Sprinter extended warranty and/or service contract. Worth it?

[mikemikemike]

All,

My 2018 sprinter is coming due for its first official service. I didn't buy either extended warranty or service contract, but I have the opportunity to do so.

I'd assume that buying the 5 year warranty would bring some peace of mind, but has anyone done the analysis of whether one or both of these is worth it?

For example, reading the Mercedes service interval descriptions, it looks like you need to basically get a thousand dollar oil change every 20K miles, which I assume would be required to stay current. Presumably you could meet their service requirements quite a bit more cheaply if not under warranty, no?

I imagine if something did go wrong it would be beaucoup dollars, but I also read that the major reliability risk comes after the 100K mark with the emissions systems failures, right?

Thanks for any thoughts...
Mike

[1der]

The brand new 2018 Sprinter we bought came with the factory complimentary extended 5 /100k warranty as a buying incentive. It was wonderful until I read that it was not honored in about five or six stars, CA being one of them.

Make sure to read the fine print AND the bold print.

[mikemikemike]

Originally Posted by 1der

The brand new 2018 Sprinter we bought came with the factory complimentary extended 5 /100k warranty as a buying incentive. It was wonderful until I read that it was not honored in about five or six stars, CA being one of them.

Make sure to read the fine print AND the bold print.

Wow, yes, duly noted!

[JWA]

Originally Posted by 1der

The brand new 2018 Sprinter we bought came with the factory complimentary extended 5 /100k warranty as a buying incentive. It was wonderful until I read that it was not honored in about five or six stars, CA being one of them.

Wondering if that's due the excluded states for some reason not allowing such coverage?

Would any of the non-dealer extended warranty programs have similar exclusions?

Very curious why this is.

[Grampswrx]

If you ever plan to sell it, the warranty and prepaid service will give a potential buyer IMMENSE peace of mind. I would consider it for that reason if nothing else. However, if you plan to keep it beyond 100k miles, then it's up to you. Given the failure rate on them, I would get the warranty.

[mikemikemike]

Originally Posted by Grampswrx

If you ever plan to sell it, the warranty and prepaid service will give a potential buyer IMMENSE peace of mind. I would consider it for that reason if nothing else. However, if you plan to keep it beyond 100k miles, then it's up to you. Given the failure rate on them, I would get the warranty.

Thanks good thoughts.

I don't plan to sell it, but who knows.

Please say more about the failure rate. I have read threads here and on sprinter-source but hard to discern rates from anecdotes?

[Grampswrx]

It’s all anecdotal but here goes: I have 3 close friends with sprinters. 2 families using them as kid transporters. Both report very high maintenance costs due to def and emissions related issues. They have each had them towed to the dealer several times due to not starting or limo mode. The 3rd is a plumber friend who spent $18k in one year chasing emissions problems before selling the van. It was his work van and he couldn’t take the downtime or cost.

So of the 3 I have personal contact with, all theee have been towed to the dealer at least once. They were all diesels, the oldest being a 2011 I believe.

Then there are the forum anecdotes.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by mikemikemike

Please say more about the failure rate. I have read threads here and on sprinter-source but hard to discern rates from anecdotes?

2016 2500 4wd, 41k, nothing MB other than the 20k and 40k services.

[1der]

Found the paperwork
Not Valid in California, Florida, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin

[JFlo]

2016 4x4 now at 35k miles. 7yr/175k EW. Never had a MB service other than airbag recall replacement. Did all required service in my driveway.