[zak]

Hello all, I have been a silent observer on this great forum for a while now as I amassed knowledge,learned the values/market and shopped for a used G.
I almost bought a 2000 G500 with 55k miles, but the current owner hadn't owned it very long, made vague references to the maintenance records which I never got to see and generally seemed too slippery. That was too bad because from what I read here the 2000 seems the best and most trouble free year.
I have a 2002 in my sights right now with about 44k miles from an MB dealer. To get a two year/100,000 mile starmark guarantee would add another $6,000. to the price.
This cheapskate would love to save the six grand, but am I being penny wise , but pound foolish, given all the stories about electronic parts failure, window guides breaking and handles coming off etc. ?
I could by a lot of door handles for six thousand $$$$.

 

[DUTCH]

zak - 1/31/2005 6:51 PM

Hello all, I have been a silent observer on this great forum for a while now as I amassed knowledge,learned the values/market and shopped for a used G.
I almost bought a 2000 G500 with 55k miles, but the current owner hadn't owned it very long, made vague references to the maintenance records which I never got to see and generally seemed too slippery. That was too bad because from what I read here the 2000 seems the best and most trouble free year.
I have a 2002 in my sights right now with about 44k miles from an MB dealer. To get a two year/100,000 mile starmark guarantee would add another $6,000. to the price.
This cheapskate would love to save the six grand, but am I being penny wise , but pound foolish, given all the stories about electronic parts failure, window guides breaking and handles coming off etc. ?
I could by a lot of door handles for six thousand $$$$.

Check the service records. If the trouble spots have been fixed or upgraded, the StarMark might not be necessary.

If it hasn't already been done, compare the cost of a new (2003+) ECU and Instrument Cluster with the StarMark cost. Word has it that the new ECU and cluster fix a lot of problems. Several folks here have done this; and are very happy with the results.

Who was selling the 2000 G500?

 

[mb230s]

zak - 1/31/2005 5:51 PM

Hello all, I have been a silent observer on this great forum for a while now as I amassed knowledge,learned the values/market and shopped for a used G.
I almost bought a 2000 G500 with 55k miles, but the current owner hadn't owned it very long, made vague references to the maintenance records which I never got to see and generally seemed too slippery. That was too bad because from what I read here the 2000 seems the best and most trouble free year.
I have a 2002 in my sights right now with about 44k miles from an MB dealer. To get a two year/100,000 mile starmark guarantee would add another $6,000. to the price.
This cheapskate would love to save the six grand, but am I being penny wise , but pound foolish, given all the stories about electronic parts failure, window guides breaking and handles coming off etc. ?
I could by a lot of door handles for six thousand $$$$.

Keep looking, you can do better than that. Or call a different dealer and ask for the price if you buy just an extended warranty from them. $6000 for Starmark seems excessive. When I was searching the norm seemed about $2-3K for a model of same year same mileage. Other than the extra $6K I think a Starmark is a good idea.

 

[Kerr]

just skip the 2002. I love mine but it has been nothing but porblems.

Also there are other warranty companys out there that a re cheaper than Starmark. Also for $6,000.00 you can replace a LOT.

GM offers extended warrantys for like $3k for the top of the line. two catches with them. 1) car must still be under warranty when you buy it. 2) You must take it to a gm dealer first.

So in a nut shell you buy the warranty, your G has breaks, you drop it off at the gm dealer and they take it to mercedes. I had one on my clk430. I think it was $2,500 for 36-50K miles with a $50.00 deductiable. Also if you go with another company on the warranty make sure you read all it.
1) most mb dealer will only take credit card payment from extended warranty companys.
2) make sure its not "PERLINE" deductiables. Meaning if you have a broken door light and a check engine linght and a $50.00 ded, you just spend $100 because the door and light are each "one line"

Do a search... I tracked down warranty companys a few months ago and made a post about them.

 

[TheDogsCar]

This must be a special deal you negotiated since the Starmark warranty is normally an additonal one year or 12k miles, or 100k miles total, whichever comes first. This is in addition to the standard warranty of 4 year or 50k miles.

I am only considering a Starmark model. It gives you 'like new' condition, and is backed by MBUSA, not just your dealer. Based on some of the problems some poster's have had with their G's, this is a "no brainer" to me.

 

[The_Analyst]

I’ve just posted a message about a month ago:

“I was shocked when I was told that the US starmark certification and warranty prices were changed in October 2004. The $800 certification (buys another year of warranty or 100K miles) and $2600 starmark 3 additional year warranty have been changed to $1600 for the certification and $4000 for an additional 2 year warranty.

This has to be a joke…

They double the price of the certification and also almost double the price of the starmak warranty but reduced the time coverage by one third.�

If the dealer wants 6K for the 2 years he is ripping you off!!!
BTW I was told by a dealer that the $4000 could be negotiable…

You could always buy an extended warranty from a 3rd party at the MB dealer too (much cheaper, but no airbags coverage).
Good Luck
The Analyst