New Info On Mobilolife

[hawk20]

There are several threads running on MobiloLife at the moment. I've started a new thread to save members reading through pages of older stuff to find this information.

There is -or has been recently- an error on Mercedes website and in some of their literature saying that punctures and other "minor mishaps" (losing the key, running out of fuel etc) are only covered for two years by MobiloLife on cars sold since 2004. I have raised this with Mercedes at a high level and can now confirm the correct position.

MB Germany only give a two year guarantee in Europe. And two years MobiloLife cover for minor mishaps. This on cars purchased and registered in Europe (ex UK).

In the UK we have a 36 month guarantee, two years from the factory and one extra year paid for by MB UK.

Minor mishaps cover used to run for the full 30 years, provided all services were done at an MB dealer, BUT when changes were made to MobiloLife a few years back (2004?), for cars purchased and registered in the UK, MB Germany removed 'minor mishaps' cover except for the first two years. BUT MB UK added a third year (to match the guarantee period).

This third year is not clear from the website (but it will soon be made clear) and I sent our threads to Mercedes to show the confusion and have had this situation confirmed by a director of MB UK.

He says: -
"To address your concerns with regards to "minor mishaps" cover, which
includes attendance for punctures, the situation remains as per our
earlier conversation. The European offer from the
factory is for two years only, but for all vehicles purchased and
registered in the UK we add a further year to provide a total of three
years "minor mishap" cover.

I have looked at the website and will ensure that this is made clearer in
the future."

I also raised the confusion about whether if FullMBSH had lapsed could MobiloLife be reactivated by returning to getting services done at an MB dealer. Some have been told yes by dealers and others have been told no. He confirms that it can be reactivated even after a significant gap: -
"It is true that for vehicles registered after 1st January 2004, you can
re-enter the Mobilo programme at anytime by having your vehicle serviced at
an Authorised Mercedes-Benz repairer and whilst I understand concerns
at this statement we feel that the more we can do to encourage lapsed
customers back into our network the better for all concerned and we do not
wish the lack of Mobilo cover to be a barrier to that eventuality."


I hope members find this helpful.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Excellent post Hawk20, thanks and well done for taking the effort to get some clarity from MB.

Minor mishaps cover used to run for the full 30 years, provided all services were done at an MB dealer,

Wonder if they would still honour 'minor mishap' cover for up to the full 30 years for vehicles that qualify?

 

[hawk20]

Excellent post Hawk20, thanks and well done for taking the effort to get some clarity from MB.



Wonder if they would still honour 'minor mishap' cover for up to the full 30 years for vehicles that qualify?

Good point. Ithink they do. Will ask.

Personally really sad to lose punctures/wheelchanges after only three years.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Good point. Ithink they do. Will ask.

Personally really sad to lose punctures/wheelchanges after only three years.

That's what I was thinking, but IIRC this 'benefit' was lost very early on. Would be great to get some clarity on this although I understand that it's likeley to depend upon vehicle registration dates etc.

 

[glojo]

Well done Hawk for clarifying this, but should this person be named or at the very least can we quote the contact office? That way we can at least point any wayward dealership in the right direction, otherwise we are back to 'a bloke on t'Internet said........'

Well done

Regards
John

 

[hawk20]

Well done Hawk for clarifying this, but should this person be named or at the very least can we quote the contact office? That way we can at least point any wayward dealership in the right direction, otherwise we are back to 'a bloke on t'Internet said........'

Well done

Regards
John

It will shortly be put right on the MB website for all to see -so I have been told.

 

[hawk20]

Here's the link where it currently says up to 2 years cover: -
http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/con...t_kept_secret/mobilo_life_explained.0004.html

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thanks hawk20. Clarification on minor mishaps would be great.

Both of our cars are 2003, so based upon your post it seems we have minor mishap cover for 30 years if we maintain FMBSH.

 

[Barryh]

Thanks for this clarification
So after 3 years what do we get?Is it then necessary to get Rac/AA cover for these?

 

[crockers]

Thanks Hawk - nice to get the clarification sorted...

 

[glojo]

Here are my thoughts which hopefully will encourage sensible debate without sarcasm or making personal attacks.

Regarding my comments about owners of cars that are 10 years of age or even older and still believing the manufacturer is responsible for problems regarding rust is based on the fact that the average life expectancy of our motor vehicles is……… 13.5yrs. we can all cite beautiful examples of cars far, far older than this and indeed just look on our forum to see wonderfully well maintained vehicles, but where is the best place to buy spare parts for these excellent vehicles?

I have been thinking about the new stipulations regarding Mobilo and I can’t help but think this decision has been made by an academic that has not thought things through.

The life expectancy of a car is 13.5 yrs. Mobilo is a 30 year warranty?? If I damage several panels on a 12 year old car, then the chances are my insurance company will say the car is beyond economic repair and compensate me accordingly. If in 5 years time I have a 12 year old Mercedes that has been maintained by my mate down the road for the last seven years and we notice corrosion on all four doors coming from the inside out, then under the suggested new translation of Mobilo I can nip down to my local friendly main dealer; get a cheap service and then submit a repair claim under the Mobilo scheme?? Does Mercedes seriously think that after the repair has been carried out, I will carry on taking my car to a main dealer? Or will I go back to my mate for cheaper servicing?

How long can a manufacturer keep doing this? I can understand them being morally obliged to repair cars less than perhaps very roughly five years of age, but once we are talking of eight to ten years then why should they repair any Tom, **** or Harry’s car? If they want to keep car owners within the umbrella of main dealer servicing then fine, make this offer as an incentive, but to allow old ‘wrecks’ to be repaired free of charge to me seems an ill thought out, crazy idea? (question)

Just my observations which will hopefully stimulate debate.

