Would you pay extra for a MB Approved?

[BedfordBoy]

I'm still hanging around to find the right car. Most of the ones I like are from Mercedes Approved with 1 year guarantee. Is it worth it paying extra 2 - 3K to have MB Approved car? I feel it gives you that sense of protection, but does it?

Regards,
Peter

 

[grober]

Depending on its age/warranty MB may give you an excellent warranty for a year, but beware there are different MB warranties depending on the age/mileage of the car. You want the "no questions asked" Tier 1 warranty to get the value of that extra £2000. Don't assume any MB approved car is OK tho. Still pays to inspect it closely and take it for an extended test drive. Have a look at several examples to get an idea what the asking price for a decent motor is. Anything cheap will end up costing. Watch for a model that's due a big service soon, as to maintain the warranty you will have to get it serviced according to manufacturer specifications.

 

[markjay]

I didn't go for one. My Merc is a poverty-spec C180K and I saw no reason to pay extra for an MB approved car. The engine is a very basic 1.8 4-cyl Petrol engine (albeit supercharged), and the drive train in general is well proven and rather simple in comparison to others (VW DSG). And there aren't that many 'toys' in the car either... no sunroof, Xenons, or heated seats, etc. I believe that most repairs will be well within my means, and I would have to be extremely unlucky to need a complete new engine or new gearbox. Even so, my financial risk is limited to the value of the car (i.e. I can always scrap it rather than fix it!) which is constantly decreasing.

Had I bought a complicated or expensive car, e.g. any of the AMGs, then I would have considered an Approved car and proper extended warranty an absolute must.

 

[Alps]

I asked this very question when i bought my E55 a year ago, and ithink it is worth it.

1. pre-delivery i wasnt happy wit ha few cosmetic things, they were all sorted albeit after 4 attempts.
2.3 mnths in engine light came on, local dealer wanted £700 to fix as the tier 2 didnt cover it, the dealer i bought it from trailered it back to themselves and fixed it.
3. had a punture, mobilio came out and saved the misses from getting her hands dirty.
4. had a oil cooler leak, the tier 2 covered most of it and paid out £800 towards the parts and labour.
5. You get MOT cover, so no more sweating if it will pass, if it doest £750 worth of repairs will be paid for.

I will be renewing to tier1 (as the rules have changed since buying it) this year.

 

[st4]

MB approved car, warranty is good, chasing up issues on the aftersales, somewhat lacking. I have been chasing MB Hull re a body work issue and no reply. The warranty saved me £550 worth of engine repairs so I'd say worth it. They do tend to retail on the better cars.

 

[BTB 500]

An M-B Approved Used with Tier 1 warranty is about as good as it gets, and definitely gives peace of mind if buying a complex/expensive car. When I had Tier 1 on my SL it even covered punctures!

 

[BedfordBoy]

Thanks for advice. I'm now officially booked with my local MB dealer for Saturday. I'm not sure what I'm going to buy yet , but it will be a Merc!
Knowing life they will make me buy something I really like but not really should buy. Will report back to you Saturday afternoon.

Cheers

 

[rascalmaster]

I'm still hanging around to find the right car. Most of the ones I like are from Mercedes Approved with 1 year guarantee. Is it worth it paying extra 2 - 3K to have MB Approved car? I feel it gives you that sense of protection, but does it?

Regards,
Peter

i have had one car returned (after i found it had had a dink and i wasnt informed b4 i bought it) a second car has had a turbo charger and coil springs replaced under warranty and also had the 38,000 mile gear box service done (as it wasnt carried out when i bought it). so all in all;

YES!!!!!!

 

[trapperjohn]

Good Luck. Looking forward to the report back.

 

[A210AMG]

My Wifes B class was bought approved used,

I know it may seem silly but picking it up was AS good as buying a new car. Car was in showroom, flowers for Mrs, nothing too much trouble, all sorted and very easy to deal with.

I looked at every B class for sale at the time and although I could have got a cheaper one, the spec we wanted happened to be at a dealer.

I'm new to the warranty side of things? I think its a tier one warranty with the MOT cover etc? I assume thats a good thing, although I guess its around £1000 to renew?

 

[Gareth]

I didn't, my car was up for £18000 with an independant dealer but I managed to get it down to £17000, that was with it being 2.5 years old and with 18,000 miles on the clock. The same car at the time would have no doubt been £20,000 or just below at Mercedes.

Wear&tear and additions aside, the only thing I've had to pay out since owning the car is £160 for replacement glow plugs.

I've no regrets.

 

[Alps]

All depends if the dealer actually has the car you want ... with 6 mnths of looking, the stealer had the car i wanted with ALOT (EVERY) option which alone made it worth the extra the dealer wanted, the warrenty etc was just a bonus... but one that has been used!