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I am close to purchasing a 2015 S550 with 50k miles from CarMax. Very familiar with the Maxcare warranty, their vehicles, and the process.
The car comes from a snow state and is in decent shape, but I have a few concerns that need to be addressed prior to the sale.
Steering wheel groaning - saw a couple estimates on this board with varying prices. I have no doubt they will fix this. Is it dangerous or bad for the car to drive on in the short term?
CD changer weirdness - the changer read two known good discs as bad and refused to play, finally did and made a lot of noise. I intend to use the heck of out the CD player
Circular imprint on passenger side dashboard - phone mount? They will likely decline to address this, more just curious. It is not very noticeable in the car.
Anything else I can check on my own while on the overnight test drive? I plan to have a mechanic inspection after purchase, but within the return period.
Last edited by Quietride; Feb 28, 2023 at 11:48 PM.
In my totally uninformed opinion I would stay FAR away from a car with that type of steering wheel noise. It could be anything from the entire rack, to a boot, which in most cases requires a new rack, to a power steering pump, or 10+ other things. Only AFTER it was fixed would I even consider it. Sometimes MB parts can be difficult to source, and good mechanics, including the dealer, might need time to even work on it.
In my totally uninformed opinion I would stay FAR away from a car with that type of steering wheel noise. It could be anything from the entire rack, to a boot, which in most cases requires a new rack, to a power steering pump, or 10+ other things. Only AFTER it was fixed would I even consider it. Sometimes MB parts can be difficult to source, and good mechanics, including the dealer, might need time to even work on it.
They'll likely send it over to MB. The car starts with 90 days of warranty with no deductible then will have 5 years of $300-500 deductible depending on what I opt for. I want this fixed before sale, but curious about the extent of the issue as you alluded to.
Unfortunately none of these issues are common. I cannot comment on the steering pump or blower motor issues. I am sure both would be expensive fixes.
The CD player issue is common to MB and a sign that it is on its way out. The fix would require a new Comand unit, which runs about $7000. Most of us get away with Bluetooth audio these days so fixing it is not a priority. Ask me how I know all this…
The dash issue is most certainly from a suction cup. If it were mine I would try some gentle massage and a heat gun. You cannot replace that one panel, it would have to be the entire dash which is again very expensive.
The MaxCare warranty is fantastic, but this car does have a lot of problems for 50k miles. Most cars are trouble-free at that mileage.
The HVAC whine is more than likely the blower motor. I replaced mine in my 2015 S550 before I later traded the car in. Simple fix and the fan unit sells on ebay for around 100 bucks if I recall. The bigger issue is installing it. It is a bear to replace but not impossible. This 56 year old body just cannot contort like it used to. Steering could be anything. I think there was a steering column TSB for a noise like this but it could also be a bad rack or linkage. Warranty should cover this. CD player should be covered as well under warranty if it cannot play a new CD.
Steering column noise might be just related to the case was setting for weeks/months. Do you know for how many days/weeks/months they've had it? When I had a 2015 a few years ago, we went for a 2 months vacation. After we came back, I noticed a steering column noise that went away after driving the car for 2 days.
Reach out at tgibson@highline-autos.com or (855) 924-1333 for quotes and coverage from our providers Fidelity and Freedom Warranty, if nothing else, a bargaining chip for the Max Care warranty.
Your best warranty option is the Carmax warranty. I had a Genesis G90, bought it at Carmax because of their warranty program. It is by far the best in the business. Easy and quick repair approvals, fast payment, and as much, if not more, flexibility with the types of repair shops. And, you can always take it to Carmax for service, if they can;t do it they will send it to someone who can fix it and you don't have to worry. I don't say this to disparage any other warranty company, it's just the primary reason to choose Carmax. Their vehicle prices are definitely NOT the best, but you get much better warranties at lower prices, which is exactly what you'd want with this car.
