Mbworld Can I Continue Buying Mb Prepaid Maintenance After 40k

Post by **imyeti2** » Tue May 25, 2021 8:20 pm

Hello,
DW is interested in a Mercedes SUV and have finalized on a vehicle. As we're researching, found out that Mercedes offers an extended warranty and prepaid maintenance plan. Does anyone have any experience with these?
We plan to keep the vehicle for a long time and thought the warranty may be worth it. Cost is ~4K for 7 yrs/100 K miles
The prepaid maintenance is ~2K for 4 years. Not sure what the out of pocket cost is every 10K miles on maintenance.
Thank you.
Yeti.

Post by **RickBoglehead** » Tue May 25, 2021 8:24 pm

Extended warranties are great deals - for the dealer and manufacturer.

Mercedes are notoriously expensive to service.

Post by **Petrocelli** » Tue May 25, 2021 8:31 pm

I have leased a new Mercedes every 3 years or so since 1997. When I got the last one in 2019, I paid 1,100 for prepaid service for the first 3 services (at every 10,000 miles.)

I don't know how many miles are on your car, but $2,000 sounds high for four services. Call the service department and ask how much the standard service is for the next four visits.

Post by **delamer** » Tue May 25, 2021 8:45 pm

The prepaid maintenance contracts are well-priced, assuming you plan to have the service done at the dealer.

Skip the extended warranty though.

Post by **workingovertime** » Tue May 25, 2021 9:23 pm

Hard to answer this question without running real numbers but businesses almost always come out ahead in these kind of offers. You might absolutely come out ahead or you may not, but statistically on average, smart business would set the price so that THEY come out ahead. Just my opinion, not professional in the field or anything!

Post by **helloeveryone** » Tue May 25, 2021 10:01 pm

delamer wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 8:45 pm The prepaid maintenance contracts are well-priced, assuming you plan to have the service done at the dealer.

Skip the extended warranty though.

Curious…why should they skip extended warranty? There are a lot of threads that say don't own a Mercedes or BMW or Audi beyond the warranty period….in this case why not just buy extended warranty since they want to own for a longer period of time. Should they instead trade in when the manufacturer warranty expire?
Thks

Post by **newventurer** » Tue May 25, 2021 10:16 pm

When I read 7yr/100k I instantly convert that to 5 yr/100k for my driving miles. Then I look at what the manufacturer's warranty term is on the vehicle prior to extending it (I assume you are not getting 7yr/100k incremental). If you receive a 4 year 50,000 mi (I looked) then the incremental coverage you are receiving is 3 yr/50,000, which could only be 1 - 2 years additional coverage depending on the mileage you put on it every year, so maybe $3-4k per year for the extended coverage. It's no surprise they inflate the coverage when they advertise the warranties, as if it's incremental, you already paid for 4 yr/ 50,000. Good luck, enjoy the new ride - happy wife, happy life, so they say

Post by **BruDude** » Tue May 25, 2021 10:21 pm

Maintenance overpriced. Should be standard $150 oil changes at an independent shop. Unless that package includes a new set of brake rotors and pads within the time period I'd skip it.

The warranty is just a 3 year extension if this is a new car. Is it even a Mercedes backed warranty? Probably not. Their own CPO cars only get an extra year of warranty. There's also a huge difference between a powertrain warranty and an exclusionary/Platinum type warranty which your post doesn't specify. Check the pricing for Fidelity Platinum, I'll bet it's almost half the price. Troy Dietrich and Michael Jourdan are two well known fidelity sellers that sell the warranties at around 55% of normal retail cost.

If your car insurance is with GEICO you can also get their mechanical breakdown insurance which is basically the same as an extended warranty. It's dirt cheap too, like $8/month

Post by **EHEngineer** » Tue May 25, 2021 11:19 pm

BruDude wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 10:21 pm If your car insurance is with GEICO you can also get their mechanical breakdown insurance which is basically the same as an extended warranty. It's dirt cheap too, like $8/month

Does geico treat mechanical breakdown claims like collision claims? Some insurers were doing that with roadside assistance, costing their insureds increased premiums and simultaneously making it harder for them to shop other insurers. These add-ons seem cheap until the insurer burns you. AAA doesn't do that.

