[Geoman]

Hello,

I hope to be picking up my new 3.2L Diesel Wagon sometime this month. They have offered me the Ford Maintenance Protection Plan (FMPP) as I am sure they offer it to everybody at the dealership. I understand they sell these as a way to make any more profit, but I am just wondering if there is any value in it and how negotiable they normally are on these things.

I know the oil changes and fuel filters on a diesel can get quite expensive, and the plan includes normal wear items including brake pads and rotors, wiper blades, belts, light bulbs, shocks and spark plugs. I am not a 'service my own vehicle' kind of guy. They are offering me the 5 year, 150,000km plan with 18 service visits, so every 8000km.

Any advice on these? The plan includes all scheduled maintenance items, so I am wondering if that includes spark plugs for Special Operating Conditions. How much is a brake job on these and how often can I expect the brakes to last with normal contractor type usage of about 30-35k km per year?

 

[orton]

Does not include spark plugs.

 

[Budsky]

Nope, to dang hard to find them on the diesel....

 

[Ahoelk]

I took the plan on both my Explorer and now on the Transit - 5 year/100km. I think you probably pay a bit of a premium, however it somehow feels 'nice' to have paid up front and now just to drop the vehicle off for service and not to have a bill when picking it up. As much as I don't like our dealer sometimes I do have to say that their service has greatly improved over the last years.

 

[Geoman]

Okay, maybe we can work to it like this:

1. What is the approx cost of an oil change on the diesel?

2. What is the approx cost of a fuel filter change on the diesel?

3. What is the approx cost of a front or rear brake job and what kind of intervals are people seeing?

I can figure out the wipers and DEF costs myself...!

 

[asdrew]

If it was a better deal for you than the dealer, they would not sell it nor push it so hard. They have all the statistics to show that they will come out far ahead almost all of the time.

However, many people like the peace of mind/convenience that comes with such plans - I don't have the extra money to throw away myself.

To each his own, as they say.