BUT...that car has more issues than I'd be comfortable with at 50K miles. It can take time to get parts, and time to get into service at a MB dealer. Even though your Carmax warranty provides for 7 days of rental car coverage, it might not be enough for the time it takes to get the car fixed. I'm not a fan of paying for a car that is sitting in the repair shop. Buy it only after it is fixed, if that's an option. 50K mileage is low for that year, but it doesn't benefit you if the car already has problems. A car with 20K more miles that has been serviced well and hasn't had problems might be a better option than a lower mileage car with problems IMHO.
If I remember correctly, you can not use the OEM dealer for repairs with Car Max, and only where Car Max tells you you can take it correct? @carlosinseattle
If I remember correctly, you can not use the OEM dealer for repairs with Car Max, and only where Car Max tells you you can take it correct? @carlosinseattle
I see that you tagged my post, not sure what that means.
I bought my car from Carmax in October of 2018. In my 4 years plus of ownership I could take the car anywhere I wanted for service. They never had a problem with the location or the fees or the validity of the claim. I got warned a couple times by independent shops that didn't want to honor extended warranties. But when they heard mine was with Carmax, their attitude changed and they gladly worked on my car. I had close to $10K in repairs over those 4+ years, never once had a problem with Carmax approving the repair, the rental car, and the location. I literally bought from Carmax because of the warranty. I paid $2k-$3K more than what I could have bought the car for elsewhere, but the warranty was $1600 from Carmax. I got quoted $6K to $8K from other warranty companies for similar coverage, bumper to bumper for 5 years with $50 deductible. That's WHY I bought at Carmax, not the car, but the warranty. That was the calculus I used in my decision making process, but everybody has to decide for themselves. And I didn't buy my S550 from Carmax because the warranty cost couldn't match what I got for a CPO warranty from MB. I don't plan to keep my current car for more than a year, so that also factored into my decision this time.
Last edited by carlosinseattle; Mar 1, 2023 at 04:01 PM.
Reason: tagged not flagged
Thanks everyone, this has been very informative. This board is awesome!
Today the deal seems less appealing. They say they want to fix everything regardless of whether I purchase it or not. My feeling is these subtle noise issues often go unnoticed, so who knows what will happen. If they call and confirm all issues, and show evidence of a thorough mechanical inspection, I'll be back in.
The CarMax warranty is great. I expected to overpay for the peace of mind that everything will be covered. But as the saying goes, can't polish a turd!
Otherwise the engine and shifts felt brand new. Heard a subtle clunk on a hard right turn, once. Found some evidence of a moonroof leak in the headliner. The carpets were a little dirty. All in all it seemed like a 7/10 car, but then again this model has the potential to look very close to brand new at 50k miles. The leather bolsters in many examples don't even show wear.
Unfortunately none of these issues are common. I cannot comment on the steering pump or blower motor issues. I am sure both would be expensive fixes.
The CD player issue is common to MB and a sign that it is on its way out. The fix would require a new Comand unit, which runs about $7000. Most of us get away with Bluetooth audio these days so fixing it is not a priority. Ask me how I know all this…
The dash issue is most certainly from a suction cup. If it were mine I would try some gentle massage and a heat gun. You cannot replace that one panel, it would have to be the entire dash which is again very expensive.
The MaxCare warranty is fantastic, but this car does have a lot of problems for 50k miles. Most cars are trouble-free at that mileage.
I bought my 2016 S550 from Carmax in early 2020 and it had a few issues as well. I decided to buy the car with those known issues and over the course of 90 days and two return visits, they addressed each of my concerns and resolved them to my full satisfaction. After the 90 day warranty expired, I realized the car had 10 months of the factory Mercedes warranty left, so when the motorized steering column failed one day, I took it to my local dealer. The car was repaired under the Mercedes warranty, but my service advisor asked if I purchased the Carmax extended warranty for future issues. I told him that I didn't buy the Carmax extended warranty and he warned me that I made a big mistake. He told me that the Carmax warranty is one of the best in the industry and that even the dealer could do work on the car and Carmax would cover it.