Post by **rgs92** » Tue May 25, 2021 11:24 pm

For a Benz, you had better buy it. Don't think twice, just do it. All sorts of weird little things go wrong and cost a lot to repair.
A single repair could easily be 2 or 3 thousand bucks.
They are nice cars, and although you didn't ask, are you sure you don't want a Lexus? (If you have to ask about repair costs or warranty costs, you should probably get the Lex.)

Post by **BruDude** » Wed May 26, 2021 12:23 am

EHEngineer wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 11:19 pm

BruDude wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 10:21 pm If your car insurance is with GEICO you can also get their mechanical breakdown insurance which is basically the same as an extended warranty. It's dirt cheap too, like $8/month

Does geico treat mechanical breakdown claims like collision claims? Some insurers were doing that with roadside assistance, costing their insureds increased premiums and simultaneously making it harder for them to shop other insurers. These add-ons seem cheap until the insurer burns you. AAA doesn't do that.

No, it works just like an exclusionary warranty - https://www.geico.com/auto-insurance/me ... insurance/

Post by **delamer** » Wed May 26, 2021 8:45 am

helloeveryone wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 10:01 pm

delamer wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 8:45 pm The prepaid maintenance contracts are well-priced, assuming you plan to have the service done at the dealer.

Skip the extended warranty though.

Curious…why should they skip extended warranty? There are a lot of threads that say don't own a Mercedes or BMW or Audi beyond the warranty period….in this case why not just buy extended warranty since they want to own for a longer period of time. Should they instead trade in when the manufacturer warranty expire?
Thks

On average, an owner is better off setting the warranty premium aside as a repair fund rather than using it to buy the warranty.

The warranty issuers only make money if, overall, the claims are less than the premiums. So the odds are in your favor.

We have owned several Mercedes and Audis well past the initial warranty period. I don't remember any situation where it would have been to our advantage cost-wise to have purchased the extended warranty.

Remember that a warranty is basically insurance. And you should only insure against potentially catastrophic costs or income disruptions. So life insurance, for instance, is a good idea if anyone is dependent on your income and its loss would be devastating to them financially. That is not the case with auto repairs.

Post by **exodusNH** » Wed May 26, 2021 9:31 am

imyeti2 wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 8:20 pm Hello,
DW is interested in a Mercedes SUV and have finalized on a vehicle. As we're researching, found out that Mercedes offers an extended warranty and prepaid maintenance plan. Does anyone have any experience with these?
We plan to keep the vehicle for a long time and thought the warranty may be worth it. Cost is ~4K for 7 yrs/100 K miles
The prepaid maintenance is ~2K for 4 years. Not sure what the out of pocket cost is every 10K miles on maintenance.
Thank you.
Yeti.

Is it actually a warranty or is it a service contract they're informally calling a warranty? There's a very big difference.

Service contracts (which make up most of what people call "extended warranties" on cars) are insurance contracts. They are notoriously hard to work with.

If it's a true warranty from Mercedes-Benz, e.g. instead of 3/36K, you get 7/100K from the manufacturer, the math might be different.

But if it's really insurance, like any insurance company, they have access to troves of data you don't and have priced the contracts to net a profit. Like any insurance, there will be people who make out well and others who never use it.

Post by **cowdogman** » Wed May 26, 2021 10:50 am

I had an extended warranty on a MB G500. There was a clicking sound coming from one of the vents in the dashboard and the MB technician said that a "connector" was broken. "Connectors" weren't covered under the extended warranty and the repair was about $500.

Couple lessons: Don't buy a Mercedes and make sure your warranty is exclusionary (that is, it covers everything other than a hopefully small list of excluded parts--tires, brakes, etc.). That said, I kept the G500 for 7 years and it was fun to drive--and indestructible.

