All AMG's dropped by Mercedes M & R

[Birdman]

I had asked for a quote for Mercedes' maintenance and repair contract on a current shape E55 and was now ready to purchase. This is the email that arrived yesterday, putting an end to my hopes of buying into peace of mind with a new E55 Kompressor:

"Mr Birdman (not my real name, obviously),

"I understand that you were interested in a Service Contract to cover your vehicle. I understand that your current vehicle is an E55 AMG. Unfortunately the product has been withdrawn on all AMG spec vehicles. For more information in regards to this matter please call the Service Contracts Infomation Team on:- 0870 242 6200.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.


Kind Regards

Mercedes-Benz Direct CRM Centre

t. 0845 092 0243
f. 01992 715413

91-93 Eleanor Cross Road
Waltham Cross
Herts
En8 7JW
END

I had been given a quote by M & R to put the car on cover last week and on calling them today asking why the sudden volte-face, was predictably told, "It is not our policy to comment on the reasons for withdrawing cover on our vehicles."

Anyone like to suggest what they would have said, had they had a policy of telling customers the truth?

 

[mb240]

Anyone like to suggest what they would have said, had they had a policy of telling customers the truth?

I think Mercedes USA don't do AMG either, it's weird. Maybe having a look on mbworld.org might give more of an idea of why this is. Certainly quite strange, considering it's a W211 AMG, current model.

 

[Dieselman]

There will only be one reason why the product has been dropped from what is in effect an insurance scheme, the payouts were too great.
Now Mercedes could have increased the monthly premium but maybe the cost was just too great for customers to bear.

 

[scumbag]

My AMG only went back 6 times in 12months. I should think it will have been back since I passed it on, as it went with another fault. That was the reason i got shut of it.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I enquired about Service Plus on 22 August 2006 for the C32 and the cost was £55 plus VAT per month. On 22 August 2007 the car had covered a further 10,000 miles and I was quoted £221 plus VAT per month. The expected annual mileage and term were the same on both occasions, and only the passage of 12 months and 10,000 miles were different.

I got a quote earlier in the year and it was about £65 plus VAT IIRC.

I'm currently in correspondence with a senior person at MBUK. I shall share more once I have more to tell.

In the meantime though my Service Advisor told me that the monthly costs had spiralled due to the cost of claims on SL55 and ML55 specifically, and that the other AMG models weren't anywhere near as regular or as costly. Interestingly he said it's the cost of replacing the brakes that's the real killer - being incredibly expensive and replaced several times during the term of the contract. It seems other items weren't that much of a problem.

Reading between the lines I think they hiked premiums to prevent people taking them out within the 30 days limit of the quote whilst they decided whether to pull out completely. Rather than deny specific AMG models and introduce and element of grey, it seems as though the decision has been applied to all AMGs, making it very black and white.


Of course as an AMG it means the C32 will no longer be eligible for Service Plus. However given that it fairs really well compared to the other AMG models in terms of cost/frequency of SP claims, it is good news if funding one without a service contract.

 

[Birdman]

I don't know if AMG cover has been pulled in all markets or just some. But the discussion on a US AMG site about the usefulness of cover is what put me onto the trail of service plus for the E55 Kompressor. I was originally quoted £3,000 pa and given the same reason as BD mentions - new discs/pads cost £1,150 a pop and don't last long. But E500 cover is under £1,000 pa. for everything. You don't go through a new set of brakes in 12,000 miles. The obvious solution is for AMG to reduce their parts cost, which are excessive. But pulling all cover is a vote of no-confidence by AMG - if they can't afford to insure it then why expect the customer to? Meanwhile, reduce parts prices.
I kind of backed away from replacing my current car and will hold onto it instead.

 

[C240Sport97]

an NA 55 engine is still a wonderful piece of kit .. plus the depreciation curve is already quite flat

keep it ..

I don't know if AMG cover has been pulled in all markets or just some. But the discussion on a US AMG site about the usefulness of cover is what put me onto the trail of service plus for the E55 Kompressor. I was originally quoted £3,000 pa and given the same reason as BD mentions - new discs/pads cost £1,150 a pop and don't last long. But E500 cover is under £1,000 pa. for everything. You don't go through a new set of brakes in 12,000 miles. The obvious solution is for AMG to reduce their parts cost, which are excessive. But pulling all cover is a vote of no-confidence by AMG - if they can't afford to insure it then why expect the customer to? Meanwhile, reduce parts prices.
I kind of backed away from replacing my current car and will hold onto it instead.

 

[miro]

Mercedes is opening AMG centres all over the world.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Mercedes is opening AMG centres all over the world.

Can you tell us any more?