Sorry if this is duplicate but the search button isn't working well and I don't recall in the last 3 months or so seeing anything regarding this.
My 07 C230 Sport is due to arrive in 2 weeks. It is in Canada already but it has to be shipped here by train. I will have to go in and finalize everything when it arrives and my salesperson or sales manager will try selling me all of the different protections that they offer. Do you have any advice if I should buy anything and if so, what to buy? Ex: paint protection, rust protection, 3M, extended warranties etc. I am spending around $50,000 on the car so I don't want to cheap out on this stuff if it is necessary. The salesperson mentioned the other day about some sort of paint protection. I forget what it is called but when I searched the net for info on it, it would appear it used to be used to protect the graphics etc. on pinball machines. Any info would be greatly appreciated on this respect.
I currently drive an 05 Nissan Altima 2.5 SE and the only protection I did to that was the 3M instead of the bra. That seems to be a good investment. Also, this Mercedes is going to be my summer car because in Canada is gets cold and icy so I don't want to risk any damage or accidents. Also, I want the mileage to stay low on it as well. Any info you can let me know about in regards to storing it in my garage for the winter would be appreciated as well. it is not heated or insulated but it will at least protect it from the elements of mother nature.
Sorry to be amateurish. I read posts by everyone on here daily and appreciate that there is such a board like this for beginners like myself and experts alike to discuss our common board, Mercedes Benz vehicles. This is a dream come true to finally own one. Take care and Happy Thanksgiving if it applies to you.
Thanks DMG for pointing out that website. I have never heard of it before and now that I have read some stuff I realize that I probably could have been better equipped to buy that car. I am just on the Chapter about the extras they try to sell you. I will decline buying any of them and look into getting the extended warranty private party instead. The 3M is good but there is someone who does that locally as well.
rlee02135 ,
I didn't know what the LoJack was but living where I do I am not worried about the car getting stolen. This is Canada and more importantly I live near Calgary which is around 1,000,000 people and there isn't much crime.
I think I am probably going to do the 3M on the front, backs or mirrors and lights. I can look into the extended warranty afterwards. If this conclusion sounds retarded please tell me. Thanks!
Whatever you do make sure you get a good auto insurance provider and policy... I'm not sure how it works or what the requirements are in Canada but state side, especially NY you absolutely NEED good coverage... forget Progressive, Gieco or any of those othetr"discount" auto insurance providers and stick with the established oldtimers like Allstate and Statefarm (again, assuming the requirements for our neighbors to the north are the same) I know some would all insurance companies are crooks and SUCK and this is true but some are less evil then others and will actually pay out if (God forbid) the day comes your baby trades paint with something of a lesser ilk. Trust me on this.. I've been hit TWICE since I bought my MB this past June and am I glad I had good coverage. Both times it was teh other drivers fault and both times I had went through my company to get necessary repairs done in a timely manner rather than waiting on Progressive (both times) to cut me a $1000 check for $4K worth of damage...
Pretty much anything that's sold at closing time in the finance office is extremely high profit stuff and there will be high pressure to sell it to you. Consider that 2004+ MBs have the CeramiClear clearcoat that's very good, I don't see how any "paint protection" can protect it. It's like putting a raincoat on a duck. Also these "paint protection" systems are just waxes, they don't last any longer than any high quality wax. Rust protection is insane, these care will built to last in Germany and they don't rust that easy. Also, the 3M clear bra may have been good back in 2003 but the newer clearcoats don't need it, I have very few chips on my car after a few years (I had hundred on my 2002). As for the extended warranty, it depends if you'll keep the car that long, if you are not mechanically inclined and rely on the dealer for all repairs. Personally I never get it because I can fix many thing myself. For example, my SLK had an extended warranty the previous owner got, so looking through the service records they replaced the cassette radio for $750, but if it didn't have a warranty, I could of thought of a lot better radios for half that price or just get a used one on ebay for $35. My buddy got an alarm from the dealer for his Jeep, $600, I laughed so hard my sides hurt, told him the alarm is about $35 and you can get it installed, parts and all for under $100 anywhere. He didn't believe me so he called around. Boy was he mad when he figured it out. It's mostly a scam, a way to boost profits at the last minute, don't fall for any of it, even when he tells you that it's all free because he'll lower the interest rate on the loan to pay for it, haha, another scam. They purposely give you a higher payment so they can lower it at closing time to get you to buy stuff you don't need. JUST SAY NO!
Thanks Buellwinkle for the advice. The only thing I am uncertain on is the extended warranty. I am about as mechanically declined as an individual can be but I don't want to pay a lot of money "in case" something happens. I think I will take the risk and opt out of everything. Why would a manufacturer of any automobile, let alone a fine automobile make something that will rust or that the paint will need extra protection. I opted out of these all on my 05 Altima and haven't had any problems yet, knock on wood.
I actually was the one who decided to get the anti-theft system installed and I think it is $450 or something like that. I didn't know any better and I figure that flashing red light in it is a deterrent for a would be thief. When I bought the Altima I went into the dealership with my invoice pricing and got a kick ass deal. I am not sure why this time around I was so impulsive. Oh well, what is a few thousand dollars lost. Actually I hate wasting money but I am just trying to make myself feel better. I can't wait to just tell them to save there breath, give me my new ride so I can cruise around in it and just smell that new car smell of a luxury sedan. If they piss me off then the car will get the service done at the other dealer in town. There are 2 in our city and the others are about 4 hours or more away from here.
This is the car I have wanted ever since I could remember. I made the sale easy for this guy because I told him what I wanted and he had to just fill out a piece of paper and voila. Easy money. I grew up in a poor family who didn't own a house, cars etc. so I always thought this would be the symbol that I have "made it" by my own definition. Enough of the story but thanks folks for the info. Sorry if I repeated anything that has been discussed before and hopefully I will continue to learn from this website and be able to answer some questions one day for someone who is in my shoes right now.
Southey!
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Mercedes-Benz Forum
7.6M posts
693.6K members
Since 1999
BenzWorld.org forum is one of the largest Mercedes-Benz owner websites offering the most comprehensive collection of Mercedes-Benz information anywhere in the world. The site includes MB Forums, News, Galleries, Publications, Classifieds, Events and much more!