I now have a 2014 Volvo XC70 with the 6 cylinder turbo . Bought the 6 year warranty and then a 5 warranty extension (which was pretty cheap given I don't drive much). Haven't used either warranty. Of course.

I did buy the 10 year/100K maintenance plan "with wear" (that is, covers brakes and wipers) on the Volvo. This has been well worth it. I put less than 10K on the car every year and so it covers my annual maintenance for 10 years, plus brakes and wipers (which are circa $80 for my car). I'm now 7+ years into the car and plan to keep for at least the full 10 years.

Post by **phxjcc** » Wed May 26, 2021 11:09 am

imyeti2 wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 8:20 pm Hello,
DW is interested in a Mercedes SUV and have finalized on a vehicle. As we're researching, found out that Mercedes offers an extended warranty and prepaid maintenance plan. Does anyone have any experience with these?
We plan to keep the vehicle for a long time and thought the warranty may be worth it. Cost is ~4K for 7 yrs/100 K miles
The prepaid maintenance is ~2K for 4 years. Not sure what the out of pocket cost is every 10K miles on maintenance.
Thank you.
Yeti.

It really depends on your "use case".

If it will be a grocery getter, and otherwise lightly used, I would not.

However, it it is the wife's car and primary family vehicle then the MBZ factory warranty is not, despite what vet you read here, a bad deal.

You did not mention model, nor trim level, but higher trims and AMG models have many bits that wear out-per the design. For instance, engine and transmission mounts that are liquid filled to dampen vibration. $100 part and $800 labor.

Good cars, but different design parameters than a Hondota.

Post by **NotWhoYouThink** » Wed May 26, 2021 3:09 pm

phxjcc wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 11:09 am

imyeti2 wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 8:20 pm Hello,
DW is interested in a Mercedes SUV and have finalized on a vehicle. As we're researching, found out that Mercedes offers an extended warranty and prepaid maintenance plan. Does anyone have any experience with these?
We plan to keep the vehicle for a long time and thought the warranty may be worth it. Cost is ~4K for 7 yrs/100 K miles
The prepaid maintenance is ~2K for 4 years. Not sure what the out of pocket cost is every 10K miles on maintenance.
Thank you.
Yeti.

It really depends on your "use case".

If it will be a grocery getter, and otherwise lightly used, I would not.

However, it it is the wife's car and primary family vehicle then the MBZ factory warranty is not, despite what vet you read here, a bad deal.

You did not mention model, nor trim level, but higher trims and AMG models have many bits that wear out-per the design. For instance, engine and transmission mounts that are liquid filled to dampen vibration. $100 part and $800 labor.

Good cars, but different design parameters than a Hondota.

The key is to research the exact name and details of the MB factory warranty, and make sure that's what the sales manager is offering you. We've been offered third-party warranties AT THE DEALER, so just because the contract is presented to you at the dealer, that doesn't mean it's the MB warranty.

We bet right on 2 BMWs, sort of - on the lemon (we bet wrong buying it in the first place) we got the extended warranty and it paid for itself twice over. On the replacement car, we skipped the warranty, and it would have been a waste of money.

Post by **BruDude** » Wed May 26, 2021 4:55 pm

In my experience, if you get a discounted exclusionary warranty from Fidelity on a German car, you're going to come out ahead in the end. I don't know how they offer such low pricing on cars that are so expensive to repair. People on the Audi R8 forum have been abusing Fidelity Platinum warranties for years with many $5k+ repairs when the warranty only costs $2-4k. I had the engine in my BMW M3 blow twice due to design defect, each engine costs about $25-30k. Common oil leaks cost $500-2000 to fix and happen frequently especially if you live in a hot climate where the seals tend to dry out quickly. I had a valve cover gasket that was repaired and then 4 months later it was leaking again, $1000 each time if not under warranty.

