Fidelity or MB extended warranty
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Joined: Apr 2021
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From: Scottsdale, Arizona
2001 E55AMG
I know that many of these 3rd party warranty providers have exposed very bad practises by some dealers, especially in the Porsche forum, when dealers try to upsell customers repairs they don't actually need. Third party warranty providers in my view serve as a second pair of eyes on the repairs being done on my car, although admittedly sometimes the experience is not always that positive for the car owner. But I can't see any valid reason as to why a dealer refuse to work with 3rd party warranties other than hiding something for fishy practices.
A dealer who says, "Water pump, thermostat, new coolant hoses to the tune of $10K, 3.0 hours diag., and we have a couple hundred $$$ extra in the cost of parts, shop supplies and bolts", does nothing but hurt the customer. The dealer's full intention is to get the correct repair amount from the warranty company, and their up-charge from the pocket of the customer on top.
Trenton O. Gibson
tgibson@highline-autos.com
Highline Autos
Direct: 602.909.9216
Office: 480.348.0777
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Joined: Sep 2020
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997.2TTS
putting aside the ethics issue of the dealership for moment (which is certainly a concern), i guess this comes down to the headache of dealing with he said-he said (ie, what the mechanic believes is necessary vs the 3rd party provider).
taking the above as an example, if mechanic believes other complementary parts/services are necessary to repair the water pump...but the carrier disagrees....then the owner of the vehicle is stuck with needing enough mechanical knowledge to agree or disagree with either party.
if owner goes with the mechanic and the carrier is only going to cover partial..then owner gets stuck with the $delta.
if the owner agrees with the carrier...then he needs to be mechanically knowledgeable enough to instruct the mechanic not perform the extra items.
the net of this being that in this situation, a 3rd party provider leaves the owner possibly in a major nuisance of having to discern all that, and possibly covering the $delta... vs by paying for higher MB warranty, it's pretty much a set it/forget it, all is covered deal.
am i thinking this correctly?
taking the above as an example, if mechanic believes other complementary parts/services are necessary to repair the water pump...but the carrier disagrees....then the owner of the vehicle is stuck with needing enough mechanical knowledge to agree or disagree with either party.
if owner goes with the mechanic and the carrier is only going to cover partial..then owner gets stuck with the $delta.
if the owner agrees with the carrier...then he needs to be mechanically knowledgeable enough to instruct the mechanic not perform the extra items.
the net of this being that in this situation, a 3rd party provider leaves the owner possibly in a major nuisance of having to discern all that, and possibly covering the $delta... vs by paying for higher MB warranty, it's pretty much a set it/forget it, all is covered deal.
am i thinking this correctly?
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Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,569
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From: Scottsdale, Arizona
2001 E55AMG
Trenton O. Gibson
tgibson@highline-autos.com
Highline Autos
Direct: 602.909.9216
Office: 480.348.0777
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
2023 S580
In the examples just mentioned, 3rd party coming out to ensure the estimate is correct, I assume takes time. If you bring your car to a dealership where your car is not under extended warranty with Mercedes, is the dealership obligated to provide you with a loaner? I suspect that is dealer discretion, but if one must wait for the 3rd party to come inspect the work, that takes time and would leave the customer in either a paid-for-rental, or out of a car if the dealer doesn't provide a loaner.
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Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 475
From: Scottsdale, Arizona
2001 E55AMG
In the examples just mentioned, 3rd party coming out to ensure the estimate is correct, I assume takes time. If you bring your car to a dealership where your car is not under extended warranty with Mercedes, is the dealership obligated to provide you with a loaner? I suspect that is dealer discretion, but if one must wait for the 3rd party to come inspect the work, that takes time and would leave the customer in either a paid-for-rental, or out of a car if the dealer doesn't provide a loaner.
Trenton O. Gibson
tgibson@highline-autos.com
Highline Autos
Direct: 602.909.9216
Office: 480.348.0777
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From: Costco
2023 S500
@Highline-Autos.com do you offer low milage but long term warranties? For example: 4 or 5 years beyond the manufacturer’s warranty period but only for 75k miles?
About 72 hours at the longest, but yes I suggest for service or repairs, schedule an appointment with a loaner car prior. Coverage does cover the cost of a rental car as well.
