Insane dealer service charges, or Boy Am I Glad I Have An Extended Warranty

Riot Nrrrd · 06-06-2009, 12:42 AM

I took my Beast (2002, 11,458 miles) in to have a few things done:

- Oil, lube and filter (I don't reach 3,000 miles too often, and the chassis is creaking a bit over rough roads)
- Replace radio antenna (car is garaged and covered, but the antenna sticks out and just enough afternoon Sun gets in to roast the antenna and made it crack)
- Replace front center bar across the opening in the front grille (had caught the bumper on a concrete block at the end of a parking space; popped the center bar out)
- Replace front driver's side washer cover (the little thing near the headlight; keeps getting caught on my car cover and yanked off, apparently)

Not much, right? Figure a couple of parts, some labor ... I'm outta there for a couple, three hundred bucks, right?

Final bill: $4560.34

Let the roll call begin!

- Claimed the lower control arms were shot. Replaced. $622
- Replaced said antenna. $72
- Oil leak. Replaced main oil pan. $20 in parts. $1435 IN LABOR?!?

- Rear end smoking, they claimed. Replaced "differential side seals". $1006?!?

- Oil change. $88.50
- Reinstall front center bar and replace missing washer cover. $120.20
- Replaced motor mounts. $708

- Brake fluid renewal. $122.25
- Coolant renewal. $92.75

Total parts was $722.30, total labor was $3763.20

Now for the "good"(?) news:

All but $620.51 was covered by my Mercury Extended Warranty.

Between this time and one other time I needed to use it, I've had almost twice as much in charges paid for by my Extended Warranty as I paid for it. And it still has 2 years left to run!

If you're hesitant to get an Extended Warranty, let this be a lesson for you - do it!!!

P.S. The original impetus to bring the car in? The creaking at the end of a driveway or when going over rough roads? Still there.

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MARTYMAR · 06-06-2009, 12:54 AM

Priceless is more like it!!

Good for you man. Good stuff

JYO · 06-07-2009, 02:50 PM

How do these warranty companies stay in business.....they have to know by now that the stealerships are messing around with them.

JonMBZ · 06-07-2009, 04:36 PM

It was probably a MB warranty I had an after market warranty I paid like 3k for and I never used it. So they got my money for free. I doubt an aftermarket one would have paid that all out especially a seal. My fan clutch seized took out my radiator water pump washer tank and a few other random parts and none was covered under my 3k easy care warranty. Every time I had an issue with my car none of it was covered.

JYO · 06-07-2009, 05:37 PM

I think his was issued by Mercury Insurance. They mainly offer auto insurance but also have ext warranty plans too. NYSE listed as MCY.

JonMBZ · 06-08-2009, 11:24 AM

Hmm maybe I should have invested in that one then. Nice to know I should have read that though doh.

150shot · 06-08-2009, 08:34 PM

I will def. have to get one of these when my CPO car expires about a year from now. I'll gladly pay $2k or a bit more for all that coverage...can I call them direct or have to go through a third party?

AMGOODNESS · 06-08-2009, 08:46 PM

you just sold me i will be picking that insurance up.

06-06-2009, 12:54 AM	#2
MARTYMAR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 386 Drives: CLK 55 AMG, IS 350	WOW!!! Priceless is more like it!! Good for you man. Good stuff __________________ Interior Mods, Kenwood DNX 8120 head unit with factory steering wheel control, back-up camera and amp. Exterior Mods, 19 inch Mandrus Manheim Wheels, H&R Springs lowered front and back staggered.

06-07-2009, 04:36 PM	#4
JonMBZ Super Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: California Posts: 889 Drives: 06 C55	It was probably a MB warranty I had an after market warranty I paid like 3k for and I never used it. So they got my money for free. I doubt an aftermarket one would have paid that all out especially a seal. My fan clutch seized took out my radiator water pump washer tank and a few other random parts and none was covered under my 3k easy care warranty. Every time I had an issue with my car none of it was covered. __________________ Resonator + Rear Cats Deleted

06-08-2009, 11:24 AM	#6
JonMBZ Super Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: California Posts: 889 Drives: 06 C55	Hmm maybe I should have invested in that one then. Nice to know I should have read that though doh. __________________ Resonator + Rear Cats Deleted

06-08-2009, 08:34 PM	#7
150shot Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern CA Posts: 462 Drives: 02 CLK 430, Honda Accord, 94 Acura NSX	I will def. have to get one of these when my CPO car expires about a year from now. I'll gladly pay $2k or a bit more for all that coverage...can I call them direct or have to go through a third party? __________________ 05 SL55 AMG 02 CLK 430- SOLD

06-08-2009, 08:46 PM	#8
AMGOODNESS Super Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 613 Drives: 03 CLK 55 AMG, IMCO muffler/Magnaflow tips, KW V1 coilovers, 19" Petrol Metrix Wheels	you just sold me i will be picking that insurance up. __________________ $C:\Documents and Settings\lhill\My Documents\My Documents\Leo's Files\personal pics files\AMG RAYS F DRIVER VIEW.JPG$

06-07-2009, 02:50 PM	#3
JYO Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Dallas Posts: 142 Drives: 1999 E 320, 2005 CLK55 Cab	How do these warranty companies stay in business.....they have to know by now that the stealerships are messing around with them.

06-07-2009, 05:37 PM	#5
JYO Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Dallas Posts: 142 Drives: 1999 E 320, 2005 CLK55 Cab	I think his was issued by Mercury Insurance. They mainly offer auto insurance but also have ext warranty plans too. NYSE listed as MCY.

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