Mspec33

Hi Guys, Typically I never keep my car beyond 2 years but we like the GT enough to probably keep it for a few more years and I am hoping to get some savings by purchasing the first 4 year prepaid maintenance program. The selling point is that it might save me 30% over actual costs. Do anyone have any sense of what the costs are for these prepaid maintenance? I got quotes from two dealers and they are both vastly different. Any thoughts or recommendations on this purchase? is it worthwhile? Thanks in advance!

hyperion667

Key words: 'might save'.

I'd skip the PPM.

ChrisHimself

I used to work at my dealer. Basically the grift is that by telling them they're going to save 25% on parts and labor, you can sell them $5000+ worth of service upfront, which in many cases you're banking on them never needing before they crash the car, also it would apply to anything not covered by the warranty, like brakes,tires, sensors, fluids, and filters, or a repair outside of warranty. Some of the service contracts we had were like $8000+ billed into the monthlies.The 25% mind you is off parts that are normally double to triple the OEM part, and $250hr in my location where a good independent making money bills $160/hr such as myself. Now the dealer has way bigger expenses like marketing, payroll, AC, and a huge building full of 20+ stalls with parts people who run things to the individual stalls, but to the end customer they just want to drive a car headache free to work.

If you have a relationship with your parts counter person they're authorized to take 25% off the parts/merch tab anyway.

I would build a relationship with a qualified specialist outside of the dealer environment if you love the car.

Mspec33

Appreciate the feedback, I decided not to purchase it when the SA told me that if I sell the car before the 4 years it will be lost and will not transfer to the new owner. That is so wild, every other car I have purchased prepaid maintenance, it was transferrable to the new owner and was a selling point.

ChrisHimself

yeah theres a ton of scare tactics they use:

1. you're saving money buying it now or else you pay more later
2. the car will be worth less if you don't buy it
3. youll have to use nonMB parts which are "dangerous" and not as high quality

the 2nd warranty is typically transferrable but the policy changes car to car, dealer to dealer.

They get the 5-10k upfront, you end up crashing the car or selling it, and it's just money in the bank to them. You're better off having a mobile mechanic come over with your supervision take care of your car on the driveway than you are at the dealer. I have a BMW 430i in the shop for example have a "blown turbo" need turbo and turbo cooling lines, radiator, hoses for a low boost code. Theres a $15,000 quote on my desk I don't feel comfortable sharing on the internet for it. The turbo they sell for $3000, and they want engine-out for it and none of the labor overlaps so everything is it's own repair! But yeah he has a dealer contract for service that it was gonna completely blow through, and they denied him his warranty coverage because he missed ONE scheduled oil change at the dealer!

I was able to get the code to go away just replacing the air filter (original), cleaning out the airbox, and re-doing all the charge pipe/intake plumbing which was taken apart by the dealer and put back together shoddy... It's still plausible the turbo is having a bad time, but for now it's running well, I have permission to keep the car for 2 weeks so I'm just daily driving it to test it but yeah thats the dealer environment for you.

hyperion667

Gad damn dealers

Flex6

I absolutely second all this.

Trying to find an independent shop that works specifically on Mercedes, or just simply has a really good reputation, will pay absolute dividends in the long run. The people doing work on your car are likely way more qualified and can actually give you real insight, and genuine feedback on a personal basis.

I've owned three mercedes, and I've actually been taking them to a guy in San Jose for the longest time. Simply put, you're going to get much more personable and honest service from an independent shop, especially if they specialize with Mercedes

hyperion667

Most certainly. I have one extraordinary specialist shop I have going to since 2010. Only work on Benz, quite successful too......went from a 2 bay garage to a 5 bay and recently to a 13-16 bay garage, been with them every step of the way. There is also another one but they are complete DIKS! I'm very lucky to have the one available to me that I do. It's about 40ish miles away but they have loaners too: solid and reliable I'd add.
I realize not everyone is as fortunate and HATE the dealerships...of which there are 3 within 50 miles of me.

ChrisHimself

The dumbest part of an AMG GT is the transmission, the rest of it got put in like GLE's so it's not exactly rocket science to care for these yourself or trust someone with it within reason.

I'm also based in San Jose. I shill Amsoil here but I'm actually first and foremost a full service shop although due to my proximity to a brewery 30ft from me, I don't actually recommend people drop their cars off with me lol