.

Originally Posted by W205C43PFL

OP, thank you for your question.

Not sure where you are from but if you are from the USA, ask for a copy of the VMI (vehicle master inquiry) as it details every single work that was done under warranty at an authorized dealership. If you are from somewhere else like Canada, they consider that information confidential, it is still possible to obtain one but you have to have connections I believe to obtain such information.

As others mentioned the E-Class is relatively reliable and also as mentioned by others, there are some cases of cracked piston for the M274 engine used in a certain model year range of GLC/C 300, E 300. Reasons unknown although it isn't guaranteed to happen.

You could consider (if you can stretch your budget) an 2017-2018 E 400, or even E 450 (starting 2019), or if you want, consider the 2019 E 350 with the M264 (no known issues of cracked piston, maybe MB fixed the issue?), the facelift E-Class 2020 E 350 has the same M264.

Since you mentioned you will be asking your mechanic to check the vehicle, while at it, make sure it is a full PPI (pre-purchase inspection).

Originally Posted by JTK44

Just my $.02:

Doing routine maintenance preserves the engine, oil and filter + spark plugs: the transmission, transmission service: and brakes, changing the brake fluid. The balance of the maintenance are filters.

Everything else that might break, from suspension, cooling, interior parts, electronics and everything else, doing routine maintenance will not prevent any of these parts from failing or breaking.

So you come down to this: is a Mercedes reliable enough so that an extended warranty does not make financial sense?

Everyone who has ever driven a car knows that eventually things break on a car and if driven long enough almost everything will have broken and will have been replaced.

From my experience electronics are either good or bad: they either break in the first six months or last forever.

The rest are mechanical parts whether they are window lifts or suspension or hoses. In today's modern cars those items tend to last 50,000 miles to 75,000 miles.

If you intend to keep your car beyond 75,000 miles, then an extended warranty might make financial sense. If less, probably not.

Last week I started a thread about experiences with extended warranties: To date there have been over 200 visits but only two responses: One was a problem at 61,000 miles with an AMG engine, the other the problem was not described but the poster said he intended to keep his car 100K miles.

This leads me to conclude that most are not buying an extended warranty and are happy with their decision.

Hopes this helps.

Originally Posted by BoMB

. However, trying to answer the question -- is a Mercedes reliable enough so that an extended warranty does not make financial sense -- is not a quantifiable, answerable question..

Originally Posted by BoMB

As far as "the electronics are either good or bad: they either break in the first six months or last forever." -- no disrespect, while that may be your personal experience, there is no scientific data or proof that will back that up. If it's your experience it's a small sampling. My experience is the opposite, and is also the same; meaningless..

Originally Posted by BoMB

While I agree with you -- if you intend to keep your car beyond 75,000 miles, then an extended warranty might make financial sense -- I can hear people opposing and arguing that all day long. You and I simply disagree with them. I absolutely accept that most people who don't buy the extended warranty are happy with their decision -- and they are probably has happy with their decision as I am with mine to buy it. LOL.

Originally Posted by JTK44

Actually it is quite quantifiable: You take the cost of the extended warranty, plus tax and use of money: that is a fixed amount. Then you take a broad sampling of owners and see what their cost beyond routine maintenance are: You compare the two and you have your answer.

Originally Posted by BoMB

First, that's not accurate. Second, it's a fallacious exercise. Third, you haven't quantified the real probability. A broad sampling doesn't do it. Risk management is a science. You are trying to exponentially oversimplifying. In risk management, there is a "point of diminishing return" on cost/premium dollars. At that point, you begin to self-insurance" and this is very quantifiable.

However, anyone can go through this exercise and make their decision if they so choose.

Originally Posted by JTK44

As I posted, I started a thread several weeks ago asking for owners with extended warranties whether it made financial sense or not. While there have been over 275 views, to date there have been only two replies - (just checked you were not one of the two). If people who bought the extended warranty thought it was a good buy they would have posted.

