Can't decide on extending warranty

[glojo]

Now my question is, if the Valeo radiator plays up by chance then will that be covered in Service Plus? It does come under a reliability item and is a known manufacturing fault so I hope it does.

My car had an intermittant electrical fault; they stripped out most of the rear electrical innards but could not find a problem £250 labour bill. The service manager had not heard of ServicePlus and didn't think they would pay! They did and since that day my electric gremlins have never returned.

Go for it.

John

 

[C43AMG]

I would certainly say go for it. I bought a 1999 S Class W220 from MB Salisbury with 39k on the clock full MB history and warranty. So far I have had new comand, two cats, both front calipers, front main pully broke up and caused £1500 worth of damage all covered and I still have 16 months left:bannana: For the cost of all those repairs I am well pleased with the warranty. Low mileage will put the cats under threat of failure. Mine were only rattling but were replaced, the rear ones are now making the same noises. The car by the way, IMO is still a superb motor.

Do you mean Service + ? As it only covers cars up to Six tears old.

 

[Rory]

The radiator would be an interesting test - if MB say it's not a manufacturing fault and won't pay ex gratia, then the only other option is that it wore out, therefore ServicePlus would pay.

 

[nimmat]

The radiator would be an interesting test - if MB say it's not a manufacturing fault and won't pay ex gratia, then the only other option is that it wore out, therefore ServicePlus would pay.

True... but would this test be worth risking . MB warrenty is of the range of £800 which is similar sorts of money as the Service Plus minus the servicing costs.

Although they will do a full check of the car before signing the contract but if something does come up in that then I might be stuffed.

Now I bought the car on 9th September. The dealer (indie) gave me a 1yr AA Warranty for free which I later on read is limited to only £500 max claim .. Now I think they are bound by a 3 month warrenty as well so if something does come up in the check for service+ then what will be my stand?

MB Warranty is really out of question if I take on Service Plus but should I bother about taking up an additional warranty along with service plus or just sit tight with the former?

 

[Rory]

True... but would this test be worth risking .

Who knows - but in the event of a dispute we'll support you from behind our keyboards with positive thoughts all the way!

There are several emails floating around that people have received from technical people at MB about ServicePlus and they would seem to indicate that it covers pretty well anything.

There are technical definitions for types of failure. ServicePlus cover wear. failure due to wear is something that happens partially and gradually. Something that breaks is a catastrophic failure - the failure is both sudden and complete.

I think you could argue radiator failure either way.

 

[nimmat]

Rite. All booked in. Will be going tomorrow to sign the documents etc.. Have not yet been told about any checkups etc. so probably be in for that surprise tomorrow.

I did ask him about looking at the T&Cs and if things like gearbox/radiator/turbo failures are covered or not and he said it is all covered.

So thats £1900 peace of mind for 2 years.

Thanks All.
Nim

 

[nimmat]

Forgot to add. Its from Tony Purslow in Guildford. Any one have any experience of them?

 

[Merc-C180K]

Appologies firstly - I haven't had chance to read all the thread. £700 seems high for a warranty. I'm paying £280 for mine with WarrantyDirect (2003 C Class)

 

[nimmat]

Yes 700 is high. But the service plus also covers for all Servicing & MOT costs including things like brake disks & pads or any wear & tear that Warranty direct does not cover.

Warranty direct quoted me £379 which is also not bad but then I will need additional servicing costs + brake pads change. So it really balances out the costs of 2+2=4 with an additional peace of mind that anything strange comes up at MOT/Servicing, that will be covered.

Though this is not exactly a warranty but it comes very close to it.

Nim

 

[Andy Stanton]

First Service Plus Experience

So I finally got round to booking my car in for it's first service under my new Service Plus cover. It was due a 'D' service and I asked them to check out a number of other things for me while it was in. Namely:

Slight rattling noise from the gear leaver gaitor area when in 6th gear (it's a manual box).
Windscreen washers a bit ineffective at the bottom half of the window - needed a tweak.
DVD in Command needed resetting to Region 2 (having been changed to region 1 before)
Rattling noise coming from engine under idle (above and beyond normal noise). Needs investigating.
Drivers mirror intermittently fails to unfold. Needs attention.

As you can see these are all minor niggly things and could generally take a while to be investigated/resolved. I made it clear that any costs coming my way must be cleared first as I expect (hoped) Service Plus would cover everything. I even had an A class for the day to get to and from work.

Result - Everything serviced, investigated and resolved (or not if the fault couldn't be traced and replicated - which is fair enough for the intermittent items). The car also had a semi valet - handwashed outside (presumably using a product with polish as it's VERY shiney), wheels dressed, windows cleaned inside, hoovered and dusted. The only thing missing was a seat clean.

I have to say it was like getting a new car again. Fantastic service and treatment. Really impressed.

Finally, the important detail for you. Cost - Zippo. Everything covered and given back with a smile. Dealer - Hughes of Beaconsfield, who I've praised previously as their customer service levels have grown to what I'd expected from an MB dealer. Well done to them.

Hope that answers some of the questions you have about Service Plus now. For me it represents good value having previously been in a company car scheme. £80ish a month for complete piece of mind.

Cheers.

Andy

 

[crockers]

Andy - what car are you driving and what is your annual mileage

cheers

 

[Andy Stanton]

I'm driving a E220 CDI Saloon on an 04 plate. Annual mileage is about 14k a year (I've had it 3.5 years and have just clocked 48k).

 

[124fan]

Ours is a reg Feb'04 E320cdi (hers) with 31k on the clock 'B' service in 8700 miles, MOT in Feb, quote for service plus is 88GBP incl vat, for 16k miles/year. I hope to sign up for the two years next week as I value the peace of mind and with all the electrics on this car I'm hoping my fears will have settled down by the time the contract runs out!

By the way, when I get back into the C250 (mine), I wonder were all the power has disappeared too? the two cars are like night and day, I'm well pleased (or rather my wife is) with the advice given on this site, thank you all.

Best Regards,

 

[Matt45]

Just as a thought about the cost of extended warranties. I was sent an offer of about £800 for my last MB [SLK200k 55 plate] and a month or 6 weeks later they wrote and said they'd not heard from me but would I like the same extended warranty for 600. I ignored both but it goes to show that they are something that can be negotiated. I seem to remember Audi doing the same thing.

 

[crockers]

Wonder what a service plus contract would cost you..... if not much more than £600 it may make more sense..

 

[hawk20]

Be a little careful there - you're referring to ServicePlus, which is offered as covering servicing and wear and tear repairs. Its coverage seems to be being generously interperated, but it's not a warranty.

That is incorrect as any reading of the Service Plus threads will reveal. Provided failure of a gearbox, COMAND, suspension or whatever is not due to wilful or accidental damage it is covered by Service Plus.

 

[SilverSaloon]

Dont bother with the warranty.

 

[Rory]

That is incorrect as any reading of the Service Plus threads will reveal. Provided failure of a gearbox, COMAND, suspension or whatever is not due to wilful or accidental damage it is covered by Service Plus.

I wish you'd stop incorrectly correcting me.

ServicePlus is *not* a warranty! Nowhere does it claim to be a warranty!!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

My understanding too - Service Plus is NOT a warranty.

However, for all intents and purposes it fulfills a similar purpose.

 

[DieselE]

ServicePlus is *not* a warranty! Nowhere does it claim to be a warranty!!

You are right. However, to quote an old saying "If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it probably is a duck". Apart from the name, Service Plus delivers everything you would expect from a warranty and then some.