BeaverMjr

I have a 2013 C250 coupe. I recently found a C350 coupe for sale online and am considering upgrading to get the V6 engine, lighting package and blind spot monitoring. The 350 is the same color inside and out and looks almost the same as the 250 except for the 4Matic badging on the back. The 350 is 2 years newer (2015) and has 20K less miles on it (59K).

I know that the car comes with no warranty and it could come with, as a friend likes to say, someone else’s problems. I’ve done my homework and learned that the car had prepaid maintenance for 10K, 20K and 30K services. It also had oil changes at 40k, 50K and 59K. The dealer selling the car has recently replaced brakes and rotors on all 4 wheels. To complete the 60K service, it would need the brake fluid replaced, spark plugs and air filters. I also learned that during the original owner's lease it got a new engine control module and a mirror housing.

I have not seen the car yet. I’m heading out there tomorrow to sit in it, push the buttons and see how it feels. From having driven the V6 before, I know it does not have the “hold on a minute, let me think about this…”, that the 4 cyl does. Also the V6 does not have the detrimental timing chain tensioner problem I experienced with my 250. I’m trying to do my homework and get all the information so I’m able to negotiate logically and not based upon emotion. Anyways, my question is this: Should I consider an aftermarket warranty?

I’ve read a lot about some companies nickel and diming everything, using non OEM parts, limiting diagnostic time, taking forever to approve repairs and making people wait for those non OEM parts to arrive … I’m not even sure which company is good. Have folks here purchased a 3rd party warranty and how was the repair process?

Adi-Benz

It is definitely a lot more reliable, I think the only issue they have is for the secondary fuel pump, which you could consider for an aftermarket warranty, however, overall, the v6's are pretty reliable.
If it was me, I probably would not bother as these are relatively easy cars to work on, and not that expensive if you do the work yourself.

I see you have other benz's so I'd assume you know that 4matic means that it is all wheel drive. So it drives really well in the winter/bad conditions.

BeaverMjr

I'm actually excited about the all wheel drive. This past winter the rear wheel almost left me stranded in the snow less than a mile from my apartment. Granted the car was in need of rear tires. I learned the hard way not to try and push it with tires that I think might last till spring.Better safe than sorry.

While I am capable of doing some work myself, air filters, spark plugs, etc., I can't do everything. I will find a good shop and should be fine. How are maintenance cost for the 350 vs 250? I know it's a bigger engine so it should cost more, but how much, if any?

Adi-Benz

If anything, you might find that the maintenance is less if not equivalent.

xsever

As an FYI, the car will need transmission fluid and filter change at 70k miles since it has the 7G+ transmission. I'd do that service right away and not wait until 70k unless it was done already somehow.

BeaverMjr

It's not been done. I was told by my service advisor that I could go as far as 100K before I absolutely needed to get it changed. MB recommends 70K to be way preventative. At 70K he told me to not do the transmission service since I was thinking of getting a new car and wait till I decide to keep it. I'm almost at 80K on my C250. If I don't get rid of the 250, I will get it done. If I get the 350, I have a year before 70K.

Immane

Whats the average price of the whole job?

BeaverMjr

I was quoted $750 for 70K service. I did the oil change and nothing else since my service advisor recommended holding off on the Transmission service since I'm looking for a new ride. the Oil change was $110 making the service $650. Now that I'm looking at the 350, I can skip the service and get rid of the 250 right before the 80K service.

BeaverMjr

By the way, I began this thread asking about an aftermarket warranty and got only one person's opinion. DO you guys think a 2015 4matic C350 with almost 60K miles needs a warranty or is it a waste of money?

xsever

Honestly, on my car which has the 7G+ transmission, I am going to do the transmission service at 40k or 50k miles because these transmissions are known to be pretty sensitive and fresh fluid and filter will never hurt. No way in hell I'm waiting for 70k let alone 100k. That's like playing with fire to save $750 while risking the entire transmission $4k.

The older 7G had a 40k miles transmission service interval. When the 7G+ was introduced with the new blue transmission fluid, they raised it to 70k, but a lot people and mechanics that dealt with the early failures of the 7G will you how crurcial the fluid change is hence why changing it ahead of time is not a bad move.

The decision is yours at the end.

BeaverMjr

As it turned out, the dealer didn't want to make me an offer I couldn't refuse. He wouldn't get me out of my vehicle, offering me $2500 less than it was worth / What I owed. On top of that, he wanted top dollar for his. As I like to say, "it wasn't meant to be." The hard part is finding coupes in palladium silver. Let alone my narrow desire, palladium Silver C350 4matic with black interior W/ Aluminum trim, headlight package, premium 1, command W/ nav...

Adi-Benz

Nah, white is the best color






Lol

Alfadude

Nah! Once you go black, you never go back.

Adi-Benz

White cars can be dark too 😈

Nicholi2007

When you say "secondary" are you referring to the fuel filter?

Tom in Austin

I think he's referring to the high-pressure pump which is driven off the camshaft to provide the pressure needed for GDI.

Oh, and one more vote for Palladium Silver, one of the truly unique Mercedes colors!