Trenton O. Gibson
tgibson@highline-autos.com
Highline Autos
Direct: 602.909.9216
Office: 480.348.0777
Trenton O. Gibson
tgibson@highline-autos.com
Highline Autos
Direct: 602.909.9216
Office: 480.348.0777
SPONSOR
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 475
From: Scottsdale, Arizona
2001 E55AMG
@Highline-Autos.com do you offer low milage but long term warranties? For example: 4 or 5 years beyond the manufacturer’s warranty period but only for 75k miles?
Trenton O. Gibson
tgibson@highline-autos.com
Highline Autos
Direct: 602.909.9216
Office: 480.348.0777
Last edited by Highline-Autos.com; Oct 14, 2025 at 07:14 PM.
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From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
absolutely agree. i recently had the air ride compressor go out and needed replacement. and knowing i will keep the car for several more years, extending the warranty is a no brainer.
and just got off phone with the gm of my local dealership. his frank comment was that they've had nothing but difficult exchanges with 3rd party warranty providers (eg, arguing over hours, extent of repairs, timing of payments, etc), even with reputable big brands..."9 times out of 10". so much so they stopped accepting and just sticks with MB.
because I've been going to them for past few years, he said he'd work with me as long as I'd pay for whatever delta the outside provider denies.
not what i wanted to hear, but that's where i am with that situation.
and just got off phone with the gm of my local dealership. his frank comment was that they've had nothing but difficult exchanges with 3rd party warranty providers (eg, arguing over hours, extent of repairs, timing of payments, etc), even with reputable big brands..."9 times out of 10". so much so they stopped accepting and just sticks with MB.
because I've been going to them for past few years, he said he'd work with me as long as I'd pay for whatever delta the outside provider denies.
not what i wanted to hear, but that's where i am with that situation.
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Joined: Jun 2019
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From: Costco
2023 S500
@Highline-Autos why did you stop carrying Fidelity?
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Joined: Sep 2020
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997.2TTS
mechanic says repairs need to be X+Y... warranty's 3rd party inspection claims only X is needed.
the owner is left to determine whether to accept and pay for Y, or follow the 3rd party for only X.
the entire concept of having the 3rd party to be a check&balance to what the mechanic claims actually works against the hassle-free nature of all this.
also bear in mind... as much as I'd like to place the blame on the dealership, many/most of these mechanics are essentially contractors, not paid employees of the dealership. adding another layer of self interest that further complicates he said/he said.
at the end of the day, if the 3rd party is supposed to be the owner's advantage to ensure only those repairs necessary are need, then all this is moot...as only X would be done per owner's decision to follow 3rd party's recommendation.
it's only entangled if the 3rd party actually wants X+Y done whilst mechanic only wants Y... the owner would have to cover cost of Y.
that being said... going back to self interest factor... why would the dealership argue against doing additional work that the 3rd party inspector recommends?? it only means more earnings for them, so that wouldn't make sense would it?
ugh.
Last edited by tonupbklyn; Oct 15, 2025 at 08:20 AM.
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,048
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From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
like i said, i think scenarios like this leaves the owner in a precarious situation.
mechanic says repairs need to be X+Y... warranty's 3rd party inspection claims only X is needed.
the owner is left to determine whether to accept and pay for Y, or follow the 3rd party for only X.
the entire concept of having the 3rd party to be a check&balance to what the mechanic claims actually works against the hassle-free nature of all this.
also bear in mind... as much as I'd like to place the blame on the dealership, many/most of these mechanics are essentially contractors, not paid employees of the dealership. adding another layer of self interest that further complicates he said/he said.
at the end of the day, if the 3rd party is supposed to be the owner's advantage to ensure only those repairs necessary are need, then all this is moot...as only X would be done per owner's decision to follow 3rd party's recommendation.
it's only entangled if the 3rd party actually wants X+Y done whilst mechanic only wants Y... the owner would have to cover cost of Y.
that being said... going back to self interest factor... why would the dealership argue against doing additional work that the 3rd party inspector recommends?? it only means more earnings for them, so that wouldn't make sense would it?
ugh.
