Thus far my CPO has saved me....$XXXX

[ayabe]

Popped a CEL on the C55 Monday morning, turned out there was bad seal for the gas tank that was letting air into the system....awesome.

While I had it in there they also took care of a intermittent problem with the Auto AC turning off, the sunroof one-touch close wasn't working, and while on the test drive the tech couldn't get the drivers window to roll down(something I never experienced).

So the gas tank seal was replaced, new blower motor for the AC, new control module for the sunroof, and a new window regulator/control module for the drivers door.

This is in addition to the drivers seat heater element, front control arm bushings, and turn signal stalk which were replaced previously.

All told that's ~$3000 in repairs since I bought the car in November.

Needless to say, I'm beginning to feel like I would be committing wallet suicide by keeping this car past Feb 2012 when the CPO runs out.

Also, not totally there yet, but I'm close to declaring that I will never buy another Mercedes vehicle given all of these problems. I've spent a good deal of time driving a couple of 2011 C300's as loaners and they've pretty much convinced me that I do not want a C63, despite the awesome motor, the rest of the car just sucks. Both had less than a 1000 miles on them yet had tons of rattles, felt really small inside, and overall the interior is a step down from the previous model. Yes I know the AMG has a nicer interior but it's only really the seats and a few surfaces that differ, the overall layout, dash materials, etc, are the same.

Anyways, I'm curious about how often others have utilized their CPO warranty and how much it has saved them.

 

[compman25]

Other than a parking sensor going out on our R350 I haven't had to use our CPO warranty. Bought it in Dec of last year. The C's do suck, I get an E when I bring the R in for service.

 

[ponyo]

Pretty typical MB. All my relatives, some life long MB fans have abandoned the brand in recent years. It's really amazing the crap they put out during the last decade.

 

[EightySix Four]

Also, not totally there yet, but I'm close to declaring that I will never buy another Mercedes vehicle given all of these problems. I've spent a good deal of time driving a couple of 2011 C300's as loaners and they've pretty much convinced me that I do not want a C63, despite the awesome motor, the rest of the car just sucks. Both had less than a 1000 miles on them yet had tons of rattles, felt really small inside, and overall the interior is a step down from the previous model. Yes I know the AMG has a nicer interior but it's only really the seats and a few surfaces that differ, the overall layout, dash materials, etc, are the same.

My ex-SO has a 2011 C350 and I haven't heard a rattle from it or the loaner she's had yet. While the interior is not perfect, that car has been nothing but solid as a rock. I've always felt that up until recently, MB quality has been terrible. It started to go up quite a bit towards the end of the W203 and is very good in the W204 C's, at least compared to other lux manufacturers.

 

[SearchMaster]

I've never purchased a used car with a warranty, and only two new cars in my life. None of my cars has had a significant repair expense either...the worst was an ECM in my '91 Eclipse that I got for a few hundred bucks off ebay. I have probably a half million miles under my belt at this point so I guess I've been pretty lucky in that respect.

 

[DougoMan]

Mercedes is the Chrysler of German cars.

 

[PricklyPete]

German car dealerships are quite expensive.

 

[Kroze]

What? German cars with numerous electrical problems even within the warranty period? You don't say.

 

[ayabe]

German car dealerships are quite expensive.

Indeed.

I think my dealer charges $150/hour for labor, may be a tad high but that number is sticking out to me for some reason. That's more than my company President bills out as an expert witness as a phd in statistics.

Being somewhat mechanically inclined I could have performed these repairs save for the gas tank thing, I don't have a smoke machine or whatever the hell they hooked up to find the leak.

 

[SearchMaster]

Indeed.

I think my dealer charges $150/hour for labor, may be a tad high but that number is sticking out to me for some reason. That's more than my company President bills out as an expert witness as a phd in statistics.

Being somewhat mechanically inclined I could have performed these repairs save for the gas tank thing, I don't have a smoke machine or whatever the hell they hooked up to find the leak.

Heh - he's doing it wrong. I have a friend who's a CFO at a statistical consulting firm and his new hires bill at $250/hr, and seniors bill at $350+/hr. But $150/hr for dealership labor is definitely quite high.

 

[yh125d]

ITT: OP drops a fat wad on a car that breaks all the time

 

[PricklyPete]

Indeed.

I think my dealer charges $150/hour for labor, may be a tad high but that number is sticking out to me for some reason. That's more than my company President bills out as an expert witness as a phd in statistics.

Being somewhat mechanically inclined I could have performed these repairs save for the gas tank thing, I don't have a smoke machine or whatever the hell they hooked up to find the leak.

I guarantee you can buy whatever machine/tool you need for less than a German Stealership will charge you. It really comes down to time and a place to do it.

