Warranty or no Warranty

[JohnEclass]

Hi All,

I know this subject has been thrashed to death....but at risk of comments!

My W211 has a Tier 1 Warranty which runs out end of July so asked for a quote for another year...£635 or £598 if £150 excess.....that's a fair wedge of cash for risk of faults on the pretty unbreakable 3.0 V6 TDI, my car only has 56k on the clock and full MB history...... is it really worth stumping up £600 notes?

The alternatives being using someone like Warranty Direct or not worrying about it a getting a remap!

Thoughts?

 

[AMGeed]

I'd stick a small amount away for repairs and enjoy the car. You know you have the spectre of SBC and airmatic that may or may not affect you.
Just my 2 penneth anyway.

 

[automaniaman]

Remap...

 

[John]

I personally wouldn't (and don't) bother with a warranty.

It's a gamble technically but somewhat calculated if you look after your car.

As suggested, just put away the money you would have spent and add a bit more to it and that can be your duff car fund.

Warranty companies have a habit of excluding things due to 'wear and tear' which applies to a lot of faults...

...and do the remap.

 

[gIzzE]

I wouldn't bother with the Merc warranty, it is crap imho.

WD is better as they cover wear and tear.

But seriously, on a car like that just go without, worse case is a refurbed engine at £2k or a used gearbox at £300.

If comand packs up use as an excuse to fit the later NTG2.5 system for £350.

Suspension goes, fit new Bilstein Struts and Springs for £500 all round.

I see no point at all.

 

[190]

If I thought a warranty was essential I'd think I had researched and chosen the wrong car.

Hearsay example from someone who bought one. BMW diesel with the timing chain problem and the chain is at the back of the engine so the the engine has to come out. A car like that needs a warranty for sure.

Hopefully Mercedes haven't been quite that stupid.

 

[crockers]

I was thankful I had a WD warranty on my W203 320cdi. When the bearing went it was £7.50 for a new one with over £3000 for labour and sundries.

 

[gIzzE]

If I thought a warranty was essential I'd think I had researched and chosen the wrong car.

Hearsay example from someone who bought one. BMW diesel with the timing chain problem and the chain is at the back of the engine so the the engine has to come out. A car like that needs a warranty for sure.

Hopefully Mercedes haven't been quite that stupid.

BMW are replacing them out of warranty if there is an issue.

 

[JohnEclass]

I wouldn't bother with the Merc warranty, it is crap imho.

WD is better as they cover wear and tear.

But seriously, on a car like that just go without, worse case is a refurbed engine at £2k or a used gearbox at £300.

If comand packs up use as an excuse to fit the later NTG2.5 system for £350.

Suspension goes, fit new Bilstein Struts and Springs for £500 all round.

I see no point at all.

Tried WD they want £735

Was considering upgrade of command...if I could get it for £350 would already be on the car!!....seem to remember getting a quote in excess of £1500

I think I will just be taking the risk and leaving £600 aside for any unforseen repairs

 

[Mrhanky]

I'd stick a small amount away for repairs and enjoy the car. You know you have the spectre of SBC and airmatic that may or may not affect you.
Just my 2 penneth anyway.

Think that's the sensible route to take. I had a good look when I got my E and WD wanted about a grand. Also alot of the E issues would not have been covered when I read the terms.

 

[gIzzE]

Tried WD they want £735

Was considering upgrade of command...if I could get it for £350 would already be on the car!!....seem to remember getting a quote in excess of £1500

I think I will just be taking the risk and leaving £600 aside for any unforseen repairs

Loads on eBay for £350, many of the guys will sell them with a vin wipe too so they plug straight in.

I bought one for the old mans ML before xmas at 8pm and it arrived next day from Lituania.

You will need a harness, gps antenna and fm aerial adapter too, but they are £50-100.



WD, you need to haggle hard and make sure it is their top tier package, they start at a price and then drop around 30%.


I bought from this guy before...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-...144?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f4cf27a88

 

[JohnEclass]

I have not really looked at the Eastern European suppliers as always wary of them being from stolen cars chopped for parts. But if its a reputable supplier will put them back on radar.

The only down side being the CD auto changer will be defunct..... but suppose remove and sell on with the nav CD unit from boot.

Have been recommended to try Warranty Wise as they offer same cover for more competitive price so will be trying them later.

 

[gIzzE]

Never heard anything good about Warranty Wise.

 

[JohnEclass]

Seems to be a minefield!...... heard bad things about WD / Warrantywise / MB Warranty

I am starting to lean to the forget warranty choice

The dreaded SBC seems to be covered as a manufacturing fault and sometimes turns out to be the Aux battery so as long as I keep up the MB service record should not be a worry, the engine and drive train on the 3.0 V6 TDI would appear to be pretty trouble free especially on a low mileage example like mine.....

Seems to be all about Risk & Probability (also called Insurance)...maybe I should run a Monte Carlo simulation???

I think its likely I'll just take a risk for the next 12 months of ownership and then go for that E55 I've been promising myself.....or even the E63

 

[AMGeed]

Seems to be a minefield!...... heard bad things about WD / Warrantywise / MB Warranty

I got a quote for my E55 from Warranty Wise. They called and texted me non stop for over 6 months for me to take out a policy that I kept declining.

The dreaded SBC seems to be covered as a manufacturing fault and sometimes turns out to be the Aux battery so as long as I keep up the MB service record should not be a worry

Even with a full dealer service record MB are declining free SBC replacement now unless you are really really fortunate. There is a place where we can order a new pump to be delivered at a reduced cost to the dealer price, so its not all bad news.

I think its likely I'll just take a risk for the next 12 months of ownership and then go for that E55 I've been promising myself.....or even the E63

Go for that E55. Get a good example and you won't regret it!

 

[John]

I think its likely I'll just take a risk for the next 12 months of ownership and then go for that E55 I've been promising myself.....or even the E63

Cheaper road tax on an E55*






































Unless you buy an example post 23/03/2006 before they facelifted to E63.