AMAZING!!! Mercedes Premium Extended Warranty SUCKS to NO END!!!!
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AMAZING!!! Mercedes Premium Extended Warranty SUCKS to NO END!!!!
Amazing...I have a front fog lamp that keeps on going out. The dealers have fixed it numerous times, replaced the harness and the works. My car just went out of factory warranty and the fog light goes out again. I asked the service advisor if my Premium Extended Warranty can cover this blub replacement...what do I get? "No sir the light blub is considered a trim item and is not covered under the Extended Premium warranty."
So you're telling me I paid over $2,000 on a stupid piece of paper that covers something that you can change to whatever you classify as a trim item?
He says, "...the warranty has an itemized list of what's covered. No it doesn't!!! It's has a general scope of whats covered....not a complete list!!!
Until I can get this stupid little light blub replaced...I consider this Premium Extend Warranty from Mercedes Benz a complete and utter F#%KING RIP OFF!!!
I've been told these cars use hotter light blubs...then I'd ask...then why didn't the F$%King stupid designers at benz take this into consideration in the first place? This is BS!!!!
So you're telling me I paid over $2,000 on a stupid piece of paper that covers something that you can change to whatever you classify as a trim item?
He says, "...the warranty has an itemized list of what's covered. No it doesn't!!! It's has a general scope of whats covered....not a complete list!!!
Until I can get this stupid little light blub replaced...I consider this Premium Extend Warranty from Mercedes Benz a complete and utter F#%KING RIP OFF!!!
I've been told these cars use hotter light blubs...then I'd ask...then why didn't the F$%King stupid designers at benz take this into consideration in the first place? This is BS!!!!
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From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
Your right. The factory extended warranty is far from great. If you have an engine or transmission failure it will cover it. However, more common items that will go out like trim items, COMAND, Radio, etc. are not covered. Mercedes knows what they are doing and knows how to make the most money.
It is for these reason I passed on Mercedes warranty and am looking at other warranty options from companies with a long track history and a good plan.
It is for these reason I passed on Mercedes warranty and am looking at other warranty options from companies with a long track history and a good plan.
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Nov0798, thanks for the suggestion.. Actually the blub that just fried is the one I installed a few years ago. (Oh yeah... an electrical engineer friend of mine also told me not to touch the blub...supposedly it shortens the life of it or something.)
Yeah I see your point that MB doesn't make them...but come on Benz...at least design the electrical system correctly??!?! This car has such a nasty record of light blubs burning out. I lost count after the 14th time I had to replace blubs on this car. I actually have all the paper work to prove it too. I have a cheapy Ford Ranger that's NEVER had a blub go out. The fact that they use a hotter blub or different blub doesn't matter...they should've taken that into account or issued some kind of recall to fix this...I can't believe I'm the only one with this problem....
I'm really upset with MB....don't think I'll by a benz anymore. I've been looking at the Lexus....
Yeah I see your point that MB doesn't make them...but come on Benz...at least design the electrical system correctly??!?! This car has such a nasty record of light blubs burning out. I lost count after the 14th time I had to replace blubs on this car. I actually have all the paper work to prove it too. I have a cheapy Ford Ranger that's NEVER had a blub go out. The fact that they use a hotter blub or different blub doesn't matter...they should've taken that into account or issued some kind of recall to fix this...I can't believe I'm the only one with this problem....
I'm really upset with MB....don't think I'll by a benz anymore. I've been looking at the Lexus....
Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 101
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From: Virginia Beach, VA
2001 CLK 320
Touching the bulb does shorten it's life. Oil from your fingers gets on the bulb, causing it to heat unevenly. Over time this stresses the bulb and makes it more prone to crack or shatter.
This is more pronounced in very high temperature bulbs (as in a studio light) which can explode from the temperature differential.
Regards,
-Bouncer-
This is more pronounced in very high temperature bulbs (as in a studio light) which can explode from the temperature differential.
Regards,
-Bouncer-
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
Extended warranty.....
I'm VERY glad I bought an extended warranty with my C320. So far everything I have taken my car in for after 50K miles has been covered.
