Big bill to pay or buy prepaid maintainance.
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2014 GL450
Big bill to pay or buy prepaid maintainance.
So I had a leak in the Y tube that carries engine coolant and my gl450 is still under warranty and it was taken care of but I was told that its time to change front and rear tires and balanced, front and rear rotors and brake pads and I am looking at nearly $2k or more, I bought 2014 gl450 from private dealer and it has 35k miles, so will I be able to purchase prepaid maintainance at this time or pay out of pocket or anyone know how to make this bill smaller by buying non oem but dependable parts as mentioned earlier, thanks for any thoughts.
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2014 GL450
Prepaid maintenance does not cover new tires nor brakes and rotors.
Unless the dealer was nice enough to say the brakes and rotors wore out prematurely and get MB to pay for it. Very doubtful considering you didn't even buy it from them.
Typically through the CPO process, brakes and rotors as well as tires must be within a certain limit/specs. Else the dealer will have to replace them during the CPO process.
Unless the dealer was nice enough to say the brakes and rotors wore out prematurely and get MB to pay for it. Very doubtful considering you didn't even buy it from them.
Typically through the CPO process, brakes and rotors as well as tires must be within a certain limit/specs. Else the dealer will have to replace them during the CPO process.
Thread Starter
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2014 GL450
The mechanic at Durham NC MD dealership told me its 3mm back rotor and 4mm front, I have no idea what it is and he also said tires are nearing the legal limit tread depth and I have may be 6 months for it, I come from bmw car where prepaid maintainance covered those, another question is anyway this gl needs regular maintainance and it would probably cost more than the maintainance plan, so will I still be able purchase a plan.
Last edited by lingaraju.g; Jul 11, 2017 at 05:43 PM.
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2014 GL450
It used to be the 4yr/50k new car warranty will cover the wear items such as brakes and rotors but BMW have since scaled back on this last year and it is only now 3yr/36k but no longer cover wear items. Only maintenance items are included now just like Mercedes and most other luxury makers. Maintenance items are those like oil changes, filter (cabin, engine), brake flush etc.
I read you can still buy extended prepaid maintenance on BMW that will also cover wear items. No idea of pricing, but you can bet it will be very costly.
Mercedes pre-paid maintenance (3-pack) for either A-B-A or B-A-B does not cover wear items. In my case, when I bought the CPO, the A service was already done. So, my 3 pack will be the B-A-B (which is more costly than A-B-A if paid individually) and it cost me $1500. I think list price is prob $1800??
For next 3 services included for $1500, you can be damn sure it will not include wear items such as brakes and rotors. And BMW will prob charge at least $3k if it includes wear items.
I read you can still buy extended prepaid maintenance on BMW that will also cover wear items. No idea of pricing, but you can bet it will be very costly.
Mercedes pre-paid maintenance (3-pack) for either A-B-A or B-A-B does not cover wear items. In my case, when I bought the CPO, the A service was already done. So, my 3 pack will be the B-A-B (which is more costly than A-B-A if paid individually) and it cost me $1500. I think list price is prob $1800??
For next 3 services included for $1500, you can be damn sure it will not include wear items such as brakes and rotors. And BMW will prob charge at least $3k if it includes wear items.
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A gaggle of MB's
As correctly pointed out - MB prepaid maintenance coveres maintenance items - not wear items.
1. Prepaid Service -As MB prepaid maintenance is non-refundable - (1) decide how many miles/yrs you plan to keep your GL (2) price the 40K-50K-60K service with your dealer if purcahsed as needed (3) compare that as needed cost to cost of prepaid maintenance - 40K service is a "bigger" service - I do think prepaid will save you some dough
2. Tires and Brakes are wear items - which can by done by any competent shop - does not have to be done at dealer.
Great tires - like Michelin - are going to be $1,000+ for set of four - again - wherever you get best deal. Use Tire Rack as benchmark for tire selection and target tire cost
Brakes - do a forum search OE equivalent rotors and pads for a GL450 are not a arm and a leg as they used to be 3-4 yrs ago - OE quality parts are available independently - source the parts - then any compentent tire/brake shop can install.
Keep the beat !
1. Prepaid Service -As MB prepaid maintenance is non-refundable - (1) decide how many miles/yrs you plan to keep your GL (2) price the 40K-50K-60K service with your dealer if purcahsed as needed (3) compare that as needed cost to cost of prepaid maintenance - 40K service is a "bigger" service - I do think prepaid will save you some dough
2. Tires and Brakes are wear items - which can by done by any competent shop - does not have to be done at dealer.
Great tires - like Michelin - are going to be $1,000+ for set of four - again - wherever you get best deal. Use Tire Rack as benchmark for tire selection and target tire cost
Brakes - do a forum search OE equivalent rotors and pads for a GL450 are not a arm and a leg as they used to be 3-4 yrs ago - OE quality parts are available independently - source the parts - then any compentent tire/brake shop can install.
Keep the beat !
Thread Starter
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2014 GL450
Thank you all. But my understanding is that you can only buy prepaid before the 1st service and since mine already has 35k miles will I be eligible to purchase it, and I just had B1 service 2 months ago, so should I buy ABA to get the best benefit.
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2014 GL450
I think it is based on how many miles before they will not sell you the 3-pack.