The Porsche Macan is well known for having the timing chain cover leak oil. Fixing it costs about $8-10k since they have to remove the entire engine and transmission to do it. Almost every single Macan I looked at had that repair done once already. One car I was ready to buy found the leak during the prepurchase inspection. Replacing the transmission costs almost $20k. IMO, you should not own a German car without some type of warranty for the big stuff, especially a car with a twin-turbo complicated design engine. It will sting when they tell you that your $35k car needs a $10-20k repair.

Post by **MarkerFM** » Wed May 26, 2021 5:22 pm

I would not (and did not) buy the pre-paid service package. They often run specials, and dealers match others' prices, so if you shop a bit you can save compared to these packages. Even the finance guy when we bought discouraged us when I asked about them.

Extended warranty? Wait until your original warranty is about to expire before buying. No hassle or loss if the car gets totaled or traded in the meantime, and good warranties are still available as long as you buy before the original warranty expires.

Post by **UALflyer** » Wed May 26, 2021 9:24 pm

BruDude wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 4:55 pm The Porsche Macan is well known for having the timing chain cover leak oil. Fixing it costs about $8-10k since they have to remove the entire engine and transmission to do it. Almost every single Macan I looked at had that repair done once already. One car I was ready to buy found the leak during the prepurchase inspection.

That's non-discounted pricing at the Porsche dealers. There are lots of posts on macanforum.com and rennlist that to the extent that this happens out of warranty, the manufacturer has been very receptive to agreeing to goodwill credit. After the goodwill credits, depending on the circumstances, people have generally been responsible for $700 - $3K. It's not pennies, but also not $8K to $10K.

IMO, you should not own a German car without some type of warranty for the big stuff, especially a car with a twin-turbo complicated design engine.

Depends on the German car. Complex, high strung vehicles with known reliability issues are very different from plenty of mainstream German vehicles with very reasonable maintenance and repair costs.

Post by **BruDude** » Wed May 26, 2021 9:36 pm

UALflyer wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 9:24 pm

BruDude wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 4:55 pm The Porsche Macan is well known for having the timing chain cover leak oil. Fixing it costs about $8-10k since they have to remove the entire engine and transmission to do it. Almost every single Macan I looked at had that repair done once already. One car I was ready to buy found the leak during the prepurchase inspection.

That's non-discounted pricing at the Porsche dealers. There are lots of posts on macanforum.com and rennlist that to the extent that this happens out of warranty, the manufacturer has been very receptive to agreeing to goodwill credit. After the goodwill credits, depending on the circumstances, people have generally been responsible for $700 - $3K. It's not pennies, but also not $8K to $10K.

IMO, you should not own a German car without some type of warranty for the big stuff, especially a car with a twin-turbo complicated design engine.

Depends on the German car. Complex, high strung vehicles with known reliability issues are very different from plenty of mainstream German vehicles with very reasonable maintenance and repair costs.

That's still rolling the dice on Porsche goodwill and if you didn't buy from a dealer and don't service your car there, they aren't going to be as receptive to goodwill repairs. An Indy shop is still a $5-6k job and not everyone lives in an area with a capable Indy shop. A PDK replacement is $15-20k and there is no way to repair a PDK.

Post by **HereToLearn** » Wed May 26, 2021 11:27 pm

I considered a Mercedes but decided against buying one due to my concern about repair costs.

However, when I bought a Toyota instead of the Mercedes, I purchased an extended service warranty, even though I had always thought they were a waste of money, especially since I had this same car for 13 years without issue. The standard warranty was only two years, and while I had full faith in the engine, I was skeptical about all the electronic features. (Heated & cooled seats, ice box in center console, all the cameras on the back, top, sides of car, etc.) Warranty was $2000 almost eight years ago, and covered out to eight years, 75K miles.

All audio on the car failed this spring, just a few months shy of the end of the eight year warranty. All stereo functions operated (SAT radio, CD player, FM stations), but no sound came out. Same for GPS and phone. Toyota dealer was stumped, and after much investigation and calls, decided it was the amp and possibly the flip-down rear passenger TV. Replacing the amp did not resolve the problem, so they had to replace the TV unit that I had never used. I have no idea how much this cost (an online search reveals crazy prices--$5K for stereo and either $700 or $1700 for the amp). I have no idea why the TV unit controls all sound in the car, but am very glad I had the extended warranty.