Turn signal stalk assembly (sticky), window motor, and interior light module. Most of my problems have been of the intermittent electrical type and I've had 6 different modules replaced so far and I'm sure more to go. Fibre and IR optic send/receive modules may be 'state of the art' but they are not as reliable as wire yet.
Turn signal stalk assembly (sticky), window motor, and interior light module. Most of my problems have been of the intermittent electrical type and I've had 6 different modules replaced so far and I'm sure more to go. Fibre and IR optic send/receive modules may be 'state of the art' but they are not as reliable as wire yet.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,054
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From: Nashville
300SEL
I also don't understand your story.
In the first post you say that the, "front fog lamp that keeps on going out." Then, in the second post you say, "Actually the blub that just fried is the one I installed a few years ago."
So, I need some clarification, either the blub goes out all the time or once every few years.
Also, why should MB warrant blubs the owner installs on his own and can potentially install wrong consequently damaging the harness?
In the first post you say that the, "front fog lamp that keeps on going out." Then, in the second post you say, "Actually the blub that just fried is the one I installed a few years ago."
So, I need some clarification, either the blub goes out all the time or once every few years.
Also, why should MB warrant blubs the owner installs on his own and can potentially install wrong consequently damaging the harness?
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 268
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From: NY/CT
CLK 320
Originally Posted by schwarzwagen
This is a really good reason to write off MB.
My fog lights have been playing musical chairs, going out one after the other round robin every couple of weeks. It's "minor", but I don't like driving around with a busted one any more than I'd like driving around with a busted brake light or turning signal. It might not be as major, but appearance-wise, it's major to some people.
What should be a minor thing to fix becomes a major hassle... they're not covered under the extended warranty, so you have to pay to get them fixed... unless you go through the aggravation of yelling at the service people about it every other week. It's a PITA to do yourself (I know, having had the pleasure of getting under the car to *try*), and even if it wasn't, I don't feel that I should be having to do that every other week just because the lights keep burning out.
I'm not gonna freak out and call it a major QA issue, but it's an issue nonetheless. If your dome light or your sills kept blowing out for no apparent reason, eventually you'd get pissed about it too. I know I got tired of the fog lamp after the 7th time I had it replaced, and it's gotten to the point when I'm happy if I can go on for a month without having to get something like that fixed.
But then again, that's just me.
And no, I wouldn't consider dropping MB over something like this, but it'd make me take another look at all those little annoyances that the different cars seem to have the next time that I head out to their showroom.
/my 2 cents
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From: Nashville
300SEL
viguera:
I agree with you 100%. A minor problem taken on its own is no cause to jump ship. However if there is a history of minor problems, that becomes something else altogether.
I think redbricks is over-reacting just a wee bit. I don't think the MB extended warranty "sucks" purely on the basis that it does not cover bulb replacements. I think he would be singing MBs praise if they replaced his engine under warranty.
I agree with you 100%. A minor problem taken on its own is no cause to jump ship. However if there is a history of minor problems, that becomes something else altogether.
I think redbricks is over-reacting just a wee bit. I don't think the MB extended warranty "sucks" purely on the basis that it does not cover bulb replacements. I think he would be singing MBs praise if they replaced his engine under warranty.
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From: Nashville
300SEL
Originally Posted by viguera
I know I got tired of the fog lamp after the 7th time I had it replaced, and it's gotten to the point when I'm happy if I can go on for a month without having to get something like that fixed.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: NY/CT
CLK 320
Originally Posted by schwarzwagen
viguera:
I agree with you 100%. A minor problem taken on its own is no cause to jump ship. However if there is a history of minor problems, that becomes something else altogether.
I think redbricks is over-reacting just a wee bit. I don't think the MB extended warranty "sucks" purely on the basis that it does not cover bulb replacements. I think he would be singing MBs praise if they replaced his engine under warranty.
I agree with you 100%. A minor problem taken on its own is no cause to jump ship. However if there is a history of minor problems, that becomes something else altogether.
I think redbricks is over-reacting just a wee bit. I don't think the MB extended warranty "sucks" purely on the basis that it does not cover bulb replacements. I think he would be singing MBs praise if they replaced his engine under warranty.
If you drive 10k miles in a year or less, chances are that it won't even pay for the FSS calls. At $300/400 a pop, you're still under the price of the warranty if you do two As and one B over a couple of years (assuming you keep a low mileage), you're still saving money by paying for them out of pocket instead of getting the warranty.
