Extended warranties

[hawk20]

At 35K miles it's still on it's original Bridgestone Turanza ER30's on the front, but the rears were changed at 20K for Michelin Primacy HP's.

The Turanza's have insanely stiff sidewalls so the car felt like it was running on iron rings. It's a lot better with the Michelins on the back.

Although the fronts have 4mm in the centres, the NSF outer (kerbside) edge was very worn, and in an effort to correct the drift I swapped the fronts over after its last dealer visit a few weeks ago. The Mercedes bulletin on the camber following issue recommends swapping diagonally, but of course I can't do that due to the staggered setup.

The car runs *much* straighter (in fact it will run right on flatish road) but this is presumeably due the way worn edge now being on the OSF. It still squirms just the same.

I've played around with pressures a bit, but anything above the minimum on the rear tyres causes the centres to start wearing noticeably.

I'll have to change the fronts soon due to the edge wear (shame, as they look like they would otherwise be OK for another 20K) and will put Michelin Primacy HP's on.

.

Now this is really interesting. I posted earlier what Micheldever said about having different makes of tyre front and rear and how this can seriously affect handling. Now it turns out you have exactly that, but you didn't comment.

Wouldn't it be interesting if you got the same make of tyres all round and the problem went? But get MO which is what you should have to suit the car.

Talked to top guy at my local dealer. He said they have had no problems in solving any C's with your problem. If you drive in centre of road the car should go straight. If on LHS on road with normal camber it should steer slightly left if you let go of the wheel. And if drive on RHS it should steer slightly right. Slight -not something you should need to fight. If it doesn't do this it is either tyres or needs setting up properly.

 

[Rory]

Now this is really interesting. I posted earlier what Micheldever said about having different makes of tyre front and rear and how this can seriously affect handling. Now it turns out you have exactly that, but you didn't comment.

Wouldn't it be interesting if you got the same make of tyres all round and the problem went? But get MO which is what you should have to suit the car.

It came from the factory with the same tyres all round (and they're not MO tyres) and it's always been the same.

Talked to top guy at my local dealer. He said they have had no problems in solving any C's with your problem. If you drive in centre of road the car should go straight. If on LHS on road with normal camber it should steer slightly left if you let go of the wheel. And if drive on RHS it should steer slightly right. Slight -not something you should need to fight. If it doesn't do this it is either tyres or needs setting up properly.

And it does exactly that. The bigger issue is the squirming motion through the car and the fact that it simply doesn't feel "planted" on the road - it's jittery so it's tiring to drive. It's tough to describe, and of course the dealer jumps in the car, runs up the road and back and it seems fine. They're not going to sit on the motorway in it for a couple of hours as I have to.

 

[bobmedley]

Rory

If you are in Cheshire, then these guys in Liverpool are worth a visit

http://www.4wheelalignment.co.uk/index.html

They have a modern Hunter DSP 600 wheel alignment system & the best thing is they will check your car for free and only charge if anything needs doing and you agree to the work. If adjustments are needed it's around £90-£100 which is half the price of a dealer.

I have my ML checked there & am very happy, as it had various handling/tracking issues

 

[portzy]

UPDATE.

Hi, been away for a couple of weeks. The Warranty Direct quote finally came in at a straight £500 and that was for something along the lines of a Platinum Warranty. After looking at the small print there seemed to me to be far to many, shall we say, "exclusions" for my liking such as no ICE cover (I have COMAND) so that would be important to me and referencies to limited amounts of diagnostic time and also work involved to access faulty parts not being covered.

I'm still persuing the official Tier One thingy from MB but my dealer has said that, because of FSA regs, I have to phone a MB Head Office number to discuss this further. I'll post the number tomorrow and give them a ring.

Let you know.

Portzy.

 

[Rory]

Rory

If you are in Cheshire, then these guys in Liverpool are worth a visit

http://www.4wheelalignment.co.uk/index.html

They have a modern Hunter DSP 600 wheel alignment system & the best thing is they will check your car for free and only charge if anything needs doing and you agree to the work. If adjustments are needed it's around £90-£100 which is half the price of a dealer.

I have my ML checked there & am very happy, as it had various handling/tracking issues

Thanks for that, and for your experience of them. I was aware of them but their FAQ doesn't inspire confidence! I also note that they stress they set-up to manufacturers spec. I suspect mine is fine in that respect, but needs someone who fully understands what to change to correct the issues my car has.

