Mercedes 30 year breakdown cover

[SuffolkSifter]

I am picking up my first Mercedes ML350 (64 plate) on Saturday, will arrange insurance just before I go. The ML has been serviced by Mercedes from new, so should cover the conditions of the Mercedes 30 year breakdown cover. I understand that the red SOS is a subscription based service, but the 30 year breakdown cover I assume will still be intact as long as it is serviced by Mercedes?

So I would still be able to use the other two buttons if it breaks down? What does this 30 year breakdown cover, cover? Can I get insurance without breakdown cover?

 

[Wearsthefoxhat]

I think you will find that the 30 years cover is for rust, not parts. Have never used the SOS system and have never paid for it either so dunno.

Enjoy your new Mercedes Benz.

 

[SuffolkSifter]

I spoke to Mercedes and they talked on a mechanical breakdown, which differs from the corrosion warranty. They told me that as long as I continue having it serviced with them I still have it. Trying to find out what it covers.

 

[55AMGCLK]

This would be the Mobilo service:

Introduction

I used it some time back when the car came up with the ‘reverse not possible ‘ error. They came out, repaired at roadside at no cost to me.

 

[Teego]

It's a trap to keep you coming back for main dealer servicing. Just get RAC and indie servicing.

 

[Dryce]

I spoke to Mercedes and they talked on a mechanical breakdown, which differs from the corrosion warranty. They told me that as long as I continue having it serviced with them I still have it. Trying to find out what it covers.

Mobilo is similar to the top levels of cover you get from the likes of the AA, RAC, and Green Flag.

If you service the car with a dealer then you get the cover.

Depending on your household circumstances it's worth about £50 to £150 per year.

Upside of Mobilo is that it's MB specific and near major towns and cities the attending mechanic should in theory be better trained and equipped to assist you. The service will aso ensure that if the car cannot be fixed taht it will be recovered to an authorised MB dealer. It covers travel in Europe.

But the downside is it ties you to the dealer network for servicing and that they will recover you to an MB dealer rather than an independent specualist of your chioce if that's what you would prefer.

It gets a little bit complicated in that Mobilo used to be tied into a supposedly comprehensive 30 year corrosion warranty. The small print has changed a few times and the reality of the corrosion cover by those using it seemed to be that they would go down the route of goodwill payments rather than really backing it as a warranty.

 

[55AMGCLK]

Another + in that they had Star online and were able to do a firmware update on the gearbox to fix the issue at roadside...

 

[Deleted member 149005]

It partly depends on much you can get RAC / AA cover for - last time i looked theynwere both in excess of £100 pa. Which was more than the cost difference between MB and Indie.

You will soon find there are 2 camps here - those who prefer MB and those who prefer the “quality” / value of an indie. My experience was a lesser service, and a damaged car, from an indie...

 

[markjay]

I think you'll find that there are good and bad dealers, and good and bad independent specialists....

Cost-wise, the combination of the MB Service Care Plan and Mobilo pretty much swayed the pendulum in the direction of dealer servicing.

What some do (myself included) is get the car serviced at the dealer under the service plan, and all other work done (brakes, repairs, etc) by an independent specialists.

The only potential issue is that (as Dryce said) if you do break down, Mobilo will recover the car to the MB dealer, and not to your independent specialists.

 

[Deleted member 149005]

The only potential issue is that (as Dryce said) if you do break down, Mobilo will recover the car to the MB dealer, and not to your independent specialists

Good point but irrelevant if you break down a long way from home. Most independent recovery services will only take you to the nearest garage, with some limited to 10 miles or so.

 

[AMGeed]

Mobilo is run by the RAC now. I have both RAC and Mobilo cover (don't ask)
I called the RAC recently with a starting problem and as they were busy a Mercedes Mobilo van turned up.

The question you need to ask yourself is "am I going to have the vehicle serviced at the main dealer or an indy"?
If main dealer, no problem you get Mobilo cover automatically. Getting a service plan and paying upfront may work well for you.
Take the servicing to an indy and you'll pay far less labour rates, but need to arrange your own breakdown cover.
The RAC have an offer currently for breakdown cover including home start for £45 a year. Looks a bargain to me along with servicing at your nearest indy Alex Crow in Stowborough. (awful website though)

https://www.rac.co.uk/breakdown-cover

Alex Crow

Alex Crow can service or repair your merceds for less. He is experienced with all models - old and new - and is always happy to discuss your car. Call him on 01449 258185

alexcrow.moonfruit.com

 

[markjay]

Good point but irrelevant if you break down a long way from home. Most independent recovery services will only take you to the nearest garage, with some limited to 10 miles or so.

