ShooterMcGavin Posted April 20, 2018 Share Posted April 20, 2018 I have a 2014 MKZ. I am coming up on needing new tires. The dealership has quoted me an arm and a leg for new tire, but I am not excited about getting my tires changed by a 3rd party in case they damage my tire pressure sensors. If that happens, I will not be in warranty to have the sensors fixed... So, what do you think about getting tires replaced by a 3rd party for a cheaper rate? Worth the risk of being out of warranty to save a few bucks? Context: I had a blow out a few months back and I was on my way back on a 5 hour drive and had to have the tire replaced to get home. The only place open was a small shop that may have damaged my tire pressure sensor when they replaced it (or it was damaged in the blow out). Either way, since I didn't have it replaced at a dealership the sensor replacement was out of warranty and cost me about $300 for just one. I do not want to pay that much again (especially x4) so I am weary about going to a 3rd party. Thoughts? Airflow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbf2530 Posted April 20, 2018 Share Posted April 20, 2018 I have a 2014 MKZ. I am coming up on needing new tires. The dealership has quoted me an arm and a leg for new tire, but I am not excited about getting my tires changed by a 3rd party in case they damage my tire pressure sensors. If that happens, I will not be in warranty to have the sensors fixed... So, what do you think about getting tires replaced by a 3rd party for a cheaper rate? Worth the risk of being out of warranty to save a few bucks? Context: I had a blow out a few months back and I was on my way back on a 5 hour drive and had to have the tire replaced to get home. The only place open was a small shop that may have damaged my tire pressure sensor when they replaced it (or it was damaged in the blow out). Either way, since I didn't have it replaced at a dealership the sensor replacement was out of warranty and cost me about $300 for just one. I do not want to pay that much again (especially x4) so I am weary about going to a 3rd party. Thoughts? Hi Shooter. You can get excellent pricing from Costco (if you are a member). Also online tire sellers such as The Tire Rack (tirerack.com), Discount Tire (discounttire.com) etc.. I use Costco myself. You get excellent pricing, free life of the tires flat repair, life of the tires wheel balancing etc. Additionally, they often run specials with manufacturer rebates (usually $70 rebate on 4 tires), nearly free mounting balancing and installation (saves another $60 per four tires). Lincoln/Ford Dealers will often match the pricing of other local sellers, although I'm not sure if they'll meet online sellers. Get competitive prices and ask your Lincoln Dealer to match. Not sure what you were quoted for tires or when the last time you purchased tires, what manufacturer etc, but tires on most cars nowadays are rather expensive. So for those who haven't purchased tires (or good tires) in a while, it can induce a bit of sticker shock. Concerning what happened after your blowout: If a sensor was damaged in the blowout, it would not have been covered under warranty in any case. And if it was damaged by the small shop you were stuck at, it also is certainly not covered under Warranty. That being said...I am not sure why you were charged $300 by your Dealer for a damaged "tire pressure sensor". You either had some other damage, or were grossly overcharged. I'd recommend asking some questions as to what exactly you were charged for. Some other things to take into consideration: Your MKZ is a 2014. Unless you have an extended warranty plan, it will be outside the 4 year/50,000 mile Bumper to Bumper Warranty shortly anyway. My recommendation would be to check out pricing from Costco (if a member), the online sellers listed above and your other local tire retailers. Go back to your Dealer with your pricing and ask them to match or give you a better price than their first estimate. Then make an informed decision which is best for you and your circumstances. Let us know how you make out and good luck. JoeBrown and Airflow 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZED Posted April 20, 2018 Share Posted April 20, 2018 Go to Wall Mart on line look at all the tires in your size do some research then pick a winner WM tire prices are quite good and if you pick them up at your local WM shipping is free. Then find out how much your local Lincoln dealer would charge you to mount and balance them it should not be more than $100.00 for all 4 tires. Airflow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fusionff Posted April 20, 2018 Share Posted April 20, 2018 I've bought a few set of tires from Discount Tire Direct, they ship your tires directly to a local installer of your choice. There's a list on their website showing the their installers and their prices to mount the tires, and they call you when the tires arrive. But there is no question, get your tires from somewhere else other than the dealership. Costco, BJs, Walmart, Discount Tire, Tire Rack, and plenty of others. You might have a good local tire place in your area. Those TPMS sensors have a battery which only lasts so long, so sometimes installing new sensors make sense while the tires are off. ZED and Airflow 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Ice MKZ Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 I am a tire retailer. We cover TPMS sensors if we break them (rare). Tire techs at dealer are schooled the same as tire shops. It’s all in the tire machine they use. Our new machine uses a sensor to locate the TPMS sensors to avoid damage. Personally, I’d trust a shop that does tires all day long rather than a dealer BUT, that said, sometimes dealers sell tires cheaper than “tire shops” believe it or not. Shop around, let the tire shop cover the replacement of a TPMS sensor is they damage it(rare to occur) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcgliss Posted April 26, 2018 Share Posted April 26, 2018 The Quik Lane facility affiliated with our Ford dealership has a price matching guarantee - and provided a $70 rebate card for Continental Extreme Contacts. They had them there the day after I called. Service has been great there, so just wondering why your dealership seems to be charging an arm and a leg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenZ Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 The Quik Lane facility affiliated with our Ford dealership has a price matching guarantee - and provided a $70 rebate card for Continental Extreme Contacts. They had them there the day after I called. Service has been great there, so just wondering why your dealership seems to be charging an arm and a leg. The dealerships reflect the management philosophy and business models of their ownership. I have a Lincoln dealer about a mile from me and another about 15 miles away. I use the one that is 15 miles away for service. Why? Because the one 15 miles away bends over backwards to get my service business. The one a mile away makes me feel like they are doing me a favor by servicing my car. jmcgliss 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm98 Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 (edited) Just note, I would not trust some SAMS clubs for MKZ wheel replacement.. They don't seem to screen qualified technicians and can ruin your wheels, missing caps and so on. You likely not realize until after driving few days. Edited May 4, 2018 by jm98 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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