The keyless touch lock/unlock failed in both the driver and passenger doors somewhere along the way also, but I think those are less expensive repairs. I have not had a single problem of what I would consider a 'car' problem--just electronic issues. The car had the original battery until a few months ago (so more than seven & a half years) and it may have lasted longer if I had not left the door open for a couple of days and then after a jump start, did not drive it much due to COVID.

In summary, I would seriously consider the Platinum Level extended warranty. I don't know if the term Platinum Level is a Toyota term, but it covers everything except for typical wear & tear and also provides a rental car when the car is being serviced under warranty.

Post by **UALflyer** » Thu May 27, 2021 6:57 am

BruDude wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 9:36 pm That's still rolling the dice on Porsche goodwill and if you didn't buy from a dealer and don't service your car there, they aren't going to be as receptive to goodwill repairs. An Indy shop is still a $5-6k job and not everyone lives in an area with a capable Indy shop.

That's all true, although the rennlist and macanforum posters have gotten goodwill offers on this issue even when they bought theirs used and serviced them at indy mechanics or did DIY. Still, I agree that it's not a guarantee.

A PDK replacement is $15-20k and there is no way to repair a PDK.

The PDK has actually been reliable, with the vast majority of complaints having to do with the software. There's no such thing as a failure free item, however, so it is true that if it fails, it'll be ridiculously expensive.

Regardless though, why are you talking about the Macan's, the R8's and M3's, as the thread is about a Benz and we don't know the model? In general, what you've been saying about the particular models is generally true and makes sense, but you then extrapolate it to "all German vehicles," which is simply untrue. As I've mentioned, there are many German vehicles with poor reliability and high maintenance and repair costs. There are also a lot of German vehicles that are quite reliable and have very reasonable maintenance and repair costs. Lumping them all together makes no sense.

Post by **BruDude** » Thu May 27, 2021 11:50 am

UALflyer wrote: ↑Thu May 27, 2021 6:57 am

BruDude wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 9:36 pm That's still rolling the dice on Porsche goodwill and if you didn't buy from a dealer and don't service your car there, they aren't going to be as receptive to goodwill repairs. An Indy shop is still a $5-6k job and not everyone lives in an area with a capable Indy shop.

That's all true, although the rennlist and macanforum posters have gotten goodwill offers on this issue even when they bought theirs used and serviced them at indy mechanics or did DIY. Still, I agree that it's not a guarantee.

A PDK replacement is $15-20k and there is no way to repair a PDK.

The PDK has actually been reliable, with the vast majority of complaints having to do with the software. There's no such thing as a failure free item, however, so it is true that if it fails, it'll be ridiculously expensive.

Regardless though, why are you talking about the Macan's, the R8's and M3's, as the thread is about a Benz and we don't know the model? In general, what you've been saying about the particular models is generally true and makes sense, but you then extrapolate it to "all German vehicles," which is simply untrue. As I've mentioned, there are many German vehicles with poor reliability and high maintenance and repair costs. There are also a lot of German vehicles that are quite reliable and have very reasonable maintenance and repair costs. Lumping them all together makes no sense.

For some reason the PDK in the Macan seems to be a lot less reliable than the PDK in other models. I have seen more stories of failed PDK's on macanforum than Rennlist, which is surprising considering how long PDK's have been around in other models. Think I read the Macan uses a different version of the PDK but not 100% sure on that. They are usually extremely reliable, but if it does fail you have no choice but to replace the entire unit

I have owned somewhere around 15 German cars over the last 10 years or so (not a brag, I just go through cars quickly). The 911's have been by far the most reliable which is kind of funny considering it's a high performance sports car. Every single BMW I owned had major issues that seemed to never end, constant oil leaks, bad gaskets, bad sensors, etc. Sometimes it's not even the money, it's just the constant hassle of having to take the car back to the shop and wait for it to be fixed.