Regards
John

 

[Mr E]

If I've read Hawk's posting correctly, this is referring to "minor mishaps" and not corrosion.

I can understand the extension of the Mobilo "olive branch" to returning vehicles in regard to breakdown services, but I can't see any OEM in their right mind offering to reinstate a lapsed corrosion warranty.

I look forward to seeing further details of this coming out - commercial restrictions don't permit to go and ask myself unfortunately.

 

[glojo]

If I've read Hawk's posting correctly, this is referring to "minor mishaps" and not corrosion.

I can understand the extension of the Mobilo "olive branch" to returning vehicles in regard to breakdown services, but I can't see any OEM in their right mind offering to reinstate a lapsed corrosion warranty.

I look forward to seeing further details of this coming out - commercial restrictions don't permit to go and ask myself unfortunately.

I agree with your very valid points and would the warranty have to be completely re-written as at the moment we only have one warrnaty that is all encompassing as there is no specific individual corrosion warrnaty, nor seperate specific breakdown cover? (question)

Regards
John

 

[Rory]

but once we are talking of eight to ten years then why should they repair any Tom, **** or Harry’s car?

It's all about creating confidence in the brand. It's marketing more than anything else and a good word from an owner is priceless.

Volume manufactures spend towards £1000 PER CAR on advertising and marketing costs - a few rust repairs here and there is absolute chicken-feed to MB in the great scheme of things.

 

[glojo]

It's all about creating confidence in the brand. It's marketing more than anything else and a good word from an owner is priceless.

Volume manufactures spend towards £1000 PER CAR on advertising and marketing costs - a few rust repairs here and there is absolute chicken-feed to MB in the great scheme of things.

Don't forget I am talking about TEN year old cars.

REgards
John

 

[666mcnally]

There are several threads running on MobiloLife at the moment. I've started a new thread to save members reading through pages of older stuff to find this information.

There is -or has been recently- an error on Mercedes website and in some of their literature saying that punctures and other "minor mishaps" (losing the key, running out of fuel etc) are only covered for two years by MobiloLife on cars sold since 2004. I have raised this with Mercedes at a high level and can now confirm the correct position.

MB Germany only give a two year guarantee in Europe. And two years MobiloLife cover for minor mishaps. This on cars purchased and registered in Europe (ex UK).

In the UK we have a 36 month guarantee, two years from the factory and one extra year paid for by MB UK.

Minor mishaps cover used to run for the full 30 years, provided all services were done at an MB dealer, BUT when changes were made to MobiloLife a few years back (2004?), for cars purchased and registered in the UK, MB Germany removed 'minor mishaps' cover except for the first two years. BUT MB UK added a third year (to match the guarantee period).

This third year is not clear from the website (but it will soon be made clear) and I sent our threads to Mercedes to show the confusion and have had this situation confirmed by a director of MB UK.

He says: -
"To address your concerns with regards to "minor mishaps" cover, which
includes attendance for punctures, the situation remains as per our
earlier conversation. The European offer from the
factory is for two years only, but for all vehicles purchased and
registered in the UK we add a further year to provide a total of three
years "minor mishap" cover.

I have looked at the website and will ensure that this is made clearer in
the future."

I also raised the confusion about whether if FullMBSH had lapsed could MobiloLife be reactivated by returning to getting services done at an MB dealer. Some have been told yes by dealers and others have been told no. He confirms that it can be reactivated even after a significant gap: -
"It is true that for vehicles registered after 1st January 2004, you can
re-enter the Mobilo programme at anytime by having your vehicle serviced at
an Authorised Mercedes-Benz repairer and whilst I understand concerns
at this statement we feel that the more we can do to encourage lapsed
customers back into our network the better for all concerned and we do not
wish the lack of Mobilo cover to be a barrier to that eventuality."


I hope members find this helpful.

Ok i understand this but i have a car that is pre 2004 so where do we stand

 

[hawk20]

Don't forget I am talking about TEN year old cars.

REgards
John

I have raised your point with Mercedes. I think the policy of allowing lapsed owners back into MobiloLife is likely to cause real problems. But they replied: -
"It is true that for vehicles registered after 1st January 2004, you can re-enter the Mobilo programme at anytime by having your vehicle serviced at an Authorised Mercedes-Benz repairer and whilst I understand concerns at this statement we feel that the more we can do to encourage lapsed customers back into our network the better for all concerned and we do not wish the lack of Mobilo cover to be a barrier to that eventuality."

For those who want to know the position for cars before 2004, I have asked for confirmation and will post it as soon as I get it.

 

[hawk20]

BTW I have expressed my concern (clearly shared by others here) that once the minor mishaps cover has gone- after 3 years- I shall have to join the AA or whatever to get cover for punctures for me and my wife, and then the case for going to Merc dealers for a service will be hugely reduced IMO. Mercedes do not appear to share my concern on this issue.

 

[Dieselman]

This is a valid point as the single biggest reason to maintain Dealer servicing has been for the corrosion warranty as opposed to breakdown cover.

Now that Mercedes have corrosion under control what is to stop an owner using a cheaper garage to service the car and taking out a recovery plan elswhere, especially as it is required anyway to maintain the cover mentioned for flat tyres and loss of keys.

 

[glojo]

BTW I have expressed my concern (clearly shared by others here) that once the minor mishaps cover has gone- after 3 years- I shall have to join the AA or whatever to get cover for punctures for me and my wife, and then the case for going to Merc dealers for a service will be hugely reduced IMO. Mercedes do not appear to share my concern on this issue.

None of this is making sense? They appear to be openly encouraging folks with old bangers to rejoin for a short period, just so they can get bodywork issues fixed for free, but those that have loyally remained within the umbrella are being told to take a hike regarding punctures etc?

Regards
John