IN SEPT 2008 I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED MERCEDES BENZ C230 SEDAN ALONG WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR AN ADDITIONAL EXPENSE THE CAR HAD APPROX 32K ON IT AT TIME OF PURCHASE, IT NOW IS AT APRROX 62K ALL SERVICE ACTIONS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BY THE LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP AND THE CAR ONLY HAS THE OEM EQUIPMENT IT WAS MANUFACTURED WITH. ON THE 28TH OF OCT 2010 I HAD RETURNED TO WORK PARKED THE CAR AND ABOUT 15 MINS AFTER IT WAS SHUT OFF I WAS SUMMONED BY A COWORKER THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE, I IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE HOOD, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE CARS BATTERY AS HAVING A MECHANICAL BACKGROUND IN BOTH AUTOMOTIVE & AVIATION. I NOTIFIED MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO HAVE THE CAR TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM, I WAS CALLED THE MORNING OF NOV 2, 2010 BY THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPT THAT MY CLAIM ADJUSTER HAD ARRIVED AND WAS ASKED TO AUTHORIZE TEAR DOWN OF THE CAR AND THAT IT HAD APPEARED THAT THE CARS ALTERNATOR WIRE HARNESS HAD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE CARS EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH LED TO THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THIS WAS CLASSIFIED AS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR IN WHICH I AM IN TOTAL DISAGREEMENT WITH ESPECIALLY SINCE MERCEDES OF ALBUQUERQUE HAS PERFORMED ALL MAINTENANCE SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THIS NOW IS BEING PUT ON ME FOR THE EXPENSES. IN MY PAST 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THIS NATURE WITH A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/07/10 *TR