The worst car I ever had was a run of the mill BMW X3. In one year of ownership I spent about $6k in repairs including 4 different fluid leaks and lost 30% of the $20k I paid for it when I sold it. In contrast I have never had a major repair out of 4 911's and a Cayenne Turbo, and made money on all of them when I sold them. I look at cars differently than most people - most see a mode of transportation that depreciates and in German "everyday car" form, they tend to depreciate like a rock, especially if you buy new. I like to buy already depreciated high-performance versions that hold their value like the M3, 911, etc. Buy a 911 for $70k and sell it in 2 years for $70k, or buy a Mercedes E450 for $70k and sell it in 2 years for $35k? Easy choice IMO. Of course most people are not going to daily a 911 because they have family and need a larger car, but you get the idea. I just bought a used Macan GTS and will probably be able to drive it 2-3 years and only lose $5-10k in depreciation.

Mercedes seems to fall somewhere in the middle on the reliability scale. Do I think they make some great cars? Yes I do. Would I want to own one out of warranty? Probably not, but it depends on what the warranty costs and what it covers. I definitely would not pay the "retail" price of an extended warranty/service contract.

Post by **Petrocelli** » Thu May 27, 2021 12:10 pm

I've driven about 7 different MBZs since 1997. Great cars. Quiet and comfortable.

I'd pay for the warranty. You are paying about $48 a month to insure your car against a major repair.

Also, my research indicates that MBZs depreciate a lot initially, and then hold their value pretty well after that. There is always someone who will pay a little extra to drive a MBZ for the status. So when your car is at 100k miles, you can probably sell it for a good price.

Post by **UALflyer** » Thu May 27, 2021 12:39 pm

BruDude wrote: ↑Thu May 27, 2021 11:50 am I like to buy already depreciated high-performance versions that hold their value like the M3, 911, etc.

What you do makes perfect sense, but high performance models are almost always a totally different animal. They aren't typically purchased by soccer moms to be driven gingerly with kids sipping chocolate milk in the back. There are some owners who are gentle with them, but the number of owners who push them to their limits is significant and, when you are buying a used one, this is not something that is easy to figure out.

Likewise, a lot of high performance models use repair and maintenance prone options that aren't found on most mainstream variants made by the same manufacturer.

Hence, it is easy to get burned by a high performance model.

Mercedes seems to fall somewhere in the middle on the reliability scale. Do I think they make some great cars? Yes I do. Would I want to own one out of warranty? Probably not, but it depends on what the warranty costs and what it covers. I definitely would not pay the "retail" price of an extended warranty/service contract.

I've owned plenty of German vehicles, including BMW and Mercedes, out of warranty and am around lots of German vehicle owners. As I've previously mentioned, it's less about the manufacturer and more about the specific model, year and options.

As I've also previously mentioned, for instance, if your model has an air suspension, it doesn't really matter whether you've got a Japanese car or a German one. Regardless of the manufacturer, air suspensions are a repair prone item and an expensive one at that. So, don't buy a Lexus GX based on the often repeated statements about how reliable Lexus vehicles are and then complain about your failed air suspension and a large repair bill (or people buy and install coil springs conversion kits). By the same token, if you've got a Mercedes with coil springs, those springs are going to be just fine and way more reliable than the air suspension used by Lexus.

Post by **Huygens** » Thu May 27, 2021 10:58 pm

I have purchased an extended warranty on two German cars. It completely paid for itself on one, and it was unused on the second. Take what you will from that n=2 anecdote.

What I have not seen anyone mention so far is that warranties are negotiable. OP, if you do decide to go with one, don't pay list price.

Post by **JackoC** » Fri May 28, 2021 9:31 am

helloeveryone wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 10:01 pm

delamer wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 8:45 pm The prepaid maintenance contracts are well-priced, assuming you plan to have the service done at the dealer.

Skip the extended warranty though.