Since it is a 3 pack, it automatically becomes the next 3 service which may be BAB or ABA.
Just call the service center up and inquire about buying the 3 pack prepaid maintenance. You can buy from any MB service centers. They will prob quote you different prices. Get the one with the lowest as you can use it at any MB dealership.
Since it is a 3 pack, it automatically becomes the next 3 service which may be BAB or ABA.
Just call the service center up and inquire about buying the 3 pack prepaid maintenance. You can buy from any MB service centers. They will prob quote you different prices. Get the one with the lowest as you can use it at any MB dealership.
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From: Virginia
'17 BMW X3, '18 GLC300 4Matic
Just read in the MB Prepaid Maintenance brochure..."if your vehicle is from1-7 years old and has fewer than 80,000 miles you can purchase a 2 or 3 year package"
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From: Virginia
'17 BMW X3, '18 GLC300 4Matic
Replace rotors and pads at 35,000 miles?!
The elephant in the room here is you were told you needed to replace the rotors and brake pads at 35,000 miles! You need to have someone else (NOT MB) look at your rotors and brakes and confirm they are shot. I haven't even picked up my new GLC yet, so no experience with what to expect longevity wise, but I have never heard of those items wearing that quick unless someone was "riding the brakes" or there was some other malfunction in the system.
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2014 GL450
In any case, the GL has a brake wear sensor which will light up in case it reaches the wear limit. Absent this signal, I won't take what the tech says at face value.
Unscrupulous service centers will typically try to "scare" uninformed owners into these things. Brakes and of course rotors much be replaced as well.
Senior Member
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From: Virginia
'17 BMW X3, '18 GLC300 4Matic
35k miles sounds reasonable. GL is a large SUV. GLC is quite a bit smaller. Well, bigger than than GLK it replaced. GLK which is about a CRV/RAV4 size, I believe brakes would be good until 50-60k under normal conditions.
In any case, the GL has a brake wear sensor which will light up in case it reaches the wear limit. Absent this signal, I won't take what the tech says at face value.
Unscrupulous service centers will typically try to "scare" uninformed owners into these things. Brakes and of course rotors much be replaced as well.
In any case, the GL has a brake wear sensor which will light up in case it reaches the wear limit. Absent this signal, I won't take what the tech says at face value.
Unscrupulous service centers will typically try to "scare" uninformed owners into these things. Brakes and of course rotors much be replaced as well.
Still two things I don't understand. On all my previous cars, the front brake pads wear out WELL before the rear due to the physics of braking. I never had a problem replacing only the axle that was worn out. But maybe the MB system is so sophisticated that it REQUIRES both front and back be replaced at the same time?
And the rotors. I can't believe that a set of rotors have to be replaced at 35-50,000 miles. Granted they may have some wear and you don't want them pulsating when you brake. So MB's rotors cannot be machined at all? Again, I know the brakes are sophisticated, but I didn't sign up for that kind maintenance with such lows miles.
In my case it won't be a huge deal as I only drive 5,000-7,000 miles a year. But geesh!!
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2014 GL450
Well, OP said 3mm rear rotor and 4mm front rotor. Perhaps he meant brake pads have 3 mm and 4 mm rear and front respectively and not the rotors.
In any case, who knows if the service tech was just eye-balling or actually measured it. It may or may not need replacement yet. Just go with the signal telling you it is at the wear limit. Perhaps the previous owner driving habits was causing it to wear out eventually at 40k, but OP driving habits may be able to extend it out to 50k.
However, in this thread, the OP says he's only at 27k miles and need brakes and rotors.
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...out-there.html
Personally, I bought the CPO at 17k. I'm at 30k now. Still no signal telling me I'm at the wear limit.
In any case, who knows if the service tech was just eye-balling or actually measured it. It may or may not need replacement yet. Just go with the signal telling you it is at the wear limit. Perhaps the previous owner driving habits was causing it to wear out eventually at 40k, but OP driving habits may be able to extend it out to 50k.
However, in this thread, the OP says he's only at 27k miles and need brakes and rotors.
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...out-there.html
Personally, I bought the CPO at 17k. I'm at 30k now. Still no signal telling me I'm at the wear limit.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 63
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2014 GL450
Well, OP said 3mm rear rotor and 4mm front rotor. Perhaps he meant brake pads have 3 mm and 4 mm rear and front respectively and not the rotors.
In any case, who knows if the service tech was just eye-balling or actually measured it. It may or may not need replacement yet. Just go with the signal telling you it is at the wear limit. Perhaps the previous owner driving habits was causing it to wear out eventually at 40k, but OP driving habits may be able to extend it out to 50k.
However, in this thread, the OP says he's only at 27k miles and need brakes and rotors.
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...out-there.html
Personally, I bought the CPO at 17k. I'm at 30k now. Still no signal telling me I'm at the wear limit.
In any case, who knows if the service tech was just eye-balling or actually measured it. It may or may not need replacement yet. Just go with the signal telling you it is at the wear limit. Perhaps the previous owner driving habits was causing it to wear out eventually at 40k, but OP driving habits may be able to extend it out to 50k.
However, in this thread, the OP says he's only at 27k miles and need brakes and rotors.
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...out-there.html
Personally, I bought the CPO at 17k. I'm at 30k now. Still no signal telling me I'm at the wear limit.