Did they put weights in your car before they set it up?

 

[portzy]

Just phoned the number given by my dealer, 08456 419765, and spoke a very charming lady from Mercedes who quoted me just slightly over £900 for another year on my SLK 280. About what I anticipated & expected really.

Effectively, its an extended warranty which matches and gives continuity to the all singing all dancing warranty that she came with. In the post now is the official quote and the small print etc so I'll post again when it arrives.

Cheers.

Portzy.

 

[prprandall51]

UPDATE.

...After looking at the small print there seemed to me to be far to many, shall we say, "exclusions" for my liking such as no ICE cover (I have COMAND) so that would be important to me and referencies to limited amounts of diagnostic time and also work involved to access faulty parts not being covered.

Portzy, I don't know if you saw my post on the first page of this thread, but Warranty Direct will cover Comand - and everything else (NO small print) if you ask them for that - see my first post for more details.

Philip

 

[portzy]

Portzy, I don't know if you saw my post on the first page of this thread, but Warranty Direct will cover Comand - and everything else (NO small print) if you ask them for that - see my first post for more details.

Philip

Thanks Philip, will do.

Portzy.

 

[bobmedley]

Thanks for that, and for your experience of them. I was aware of them but their FAQ doesn't inspire confidence! I also note that they stress they set-up to manufacturers spec. I suspect mine is fine in that respect, but needs someone who fully understands what to change to correct the issues my car has.

Did they put weights in your car before they set it up?

No they did not do that, but did retrieve the manufacturers settings from the system to include items like Airmatic.

It is in a - ahem - *challenging* part of Liverpool, but remember the check is free and a dealer would charge nearly £200 to do the same work (and I think a lot of them use the same Hunter system).

Their original diagnosis had a lot of the settings way out & once corrected the car drove a lot better and the uneven tyre wear stopped. The head guy seems to know his stuff, to the extent of asking how much adjustment I wanted to dial in to offset the road camber for example.

 

[lil.smartie]

I'd avoid WD with a barge pole, they really do try anything not to pay out even if it is covered in the policy wording! If they do pay then they don't make it easy either!

Recent case, broken coil spring, top nut siezed (common on Smarts), and when coil snapped off it jammed by the brake disc and scored it.
Need to replace shocks, springs, nuts and discs & pads. WD will pay for..... 1 spring.....

And it's taken 3 trips, diagnose, engineer and repair!

Kate

 

[JonnyCJ]

Warranty Direct

I'd avoid WD with a barge pole, they really do try anything not to pay out even if it is covered in the policy wording! If they do pay then they don't make it easy either!

Recent case, broken coil spring, top nut siezed (common on Smarts), and when coil snapped off it jammed by the brake disc and scored it.
Need to replace shocks, springs, nuts and discs & pads. WD will pay for..... 1 spring.....

And it's taken 3 trips, diagnose, engineer and repair!

Kate

I can get a 12 month warranty (franchised dealer) with Warranty Direct for £629 which covers the following;