I spent a better part of Sunday and Monday evening doing the following to my M3:

1) Replaced Water Pump
2) Replaced Thermostat
3) Replaced Radiator
4) Replaced Upper and Lower hoses
5) Replaced Coolant Temp Sensor
6) Replaced Fan Clutch
7) Replaced Idler Pulley and Tensioner Pulley on Auxiliary Belt
8) Replaced Auxillary Belt
9) Replaced AC Belt
10) Flushed Coolant
11) Changed Oil/Filter
12) Changed Air Filter
13) Replaced Side lane change lights
14) Changed Cabin Air Filter

None of this was particularly difficult, but it all took time. I shudder to think how much money a BMW dealership would have charged me for parts and labor....probably in the neighborhood of $3500 (just a guess...but I don't think I'm far off). Total cost to me was ~$1200.

Note: Not all of this was failing on my car. The Water Pump, Belts/Pulleys, and Fan Clutch were on their last legs, and I decided to do the full cooling system overhaul just so I won't have to replace pieces one by one down the road.

 

[Doppel]

$150/hour is a lot for labor but I've seen more than that billed out by fresh college grads as computer consultants. Of course, they were not taking home even 1/3rd of it.

 

[Vette73]

European cars are not known for their reliability. They drive and look great but you better have a warranty, able to work on it yourself, and/or have funds to keep it up.

If you want reliability buy a Honda, Ford, GM, or Toyota. Of those Cadillac and Lexus have good luxury and reliability.

Of course we have a Cadillac right now and my wife wants a Mercedes E350. I guess she does not think I have enough to do.

 

[SSSnail]

Right before my warranty expired, a lower radiator hose suddenly didn't want to hold fluid anymore so I took it in. These are the things that I had them replaced in conjunction with the hose:

Rad hoses
Thermostat
Water pump
Hydraulic belt tensioners
Belts
Front control arms bushing and assy.

Coolant flush and services
Alignment.

Cost to me - 0.

Hey, might as well use it or lose it. I guess a busted hose in four years isn't something to complain about.

 

[halik]

Pretty typical MB. All my relatives, some life long MB fans have abandoned the brand in recent years. It's really amazing the crap they put out during the last decade.

I had a 2000 CLK430 30K with 0 problems. My mom put on 50k on her c240 with one $350 expense. How recent are you talking about?

 

[DougoMan]

If you want reliability buy a Honda, Ford, GM, or Toyota. Of those Cadillac and Lexus have good luxury and reliability.

Don't think so.

 

[ponyo]

I had a 2000 CLK430 30K with 0 problems. My mom put on 50k on her c240 with one $350 expense. How recent are you talking about?

The problem cars were all from 2000 on to about 2005-6. E500, ML320, S430, S500. AMG C32 didn't have any problems but that car was sold only after 3 months. All cars were purchased new.

 

[Vette73]

Don't think so.

Too bad reality does not care what you think.

 

[Vette73]

The problem cars were all from 2000 on to about 2005-6. E500, ML320, S430, S500. AMG C32 didn't have any problems but that car was sold only after 3 months. All cars were purchased new.

Yea I told my wife if she wants a E350 it has to be a 2007+. The early-mid 2000's had the awful Brake by Wire system. By 2007 they chucked it though and went back to the "old" system.

 

[T2urtle]

when i bought my used G35, i was given an option of 4 years/100k warranty for $2000 more. $100 deductible for each issue, wear and tear wouldn't be covered, nor would a complaint on interior rattles or my navi button breaking ( i asked mainly for those 2 as they are common issues) They said no and i said the same.

3 years in sept and i've never had to go to the dealership other then a airbag recall. So even if something big happens in the next 15 months or so, as long as its under $2000 i'm at a win. But then again I have the know-how for most things and space. Time is my only issue.

 

[ayabe]

Everything had been working after the repairs, then on my way home yesterday the Auto AC clicked off 3 times in 10 minutes, so it's obviously not the blower motor.

Took quite a bit of control not to drive the damn thing into a swamp and light it on fire. I own the car outright and could just sell the fucking thing.

Well today is Friday so at least there's that.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Modern MBs are not what they once were. I had a 98 C240 Sport and it was a tank. The modern ones feel like they are begging to fall apart at a moments notice.

 

[alphatarget1]

Would the repair at an independent mechanic who specializes in German cars be cheaper?

 

[ayabe]

Would the repair at an independent mechanic who specializes in German cars be cheaper?

Probably but I doubt they'd honor the CPO which can only be done at a dealer. Right now this stuff isn't costing me anything aside from time.

I've never been happy with my dealer, they are 0-3 getting it done right the first time. I've had to make multiple trips every single time. Next closest dealer is in Tampa where I bought the car, ~120 miles away.

I'm still deciding whether to call my service rep and bitch him out or just tell them to piss off and go to Tampa.