So if you like the car, buy it and be sure to get the Carmax extended warranty. Between Carmax and your local Mercedes dealer, all of those issues can be repaired. Well everything but the depression in the leather on the dash. I suspect a good detailer or leather specialist could resolve that with the right tools, some heat, and patience.
I bought my 2016 S550 from Carmax in early 2020 and it had a few issues as well. I decided to buy the car with those known issues and over the course of 90 days and two return visits, they addressed each of my concerns and resolved them to my full satisfaction. After the 90 day warranty expired, I realized the car had 10 months of the factory Mercedes warranty left, so when the motorized steering column failed one day, I took it to my local dealer. The car was repaired under the Mercedes warranty, but my service advisor asked if I purchased the Carmax extended warranty for future issues. I told him that I didn't buy the Carmax extended warranty and he warned me that I made a big mistake. He told me that the Carmax warranty is one of the best in the industry and that even the dealer could do work on the car and Carmax would cover it.
So if you like the car, buy it and be sure to get the Carmax extended warranty. Between Carmax and your local Mercedes dealer, all of those issues can be repaired. Well everything but the depression in the leather on the dash. I suspect a good detailer or leather specialist could resolve that with the right tools, some heat, and patience.
This is great to hear. I have good experience with the Maxcare warranty, but CarMax can be a mixed bag. They don't always recondition the cars very well.
Looking at the site today, it seems that they sold the S550 in question. Last I heard they were going to correct the issues and get back to me. Oh well.
This is great to hear. I have good experience with the Maxcare warranty, but CarMax can be a mixed bag. They don't always recondition the cars very well.
Looking at the site today, it seems that they sold the S550 in question. Last I heard they were going to correct the issues and get back to me. Oh well.
Trust me, there will be other cars. I bought a 2004 S500 about 10 years ago from a used car dealer. I got a Chrysler extended warranty. I used it quite a lot.
You gotta wonder why they sell an otherwise nice car with multiple things uncared for.
I looked at an E400 several years ago and thought if they'd spent a few bucks and fixed things up it would be nice car, but for some reason they chose to sell "as is". Glad I didn't pursue it, life's too short to start out with a problem car.
You gotta wonder why they sell an otherwise nice car with multiple things uncared for.
I looked at an E400 several years ago and thought if they'd spent a few bucks and fixed things up it would be nice car, but for some reason they chose to sell "as is". Glad I didn't pursue it, life's too short to start out with a problem car.
i mean... to cut costs right? Carmax is out to maximize profits. Someone will come and not care about these items ... oh in fact that just happened probably
totally agree with you - for the discerning buyer - start out with a car that is problem free
When I was shopping in 2019 for a 2015 or 16 I found so many S class cars in like-new condition and many that were trashed/thrashed. I ended up with a 16' that most people thought was brand new since the PO took very good car of the car. The car was from Oklahoma and I bought in LA.. Run away and keep looking.
When I was shopping in 2019 for a 2015 or 16 I found so many S class cars in like-new condition and many that were trashed/thrashed. I ended up with a 16' that most people thought was brand new since the PO took very good car of the car. The car was from Oklahoma and I bought in LA.. Run away and keep looking.
'I have been surprised just how bad some of these cars can end up looking especially with the lighter colored interiors,
I was looking at one in Steven's Creek MB and the car was filthy on the inside and outside and it had a dent in the rear fender. I had no intention of buying the car, I was really just want to feel how the S-Class felt, the sales guy after the test drive put a hard sell on me. I aked him if he planned to detail the car and fix the dent and he said it wasn't CPO so it was as-is...RIGHT, let's buy a 60k car that is trashed on the inside and has a $2,500 dent it in it.
Keep looking around, you will find ones that are in prestine condition and have zero issues
Wanted to inquire again about HVAC noise (video 2). Is this indeed a bad blower motor? CarMax has actually been working on the vehicle but did not confirm that issue. Just wanted to keep my options open.
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