Curious…why should they skip extended warranty? There are a lot of threads that say don't own a Mercedes or BMW or Audi beyond the warranty period….in this case why not just buy extended warranty since they want to own for a longer period of time. Should they instead trade in when the manufacturer warranty expire?
Thks

I agree this is an area where there's a tension between the common/predominant belief on the forum 'don't own an expensive German car beyond the warranty' and 'don't get extended warranties'. Not an outright contradiction necessarily because it's not necessarily the same people saying both things. Also the two positions could be strictly consistent if the extended warranties cost a fortune, which would show that indeed 'everybody knows' the expected repair cost past regular warranty is astronomical.

But in reality the extended warranty cost isn't astronomical. Because in fact the 'never own beyond warranty' is more of an expression of risk aversion to relatively unusual very expensive repairs than an accurate assessment of expected cost.

I think the reality is many people are highly risk averse to relatively unlikely very expensive repairs (reasonable enough) and so extended warranties can make sense for them, even if we all realize that the warranty provider would in general not offer it for a lower cost than their estimate of *expected* cost of repair across all warranties sold. Same with any insurance: the fact it's priced above the cost of expected claims doesn't mean it's a rip off. It just means you have to examine the degree to which you can't afford either financially or psychologically*, the cost of a very expensive outlier event.

*The cost of just replacing my M2 in the limit of a repair so expensive it was more economical to just junk the car, would not be *that* significant to me financially. I'd feel quite bummed out though. Although that didn't make me actually buy an extended warranty; the car is not through original warranty yet. My 'regular' BMW 3 has had no problems after 7 yrs. I drive the M2 in a 'spirited' way at times but don't really tax it the way some people do, have not tracked this particular car (though have driven on track in the model). I think this is probably a factor in judging some of this stuff from online anecdotes even at user forums where you get more than a handful: how do people use the cars, besides the big self selection effect in talking about serious problems with cars on the internet, cars of any kind. The people who haven't had a problem tend to be less interested in the topic.

Post by **cowdogman** » Fri May 28, 2021 2:57 pm

JackoC wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 9:31 am I think the reality is many people are highly risk averse to relatively unlikely very expensive repairs (reasonable enough) and so extended warranties can make sense for them.

Precisely my thinking. I bought the 6 year Volvo Platinum VIP cover for my current Volvo and then bought a five year extension when my six years were up. Having owned several Volvos I just didn't want the uncertainty of high repair costs--and the irritation that goes along with them. The way I looked at the five year warranty extension was that it was A LOT cheaper than buying a new car (and I really like my current car). I have yet to use the warranty and that's ok with me. Hope I never do.

Post by **anoop** » Fri May 28, 2021 3:46 pm

I used to worry about all this stuff when I was with BMW. I think you should get the prepaid maintenance but delay the extended warranty until nearly out of the original warranty. This keeps the dealer from gouging you. But be prepared to shop hard. Check the MB forums and call multiple dealers, because you can save hundreds or in some cases even more than a thousand dollars. That's how varied the quotes can be.

Post by **BruDude** » Fri May 28, 2021 4:36 pm

anoop wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 3:46 pm I used to worry about all this stuff when I was with BMW. I think you should get the prepaid maintenance but delay the extended warranty until nearly out of the original warranty. This keeps the dealer from gouging you. But be prepared to shop hard. Check the MB forums and call multiple dealers, because you can save hundreds or in some cases even more than a thousand dollars. That's how varied the quotes can be.

Or just call Troy Dietrich or Michael Jourdan as referenced earlier in this thread. They have the best pricing you can get, they only make like $200 on each warranty sale instead of thousands like the dealer will charge.

Post by **imyeti2** » Sat May 29, 2021 6:03 am

Thank you for all the great responses. We'll decline both prepaid and extended warranty.

I researched the MBWorld forums.

For prepaid maintenance, it's suggested to pay the 1st service out of pocket (it's cheap). Take a 3 year plan for the next 3 (services at 20 & 40 K are expensive).