ExtraCare

for details of cover see Policy Document (Downloads a PDF)
The items under the following list are covered. Any item not specifically mentioned is not covered.
ENGINE
Cylinder head, internal bushings, oil pump, crankshaft and bearings, appet gear, valves & guides (excluding burnt or pitted valves), pistons & rings, cylinder bores/liners, con rods, distributor drive, starter ring gear, flywheel, autodrive plate, camshaft drive belts, camshaft & cam followers, cylinder head gasket, cylinder block, crankshaft pulley, turbo/intercooler units, rear main seal, rocker assembly, push rods, timing gears, timing belts & chains.
CLUTCH
The master and slave cylinder, clutch cable and pedal assembly.
TRANSMISSION (Manual, Automatic and Overdrive)
Manual Transmission: gears, synchromesh hubs & rings, selectors, shafts, bearings, drive chains plus gearlever and bushes.
Automatic Transmission: torque converters, brake bands, valve block, governor (manual & electric) oil pump and seals, drive chains, gears, input shaft oil seal, clutches, servos and modulator valve, bearings plus gearlever and bushes.
Overdrive: Gears, shafts and bearings.
FRONT WHEEL DRIVE UNIT
Crown wheel and pinion, differential unit, bushes and bearings, plus external drive shafts, couplings, C.V. joints and rubber boots, hubs, drive flange and universal joints.
REAR AXLE
Crown wheel and pinion, differential unit, shafts, bearings, C.V. joints and rubber boots, oil seal and rear hub, & drive flange.
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM
Front differential, inter-axle differential and lock, rear differential and lock, bearings and shafts, couplings, C.V. joints and rubber boots, hubs and drive flange.
PROPSHAFT
Propshaft, universal joints, centre bearings and oil seals.
SUSPENSION
Shock absorbers, upper and lower wishbones, bushes, springs, spheres, displacer units and wheel bearings, self levelling suspension unit, reservoir, pump and regulator valve.
BRAKING SYSTEM
Master cylinder; brake servo unit, diesel vacuum pump, callipers, wheel cylinders, pressure regulator, ABS pump and control unit. ABS pressure reducing and proportioning valves, handbrake control cables and linkages, brake pedal assembly, self-adjusting mechanisms, abs sensors.
COOLING SYSTEM
Radiator, thermostat, water pump, heater matrix, engine oil cooler, viscous fan, thermostat housing, temperature gauge, electronic control units and control linkages.
STEERING
Rack and pinion, steering box, idler box, column shaft, couplings, steering column tilt mechanism, power steering unit including pump, pressure pipes and reservoir.
FUEL SYSTEM
Mechanical and electrical fuel pumps, airflow meter, injectors (including injector cooling system), overrun cut-off valve, pressure regulator, sensors, throttle body, fuel gauge and tank sender unit. D.I.S. unit and controls, injection pump, injectors, glow plugs, electromagnetic cut-off.
ELECTRONIC IGNITION
Ignition ECU and Ignition Coils where fitted as standard by the manufacturer.
AIR CONDITIONING
Air conditioning compressor pump, condenser, electronic control unit, sensors, magnetic clutch and valves, evaporator and reservoir, fan control and sensors.
ELECTRICS
Internal failure of the starter motor, alternator, regulator, distributor, windscreen wiper motor and tailgate wiper motor, heating fan motor, cooling fan motor, horn, central locking solenoids and motors, electric window motors and sunroof motors, electric door mirror motors and aerial motors, front and rear windscreen washer motors, headlamp adjuster motors, cruise control unit, relays, rev counter, radiator cooling fan, indicator flasher unit.
CASINGS
Casings are covered provided they have been damaged as a result of failure of an insured part or by the consequential damage of an insured part failing.
OIL LEAKS
Notwithstanding exclusion 11 of the policy, this covers the cylinder head gasket and seal or gasket replacement that necessitates the removal of the engine, gearbox/drive unit and drive shafts or differential unit to carry out repairs.
BODYWORK
Tailgate suspension struts.

It also covers wear and tear items after the policy has been in effect for 90 days.

The Inchcape one which Mercedes Liverpool sell is £499 for a year, £699 for two years, but doesn't cover wear and tear.

Anyone had a door seal fail ? a mate of mine who had one said they're £1200 to replace Inchcape doesn't cover it and Warranty Direct make no mention of trim so therefore it isn't covered either.

 

[Baba]

Newbie's first reply

I was considering renewing my MB warranty, at renewal cost £719.00 for tier 1.
The renewal letter was headed MB but indicates that 'Mondial Assistance are providing the warranty. Apparently MB dealerships are no longer able to sell extended warranties.

Now I wonder if an extended warranty's at all worth while?.......

Last week my car (still covered by MB 33 k) was at a MB dealership & an oil leak was discovered, damaging a servo motor (this was not covered).
I guess it must be a common fault because MB contributed half towards the approx £650-00 bill.

Warranty Direct quoted £659-94, for 'franchised dealership' Extra care policy & £507-64 for 'network garage' Extra care policy.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

MB warranties have been Mondial for years.

 

[crockers]

Warranty Direct quoted £659-94, for 'franchised dealership' Extra care policy & £507-64 for 'network garage' Extra care policy.

I pay £420 for the extra care WD cover. Last year it was £390 ish...(franchise dealer cover)

Had one claim last year - WD OK'd it within 24 hrs - and paid me the cheque for £600+ within the month. (Before CC was due to be paid).

So you have to call it as you find it - I found them prompt and fair. Their premiums in my case are fair and they covered wear and tear from day 1 not after x days (ask for it)..they agreed to cover the Comand system (ask for it) and I pay over 10 months for 13 months cover.

Also when I claimed - they also paid for a glow plug - MB dealer told me MB warranties don't cover glowplugs and he was surprised that WD did.