[jasonwipf]

I have an R320 08 with about 25kMI and I want to get an extended warranty at least to 100k mi or more. So far the policies I have seen are $5-7K I have heard of people snagging some for $2-3.5K, that I can bite. But are they good and will I have to fight for claims. :surrender:

Please tell me your best ext. warranty ins for the money companies and why. TY

 

[Musikmann]

Have a look at AFM, formerly Fidelity Warranty Services. That's what I bought and they have been good so far. Plus keep in mind that the prices are negotiable.

 

[sokoloff]

Greg and I are on opposite sides of the fence on this. I think Greg is one of the "lucky" ones if you can use that word in that his extended warranty paid off for him.

IMO the best extended warranty company you can use is yourself. Self insure. The odds are tipped way in favor of the insurance company by a long shot.

 

[Musikmann]

Hi Len,

Yes we always disagree but I will agree with you that I'm one of the lucky ones. These companies would not be in business long if all their subscribers were like me. Bottom line is if you are not a DIY, the peace of mind these offer are worth the money.

 

[Peter Guenther]

The best extended warranty is a factory one, I purchased a non factory on an Eldorado once, the salesman said it will get me an extra year for the same price. When I needed it 5years later, the same dealership would not honor it.
Now having said that, my 01 E has been so trouble free that after two minor issues on the new car warranty, the 4 year extended only has been used on a window regulator, sticky wheel buttons, and a sensor on the throttle cable before it expired.

 

[jasonwipf]

Thanks for the input, keep it coming!

True, 1/10th of people with warranty policies use them either because they do not need them or outright forget they have them.

Consumer reports recommends self insure too for the same reason with the exception of Mercedes Benz do to the high cost of repairs and in some models and years the frequency of repairs. I just wanna snag it at a lower price with a company that will actually honor the bill if i'm going to see the value.

Keep the recommendations coming, only with ones priced below $4-5K with proven coverage. TY!!!!!!

 

[jasonwipf]

Have a look at AFM, formerly Fidelity Warranty Services. That's what I bought and they have been good so far. Plus keep in mind that the prices are negotiable.

I couldnt find AFM what is the long version? I found FWS and still in business but found consumer warnings all over the internet. Satisfaction is VERY low come claim time.

 

[ulflei]

Fidelity Warranty Services - Home Page


That is the long version

 

[jasonwipf]

Fidelity Warranty Services - Home Page


That is the long version

Yep thats the one there were lots of their customers had a lot of complaints about as never wanting to cover a claim. Need an attorney to read their agreement and better have one to fight for you to get them to pay a claim sorta thing.

 

[Raindrop]

My dealer offered me a third party extended warranty. When I read through the terms & conditions, the warranty company wanted the proof of oil changes at least every 6 months before paying claim for ANY repair.

And please note again that key word is 'ANY'. They wanted proof of oil changes even for non-engine related repair. There was no exception for following manufacturer's oil change schedule.

In my opinion Best Third Party Extended Warranty is an Oxymoron. Your best bet is to find a good indy mechanic & to know about your car better all around.

 

[jasonwipf]

My dealer offered me a third party extended warranty. When I read through the terms & conditions, the warranty company wanted the proof of oil changes at least every 6 months before paying claim for ANY repair.

And please note again that key word is 'ANY'. They wanted proof of oil changes even for non-engine related repair. There was no exception for following manufacturer's oil change schedule.

In my opinion Best Third Party Extended Warranty is an Oxymoron. Your best bet is to find a good indy mechanic & to know about your car better all around.

that is true. What is an "Indy Mechanic"? or are you saying that literally?

Because I know the dealer will rape you over repairs. How about those nondealer but "Mercedes Certified" shops or even shops that are known to be good and claim they work on Mercedes but are not "Certified"?

 

[Raindrop]

that is true. What is an "Indy Mechanic"? or are you saying that literally?

I meant Independent mechanic such as Blue Ridge MB in Atlanta, GA. My understanding is that many of these mechanics worked at MB dealerships at some point and then opened their own outfit. You can find good independent shops in larger cities but your choice is limited in small town.

For example in my town there are indys for Audi, Lexus and may be BMW but not a good indy for MB. Now since I know this, my next vehicle is going to be an Audi.