For extended warranty, give it some time to see whether the car has any issues. In 4 yrs/50 K, we'll decide whether we'd like to keep it longer. If so, take a extended warranty then. Jeff Jackson at Mercedes in Louisville, KY is supposed to be the go-to person for MB extended warranty - he seems to be very responsive and sells at about cost.

Thank you.

Post by **sc9182** » Sat May 29, 2021 7:35 am

If you want to scratch the MB/German vehicle itch - a good new-vehicle lease May be a good way. MB can roll prepaid maintenances into lease - and depreciates those (ie, you end up only paying, say 50% of its msrp price). Being new vehicle - you are fully covered under warranty, and enjoy latest model year safety/features anyway ..

A good lease is something to that costs 1% or less a month of MSRP of a German vehicle for 10k-12k annual miles.

The only thing you might be concerned in a lease is - tires .. (and miles, which you gotta watch for .. )

You can get exec demos, or brass-hat vehicles - with additional discount of about $1 off for each mile driven. Ie, an exec demo with 4K mikes will cost $4000 additionally less (in addition to negotiated prices, plus other discounts). While you still get your full miles allowed by lease. Also, for most German luxury cars GAP insurance is already build-in/included ..

MSDs (multiple security deposits, fully refundable) will lessen money-factor costs .. further reducing lease costs.

In some states, MB/BMW/Audi have tax-credits — to really sweeten it the lease deal !!

Research more on these keywords - you will likely to come out ahead on lease (as/when discounted by manufacturer).

MB and BMW runs good leases on their normal vehicles (AMGs or M* don't lease well). It's hard to get decent lease on Porsche - as their residual values are kept soooo low (artificially low, imho) — so, they rather sell it to you than leasing it ..

One way to attack Porsche lease is to - lease for your/spouse's business and allow business-expense to absorb higher lease costs — for 2-3 years, and do lease end buy (for personal/family use) at its 40-something % residual value (assuming you ready to assume ownership costs/risks of owning German cars)

If you do one-pay lease on a Lexus - it's quite possible you can achieve great .8% of MSRP monthly lease cost. Then again - why you want to lease a Lexus - you can own those for good 12-15 years with great reliability and dependability with minimal running or service costs (compared to other luxury or German brands)

Post by **Petrocelli** » Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:53 pm

Huygens wrote: ↑Thu May 27, 2021 10:58 pm
What I have not seen anyone mention so far is that warranties are negotiable. OP, if you do decide to go with one, don't pay list price.

Can you tell me your experience negotiating a warranty? I am considering buying my Mercedes at the end of the lease, and am considering buying an extended warranty.

Post by **imyeti2** » Sat Jun 05, 2021 8:44 pm

I sent emails to Finance Managers of a number of dealerships to get quotes. The best I've done is Jeff Jackson in Louisville. The problem is that you don't know the "invoice" cost of the warranty. I'd send emails to a numbers of dealerships to get quotes.

Post by **stan1** » Sat Jun 05, 2021 9:26 pm

The price on extended warranties can be negotiated and can be bought from any dealer. I'd search and ask on a forum for the vehicle you have in mind.

I would only get a Mercedes brand extended warranty for a Mercedes. No third parties.

I did buy a cost-negotiated extended warranty on both a 2003 C Class and a 2009 BMW 3 series. In both cars the covered repairs exceeded cost of the warranty . Would have been close to break even had I paid the list price for the extended warranty. YMMV.

Prepaid maintenance is a function of how much you drive the car. If you drive the car a lot of miles you'll get more value out of it with brakes and other mileage based repairs than if you drive it just a little.

Post by **sc9182** » Sat Jun 05, 2021 9:46 pm

You would do better with CPO warranty of Benz (or bmw), instead of buying extended warranty on your own (unless you are talking about an exclusionary and affordable warranty such as route-66/PenFed).

As for prepaid maintenance - leases makes best use of PrePaid maint on Benz.. since those are residualized (lesser cost that is)

Mbworld Can I Continue Buying Mb Prepaid Maintenance After 40k

Mercedes Benz extended warranty and prepaid maintenance

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