Nevada Jack

Anyone recently obtained this insurance? With the 21" wheels and tires on the 550, I am going to get this coverage. I never buy any of these items because of the high markup but after paying $484 for a blown tire on my S at Knoxville, TN MB, I am a believer!

I am looking at the 3 year deluxe coverage for $595. It includes $40 credit for any repair of the tires and full replacement of wheel or tires, with a $5000 limit over the term of the policy. I selected 3 years since I rarely keep a car much longer than that.

Any input?

oinick

Bought it for the same reason. Not a bad deal even if you blow only one tire and warp a wheel. Also bought four year coverage to repair dents and scratches.

sraj

Were these were purchased through the dealer? What kind of prices are we looking at for the dent/scratch protection? Are these items typically negotiable?

oinick

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Yes, at the dealer, from the finance manager at paper signing. I did negotiate a deal for both of them at $1050 for four years. I did not buy the paint sealant or interior treatment, but I bought an extended warranty to 100K miles for $3500 also. I did not finance the deal so that may have given more or less leverage on the negotiation; it's hard to tell which. The finance manager sure wanted me to finance, and I am sure the dealer gets a commission from the finance company if the customer does, so I might have gotten less leverage that if I had financed. I got a tremendous amount for my trade in but not much off sticker ($1500). But the GL320 is the hottest thing going right now, so I think this was okay.

sraj

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. So if you run up on a curb and get some wheel rash, the dealer will fix/replace the damage? And does a scratch or dent have to be within a certain size range before the dealer will take care of it?

Nevada Jack

My guidance from a pretty good source indicated NEVER say curb in any claim. It is always a pot hole or some other type of hazard. Curbs are apparently not a hazard so beware...

sraj

I follow you. A pothole can cause damage similar to a curb, in my opinion.

Nevada Jack

I think you got the message...:-)

StevethePilot

If the wheels aren't factory, they won't cover them. At least that was my experience. But the tires, they're covered.

STP

Nevada Jack

Thanks. The factory AMG wheels are the only reason I am buying the insurance...these 21" wheels will not be cheap to replace.

StevethePilot

Ya got that right. Of course, so are "factory" wheels with a coat of chrome on them, which are then not "factory" according to my wheel and tire insurance.

Stoneseller

I pretty much never buy extended warrenties or "protection plans" on anything.
I did, however, buy the wheel & tire plan when I leased my GL. It only added a very small amount to the monthly payment. I figured it was a cheap enough gamble, even if I never use it.

nantucketsleigh

It hard to see how any add-on warranty makes any objective financial sense after one considers that the warranty co. has expenses and overhead and makes a profit and the dealer gets a commission for the sale. IMO add-on warranties should always be declined. In any event, it probably only makes a little sense if one expects to attain or exceed the mileage limits of the warranty and/or the pricing of the warranty has not caught up the actual replacement costs of the 21" wheels and tires. In the latter case if the warranty is substantially underpriced, it could be hard to collect on.

NbyNW

I'm debating the extending warrantee to 100k on a 320 (~$3000). (Ordered but not netstar confirmed yet - it's been a week or more.) Bought the tire/wheel coverage on my BMW and they have paid for one tire so far, so it's paid for itself. We have had a 320 wagon for 4yrs and plan to have the GL for longer - as long as the hose holds. With all the electronics I'm inclined to go for it. Had some mega bills on a 7 series out of warrantee... no fun. Traded it soon after those.

By the way, the '04 320 wagon has been perfect while my '06 BMW's dash rattles like a child's toy driving down the road.

boxboss

I bought (bit) on the wheel/tire coverage at around $595. I refused to sign until I had 3 management types (finance mgr, service mgr, sales mgr) agree that my Brabus wheels/Pirellis were covered. The deal all hinged on if my MB dealer would mount the wheels/tires on the GL. The SM said, without a doubt, the Brabus/Pirelli were a combo we would install, so they would be covered. This was the MB plan, not a 3rd party.

I figured, at less than 1/2 the cost of one rim, I could hardly loose.

jpeardm

I declined the wheel/tire coverage as I too always take my chances but wouldn't you know it on delivery day last March I let my wife try it out and with 15 miles on the odo she ran through a huge pot hole and put a small scrape on one rim. Luckily no damage was done and I just touched it up with a paint pen but you just never know so I think you are right NJ to take it on those big wheels.

Nevada Jack

Yes I agree. With the conditions of the roads and with so much junk on the highways it doesn't take much. My blowout on I-40 on my trip in the S was a piece of something in the road which I could not avoid at 75mph.

StevethePilot

You know, my wife's put more highway miles on the beastie than I have (heck, that's when the CDI shines anyway). So I've told her (and I think I said this before), "When you load it up with pups and kids and bags and take it out on the highway, its a car. When it's home, it's my obsession and I'll whine and cry over every ding, dent, spider web, and scratch." I guess she can live with that, seeing how she's still here and so's the GL!