You have to ask for other local MB owners for their experience with local indys.

 

[jasonwipf]

An Audi? I asked my mechanic about what cars came in alot for BS service and repairs fishing for the best and worst sorta list. When it came to Audi there was so much stuff he finally just resigned to asking "Do you see alot of old Audis on the road?"

 

[Raindrop]

An Audi? I asked my mechanic about what cars came in alot for BS service and repairs fishing for the best and worst sorta list. When it came to Audi there was so much stuff he finally just resigned to asking "Do you see alot of old Audis on the road?"

Yeah, you may be right about Audi. But what I was saying was if I have to own an expansive automobile out of factory warranty; then I would prefer an Audi if there is a honest Indy Audi mechanic in town over a Mercedes if there is no Indy mechanic for Mercedes in town.

If you want to believe, I know a person who paid $700 to replace water pump & some seals in a 10 years old Saturn, when the problem was that the Saturn was not cranking up. Also another person paid $400 for servicing ALL FOUR BRAKES of a Chevy Malibu with 40,000 miles on it (and that Chevy had drum brakes in rear wheels).

 

[Streetglower]

based on experience, your best bet for an ext warr is the ELW (extended limited warranty) from the dealer. this warranty is done through the dealer and a good portion of items are covered. not everything but a good portion. and if it is covered you are not responsible for diagnositc charges. if it isnt covered then you are. now with an outside warranty company, most dont pay diag charges and alot of times they want to do things there way and unless they can verify the issue no repairs will be done. if you own a newer model benz you will want an ext warranty, trust me. when you need repairs done, they arent cheap. and these cars arent a piece of cake to work on.

 

[Musikmann]

I couldnt find AFM what is the long version? I found FWS and still in business but found consumer warnings all over the internet. Satisfaction is VERY low come claim time.

OK, I see you found FWS and they are one and the same. As I understand it, AFM are the initials of a guy (whose name I have forgotten) who used to own a large chain of Toyota dealerships in the southeast.

As for the complaints, I saw a lot of those too but they are also rated highly somewhere else. Again, I have had one positive experience with them. Plus my dealer sells them and told me they shopped around for the best they could find.

I agree with Peter and Streetglower. I hadn't noticed that your car is a 2008 still under the new car warranty. By all means, extend the MB one. SG is also correct about the verification. For my first issue they trusted the dealer. For the ones coming up, an inspector has to look at the car before authorizing the repairs. All I know now is that what I need are covered repairs (pending verification) because the service writer called and asked them.

Lastly, I bought a CPO and paid to extend that as long as I could. So I have experienced that MB warranty. I couldn't have asked for more and it was truly excellent. I bought what I have after that expired. IMHO their CPO is just as good as their new car warranty.

 

[drjohn01702]

I have an R320 08 with about 25kMI and I want to get an extended warranty at least to 100k mi or more. So far the policies I have seen are $5-7K I have heard of people snagging some for $2-3.5K, that I can bite. But are they good and will I have to fight for claims. :surrender:

Please tell me your best ext. warranty ins for the money companies and why. TY

With <50K miles on the vehicle, why not check out CarShield. I have Diamond coverage from them. This is equivalent to a new car warranty. It costs me $109/month, and it’s a month-to-month contract. The mileage is unlimited on my contract.

 

[khomer2]

With <50K miles on the vehicle, why not check out CarShield. I have Diamond coverage from them. This is equivalent to a new car warranty. It costs me $109/month, and it’s a month-to-month contract. The mileage is unlimited on my contract.

necropost.
@jasonwipf has not been around for 10 years.

 

[drjohn01702]

necropost.
@jasonwipf has not been around for 10 years.

Oops 😬

 

[Merlin1935]

that is true. What is an "Indy Mechanic"? or are you saying that literally?

Because I know the dealer will rape you over repairs. How about those nondealer but "Mercedes Certified" shops or even shops that are known to be good and claim they work on Mercedes but are not "Certified"?

I know this post is very old but my reply is for the benefit of anyone with same issue. My 2002 C240 W203 still drives solid but not worth a visit to a Benz dealership. So I use a neighborhood indy shop specialized in European brands. I negotiate price with them and often get good deals. And I can bring my own parts.