mechanic says repairs need to be X+Y... warranty's 3rd party inspection claims only X is needed.
the owner is left to determine whether to accept and pay for Y, or follow the 3rd party for only X.
the entire concept of having the 3rd party to be a check&balance to what the mechanic claims actually works against the hassle-free nature of all this.
also bear in mind... as much as I'd like to place the blame on the dealership, many/most of these mechanics are essentially contractors, not paid employees of the dealership. adding another layer of self interest that further complicates he said/he said.
at the end of the day, if the 3rd party is supposed to be the owner's advantage to ensure only those repairs necessary are need, then all this is moot...as only X would be done per owner's decision to follow 3rd party's recommendation.
it's only entangled if the 3rd party actually wants X+Y done whilst mechanic only wants Y... the owner would have to cover cost of Y.
that being said... going back to self interest factor... why would the dealership argue against doing additional work that the 3rd party inspector recommends?? it only means more earnings for them, so that wouldn't make sense would it?
ugh.
At the same price no one would buy a third party insurance over an extended warranty from MB.
The only reason anyone would consider a third party insurance is to save money. As I posted the MB extended warranty is like Medicare and the third party is like Medicare Advantage:
Both Medicare Advantage and third party extended warranty save you money but may limit your choice.
If price is an issue, buy the third party and put the savings into a money market account, let it earn 4% and understand that certain repairs will not be covered by the third party warranty and use the savings, money put aside, to pay for non covered repairs. Hopefully the savings will be enough to pay for the non covered repairs.
For me the answer is simple: either I buy insurance, the MB extended warranty or I self insure: the third party has too many uncertainties. Insurance is give you piece of mind. IMO, the third party extended warranty fails to do this: the third party extended warranty has too many variables, extra time and aggravation and uncertainties - exactly the opposite of what an extended warranty is supposed to do and be.
Do you really want to buy an extended warranty knowing before hand you are going to be limited as to where you can go for repairs and further knowing you are going to wind up arguing and being upset about the repairs? Why even bother? For me life is to short!
Just my $.02 and hope this clarifies.
Last edited by JTK44; Oct 15, 2025 at 09:57 AM.
Thread Starter
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997.2TTS
I think you are over thinking this:
At the same price no one would buy a third party insurance over an extended warranty from MB.
The only reason anyone would consider a third party insurance is to save money. As I posted the MB extended warranty is like Medicare and the third party is like Medicare Advantage:
Both Medicare Advantage and third party extended warranty save you money but may limit your choice.
If price is an issue, buy the third party and put the savings into a money market account, let it earn 4% and understand that certain repairs will not be covered by the third party warranty and use the savings, money put aside, to pay for non covered repairs. Hopefully the savings will be enough to pay for the non covered repairs.
For me the answer is simple: either I buy insurance, the MB extended warranty or I self insure: the third party has too many uncertainties. Insurance is give you piece of mind. IMHO, the third party has too many variables, extra time and aggravation and uncertainties - exactly the opposite of what an extended warranty is supposed to be.
Just my $.02 and hope this clarifies.
At the same price no one would buy a third party insurance over an extended warranty from MB.
The only reason anyone would consider a third party insurance is to save money. As I posted the MB extended warranty is like Medicare and the third party is like Medicare Advantage:
Both Medicare Advantage and third party extended warranty save you money but may limit your choice.
If price is an issue, buy the third party and put the savings into a money market account, let it earn 4% and understand that certain repairs will not be covered by the third party warranty and use the savings, money put aside, to pay for non covered repairs. Hopefully the savings will be enough to pay for the non covered repairs.
For me the answer is simple: either I buy insurance, the MB extended warranty or I self insure: the third party has too many uncertainties. Insurance is give you piece of mind. IMHO, the third party has too many variables, extra time and aggravation and uncertainties - exactly the opposite of what an extended warranty is supposed to be.
Just my $.02 and hope this clarifies.
SPONSOR
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 475
From: Scottsdale, Arizona
2001 E55AMG
@Highline-Autos why did you stop carrying Fidelity?
Trenton O. Gibson
tgibson@highline-autos.com
Highline Autos
Direct: 602.909.9216
Office: 480.348.0777
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