I think the fair conclusion is that the extended warranty has not been bought by most and their are quite satisfied with their decision.
see: https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ial-sense.html

Originally Posted by BoMB

Whether 2 or 200 answered, they are incidental and circumstantial. Not authoritative. Flip a coin 99 times and it comes up heads. Flip it one more time, the odds are still 50/50 on the 100th flip. The first 99 mean nothing. It's really a fallacious argument, except in hindsight. Personally, I wouldn't argue with anyone who makes either decision. All good points though -- thanks!

Originally Posted by JTK44

The most important question posed which you did not answer:

What did the extended warranty cost and have you used it? Or to date, has it been a waste of money?

Originally Posted by BoMB

I bought the MB warranty -- NOT a third party -- and I think I paid about $2000 (for the three years, to adjunct what was left on the original and the CPO). I obviously haven't had to use it as I still have the original and the CPO. All repairs to date have been covered by one of those two, a service recall, or simply not covered by anything at all! LOL.

Originally Posted by JTK44

As I posted, I only considered extended warranty from MB, not a third party. I was quoted $2200 + tax, 3 years 75,000 miles, from two MB dealers for my 2019 E450.

I have owned my car from day one and as I posted the only repair was a replacement of the intelligent lighting switch at about 2000 miles. Otherwise trouble free.

Unless you pulled the VIN before purchase and checked what if any work was done on your CPO, you are "flying blind" as to what other work and/or problems your car may have had. Your car may have been trouble free or not. Not knowing, an extended warranty might make sense.

Your situation is different than most others, who are the original owners, as I am, and are approaching the end of the warranty period and must decided whether or not an extended warranty makes financial sense.

When my car came off of lease I decided to buy it. It has been trouble free. If it was not, I would not have bought it, it being a "lemon".

Originally Posted by teksurv

As a data point, when my 2018 E400 was end of lease, I bought it out. At that time I paid ~3350 for the 3/100 extended warranty. I never used it. What I paid for was peace of mind. Extended warranties exist for a reason, they make the issuer a lot of money. In general, cars are built so well now they know you won't likely need the warranty. Simple numbers game. For that one out of a hundred person that bought the warranty and their engine blew, money well spent!

Originally Posted by chassis

On your sample size of one, you are correct. Furthermore you bought the most reliable E-Class version, a M276-engined model. The four banger E300 and V8 E550/E63 have far more problems and far more expensive problems. Your experience is unsurprising, and it has turned out well for you so far.

Originally Posted by chassis

On your sample size of one, you are correct. Furthermore you bought the most reliable E-Class version, a M276-engined model. The four banger E300 and V8 E550/E63 have far more problems and far more expensive problems. Your experience is unsurprising, and it has turned out well for you so far.

Originally Posted by The G Man

The M276 V6 engine also have some issues such as High pressure fuel pump, tendency for Carbon build-up, Timing chain tensioner and Plugs & coils fouling up. I would say both the M274 I4 engine and M276 engines are above average in reliability and both engines are extremely fuel efficient.

Originally Posted by W205C43PFL

I guess the M256 was never introduced without the 48V mild hybrid, such a shame because the M256 might be able to compete if not reliability then at least in the fuel efficient department (sure the M256 with the 48V mild hybrid is more fuel efficient than M276 but it is not a fair comparison with the 48V mild hybrid system keeping the engine off when coasting for example and off when stopped if auto/start stop is on)
The smoothness of inline-6s is a huge bonus as well.

Originally Posted by The G Man

The lastest JD Power reliability report shows Mercedes near bottom, reliability has been on a downward trend for the last 5 to 6 years.

Originally Posted by ua549

The only E class that I had reliability issues with was a 2003 E500. It had standard air suspension that was very expensive to repair. Even so it lasted 5 years. My record was a 1977 300D (5 cyl) purchased new and driven about 50,000 miles per year for over 14 years without any repairs other than normal maintenance items - battery, brakes, tires, lubrication. It was a commuter driven between Clearwater, Ft. Meyers and return 5 days per week. Overall the E class cars are the most reliable Mercedes cars built thanks to their taxicab heritage.

Originally Posted by The G Man

The lastest JD Power reliability report shows Mercedes near bottom, reliability has been on a downward trend for the last 5 to 6 years.