Agreed.

Note that I used the word 'potential'

 

[Dryce]

Good point but irrelevant if you break down a long way from home. Most independent recovery services will only take you to the nearest garage, with some limited to 10 miles or so.

'Most independent recovery services' ?

The main ones are AA, RAC, and Green Flag. AFAIAA all three deal with this - depending on the cover purchased.

The whole point of relay type cover or 'long distance recovery' is the car travels to your destination or back home with you - so to your indy. And if you have cover for problems at home - then subject to mileage limitation - recovery from your home to your indy.

It's not expensive if you do your homework and can get a policy that covers your household.

European cover isn't necessarily that expensive either - and if you have it in place for the minimum time before you set off then it will give extra cover for mishaps getting to a ferry or Eurotunnel.

 

[Deleted member 149005]

'Most independent recovery services' ?

The main ones are AA, RAC, and Green Flag. AFAIAA all three deal with this - depending on the cover purchased.

The whole point of relay type cover or 'long distance recovery' is the car travels to your destination or back home with you - so to your indy. And if you have cover for problems at home - then subject to mileage limitation - recovery from your home to your indy.

It's not expensive if you do your homework and can get a policy that covers your household.

European cover isn't necessarily that expensive either - and if you have it in place for the minimum time before you set off then it will give extra cover for mishaps getting to a ferry or Eurotunnel.

AA national recovery for a single named car is £119 - I don’t know about you but that ain’t cheap and is way more than the difference between MB and an Indy local to me.

And last time I looked it was near impossible to get European cover for a car >10 years old..

We all make our own choices but I’ve found indies to be no better than (franchised) MB dealers

 

[C240Sport97]

if you have full MB dealer service history, you also have a significantly better chance of goodwill from MB

My SL was 4 years old when it needed a new headlight at £1500 fitted. MB contributed 80%.

 

[Dryce]

AA national recovery for a single named car is £119 - I don’t know about you but that ain’t cheap and is way more than the difference between MB and an Indy local to me.

I have mentioned houshold policies and I have mentioned more than the AA.

We have Green Flag - two people covered for about £100. Full UK cover. We have purchased European cover as needed. It wasn't expensive.

And last time I looked it was near impossible to get European cover for a car >10 years old..

Green Flag will do up to 16 years old.

I have no idea what the AA or RAC limitations are.

We all make our own choices but I’ve found indies to be no better than (franchised) MB dealers

Mileage as they say varies.

Locally the two indies we use are IMO (a lot) better than the dealers. It's not just about cost either.

 

[Skd884]

Mobilo will recover you to a MB dealer or your home, if you choose home you can then have the car taken to your indie, you do have a choice.

 

[Dryce]

Mobilo will recover you to a MB dealer or your home, if you choose home you can then have the car taken to your indie, you do have a choice.

You would have to get it recovered again - not by Mobilo.

So in that situation what point Mobilo over an independent service unless the MB servicing to keep Mobilo active was very cheap?

One other factor that has been mentioned is that MB dealers sometimes offer discounts for charges to work on older cars. So that might be a positive for going to a dealer for some - and make Mobilo a more attractive option. (Though my take on this charging structure is that it is extremely cynical towards those owning newer cars and might be considered predatory towards indys - and IME a good indy likely knows the older cars better).

 

[Neiltodd]

Mobilo also give you european breakdown cover if that is any benefit to you.

 

[raspy]

Early one Monday morning, my 2015 C350e showed a check engine light on the dash.

Phoned up Mobilio/MB people. They told me to take it to my local MB dealer, tell them I'm afraid to drive it, they will book it in as urgent and contact MB roadside assistance to get me a courtesy car. Took it into local MB dealer at 8am, they would look into it. Walking home from the dealer, the roadside assistance people called to ensure I got a courtesy car within 2 hours from my local Europcar.

Further along the walk home, I popped into the Europcar branch and asked if the courtesy car was ready. They were just finishing washing it, and it was a brand new C200.

MB dealer called on Tuesday, turns out the check engine light was related to a software update for the thermostat (all covered under my MB warranty so no charge)

Collected my car from dealer on Tuesday evening, I just handed the keys to the C200 and they would handle Europcar collecting it from them.

Hassle free, and relatively seamless experience on a Monday morning and with a minor disruption to me. Everyone has different needs in life. Yes, MB servicing is stupidly expensive compared to specialists, but time is literally money for me, so the MB servicing and MB roadside assistance route is brilliant and worth the cost of having it serviced once a year at the main dealer.