Experience of MB Insurance & replacing the windscreen

[gr1nch]

Last month on a motorway my windscreen was hit by a rock which made a hole perhaps half way through and started a crack that grew a foot or so over a week. It took a month altogether to get the windscreen replaced by my local MB dealer and the cost reimbursed into my bank account from Aviva.
Experiences that may help others:

* My MB insurance is underwritten by Aviva. It also means that you have to deal with the Aviva claim people, not, unfortunately MB.

* I had to insist that Autoglass would not be adequate to repair and calibrate my windscreen (2017 S350d with special order heated, noise insulating, infra-red reflecting glass). Getting agreement to use an MB garage took much longer and more calls than it should.

* At one point an Aviva agent said that they would be opening a claim as I didn't want to use their preferred supplier, Autoglass. An alarm bell started ringing in my head and I had to insist that they did not do that, as it was a windscreen replacement which MB insurance stated didn't count as an insurance claim and I had the right to insist on an MB dealer. Just have to be careful dealing with these agents.

* It was worth checking the part was exactly that fitted to my car and not a lesser version. Can't tell exactly from the windscreen yet, but visually it looks identical (down to the Carl Benz logo) and it melted the ice from last week no problems.

* The MB garage insisted any windscreen replacements must be paid for before the car is released, who disagreed with Aviva who said normally the dealer sends the bill to them. As the total cost was around £1.6k this wasn't something I wanted to worry about so getting a quote and pre-agreement on reimbursement was important to me.

* The MB insurance quote on car purchase, price-matched the best alternative is found, including plenty of European travel.


Sent from my G3112 using Tapatalk

 

[PenelopePitstop]

Autoglass is not that bad. They did good job on Audi S8 windscreen replacement and then SLK55. The same guy did both cars, 2 months apart. I got original OEM windscreens as well. Dealers don't replace windscreen themselves anyway, they outsource it to specialist companies. I requested some quotes and in both cases dealers told me which company they would use.

 

[m2287]

Autoglass did the front and rear
Window on my CL55, no issues either time and the glass was stamped Mercedes.

 

[oldguy57]

Last month on a motorway my windscreen was hit by a rock which made a hole perhaps half way through and started a crack that grew a foot or so over a week. It took a month altogether to get the windscreen replaced by my local MB dealer and the cost reimbursed into my bank account from Aviva.
Experiences that may help others:

* My MB insurance is underwritten by Aviva. It also means that you have to deal with the Aviva claim people, not, unfortunately MB.

* I had to insist that Autoglass would not be adequate to repair and calibrate my windscreen (2017 S350d with special order heated, noise insulating, infra-red reflecting glass). Getting agreement to use an MB garage took much longer and more calls than it should.

* At one point an Aviva agent said that they would be opening a claim as I didn't want to use their preferred supplier, Autoglass. An alarm bell started ringing in my head and I had to insist that they did not do that, as it was a windscreen replacement which MB insurance stated didn't count as an insurance claim and I had the right to insist on an MB dealer. Just have to be careful dealing with these agents.

* It was worth checking the part was exactly that fitted to my car and not a lesser version. Can't tell exactly from the windscreen yet, but visually it looks identical (down to the Carl Benz logo) and it melted the ice from last week no problems.

* The MB garage insisted any windscreen replacements must be paid for before the car is released, who disagreed with Aviva who said normally the dealer sends the bill to them. As the total cost was around £1.6k this wasn't something I wanted to worry about so getting a quote and pre-agreement on reimbursement was important to me.

* The MB insurance quote on car purchase, price-matched the best alternative is found, including plenty of European travel.


Sent from my G3112 using Tapatalk

It would have been interesting to see how the invoice of £1.6k was arrived at and who did the actual replacement of the screen. Hadn't realised that the cost of a screen could be so much - no wonder Insurers baulk at MB doing the work. As a matter of interest did your policy not specify a low limit for replacement if you did not use their supplier?

 

[m2287]

It would have been interesting to see how the invoice of £1.6k was arrived at and who did the actual replacement of the screen. Hadn't realised that the cost of a screen could be so much - no wonder Insurers baulk at MB doing the work. As a matter of interest did your policy not specify a low limit for replacement if you did not use their supplier?

IIRC the rear window on my CL was £1700 + VAT

 

[gr1nch]

It would have been interesting to see how the invoice of £1.6k was arrived at and who did the actual replacement of the screen. Hadn't realised that the cost of a screen could be so much - no wonder Insurers baulk at MB doing the work. As a matter of interest did your policy not specify a low limit for replacement if you did not use their supplier?

In the policy (Mercedes-Benz, underwritten by Aviva) there wasn't an upper limit on the windscreen replacement cost.

On getting the policy I was assured verbally that I could choose an MB main dealer for any work, including the windscreen. I had to remind Aviva of that, more then I'd have liked to. Their systems are all set to funnel you towards their preferred fitter, Autoglass. If it was an ordinary S-Class original part, I may have been not so adamant, but my windscreen had two, relatively expensive, extra factory options applied to it, plus the calibration with MB tools after fitting.

Incidentally the MB dealer (Grimsby) assured me they would do the work themselves and didn't use a 3rd party. Would have been ironic (and hugely annoying) if they had and it was Autoglass! [emoji23]

For those interested in the cost breakdown, here's the relevant part of the bill, with labour about 1/3 of the total.

Sent from my G3112 using Tapatalk

 

[MancMike]

Autoglass did mine. Now I’ve air bubbles in the rain sensor. :/

 

[oldguy57]

In the policy (Mercedes-Benz, underwritten by Aviva) there wasn't an upper limit on the windscreen replacement cost.

On getting the policy I was assured verbally that I could choose an MB main dealer for any work, including the windscreen. I had to remind Aviva of that, more then I'd have liked to. Their systems are all set to funnel you towards their preferred fitter, Autoglass. If it was an ordinary S-Class original part, I may have been not so adamant, but my windscreen had two, relatively expensive, extra factory options applied to it, plus the calibration with MB tools after fitting.

Incidentally the MB dealer (Grimsby) assured me they would do the work themselves and didn't use a 3rd party. Would have been ironic (and hugely annoying) if they had and it was Autoglass! [emoji23]

For those interested in the cost breakdown, here's the relevant part of the bill, with labour about 1/3 of the total.

Sent from my G3112 using Tapatalk

Interesting that, thanks for posting it. I would in the same circumstances have taken the same approach as you. Autoglass certainly have a good place in the market and have replaced a couple of screens on daily drivers for me, but I'd want to go elsewhere for complicated stuff. I've also had policies in the past where Insurers have stipulated a maximum liability of £100 ish if you didn't use their windscreen supplier. Presumably they couldn't do so on an MB policy!

 

[BernardB]

MB Insurance is a broker like any other broker. I prefer to deal with an insurance company directly. I use NFU Mutual, which I've found excellent.

As for Autoglass, that's a bit of a lottery. You can have good experiences with them (as many have) or not-so-good (as many have).