Like I said, there are different ways to look at it. I don't think non-MB parts should be covered, obviously, but changing a fog light seems like it should be to me.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 268
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From: NY/CT
CLK 320
Originally Posted by schwarzwagen
I would get tired of that as well. Has your SA come up with anything convincing as to why your fog lights refuse to cooperate?
Now that I moved to CT, it's even more of a fuss. I never have the time during the week to get it taken care of, the dealership around the house closes relatively early, and the service department only opens half a day on Saturday. So here I go, waking up early on a Saturday to get a freaking bulb changed... or changing it myself (which is not the easiest thing in the world, if you've ever tried it) -- yeah, you'd get tired of that nonsense in a hurry too.
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Nashville
300SEL
Originally Posted by viguera
Nope. The furthest I got was one of them almost saying that there was a known electrical problem with the car (which I assume is that whole mess of the bulbs not matching the juice that the car puts out), but that's about it.
Now that I moved to CT, it's even more of a fuss. I never have the time during the week to get it taken care of, the dealership around the house closes relatively early, and the service department only opens half a day on Saturday. So here I go, waking up early on a Saturday to get a freaking bulb changed... or changing it myself (which is not the easiest thing in the world, if you've ever tried it) -- yeah, you'd get tired of that nonsense in a hurry too.
Now that I moved to CT, it's even more of a fuss. I never have the time during the week to get it taken care of, the dealership around the house closes relatively early, and the service department only opens half a day on Saturday. So here I go, waking up early on a Saturday to get a freaking bulb changed... or changing it myself (which is not the easiest thing in the world, if you've ever tried it) -- yeah, you'd get tired of that nonsense in a hurry too.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2004
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Check the charging system voltage. Sometimes, an alternator will put out too many volts, which causes shortened bulb life. Several cars have wiring harness updates to include resistors to help with bulb life, yours isn't one of them though.
As far as the warranty sucking to no end, you will find that pretty much all extended warranties are the same. Extended warranties in general DO NOT cover: wear items, any trim items, bulbs, any sound system components or speakers, cosmetic damage. They will generally cover electric motors, sensors, any motor or transmission hard parts and seals, control modules, wiring, switches, window regulators, and axle assemblies.
Most extended warranties will opt for the cheaper repair when it comes to replacing or repairing a transmission or some large component. It is ultimately up to the company to decide what they consider a wear item. A wheel bearing may be a wear item to some, but not to others. They are not bumper to bumper full coverage plans.
As far as the warranty sucking to no end, you will find that pretty much all extended warranties are the same. Extended warranties in general DO NOT cover: wear items, any trim items, bulbs, any sound system components or speakers, cosmetic damage. They will generally cover electric motors, sensors, any motor or transmission hard parts and seals, control modules, wiring, switches, window regulators, and axle assemblies.
Most extended warranties will opt for the cheaper repair when it comes to replacing or repairing a transmission or some large component. It is ultimately up to the company to decide what they consider a wear item. A wheel bearing may be a wear item to some, but not to others. They are not bumper to bumper full coverage plans.
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Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by mleskovar
I'm VERY glad I bought an extended warranty with my C320. So far everything I have taken my car in for after 50K miles has been covered.
Turn signal stalk assembly (sticky), window motor, and interior light module. Most of my problems have been of the intermittent electrical type and I've had 6 different modules replaced so far and I'm sure more to go. Fibre and IR optic send/receive modules may be 'state of the art' but they are not as reliable as wire yet.
Turn signal stalk assembly (sticky), window motor, and interior light module. Most of my problems have been of the intermittent electrical type and I've had 6 different modules replaced so far and I'm sure more to go. Fibre and IR optic send/receive modules may be 'state of the art' but they are not as reliable as wire yet.
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
Warranty type.....
Not aftermarket. I bought the MB extended warranty from the dealer when I purchased the car, don't know what it's called. We put over 20K/miles/year so we have the 5 yr/100K miles warranty.....I think it was around $870. Each time I have taken the car in after 50K miles the service advisors say "don't worry about coverage, there are very few things not covered under your extended warranty and those are wear items."
