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Part shortages?

Diana1990

Active Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2024
Messages
63
Location
England
Car
A Class Amg executive
Recently purchased A Class amg month back. Sadly for me my car got hit whole parked up resulting in damage the dealership is estimated at £12k. It's 20 plate. I need new front and rear bumber plus new headlight. It's going through insurance and Mercedes Benz are looking after it for me as no fault claim. All parts have arrived withing 48hrs minus the front bumber which is coming from Germany. At first they said they had no delivery date to being told 'it's shipped'. Never been through this before.

I assume that shipped means the part technically mine now and should be here within next few days. Or they say shipped and it turns out they delivery date is weeks and weeks away. Just panicked atm. I've heard horror stories where cars are sitting around waiting for the parts on back order, which mine isn't. Anyone got any words of wisdom? Is there an actual shortage currently to body work parts?
 
Recently purchased A Class amg month back. Sadly for me my car got hit whole parked up resulting in damage the dealership is estimated at £12k. It's 20 plate. I need new front and rear bumber plus new headlight. It's going through insurance and Mercedes Benz are looking after it for me as no fault claim. All parts have arrived withing 48hrs minus the front bumber which is coming from Germany. At first they said they had no delivery date to being told 'it's shipped'. Never been through this before.

I assume that shipped means the part technically mine now and should be here within next few days. Or they say shipped and it turns out they delivery date is weeks and weeks away. Just panicked atm. I've heard horror stories where cars are sitting around waiting for the parts on back order, which mine isn't. Anyone got any words of wisdom? Is there an actual shortage currently to body work parts?
I very much doubt you will have any parts issues with a 2020 car .
 
I very much doubt you will have any parts issues with a 2020 car .
Hi there.

What makes you say that? Assume part shortages hit cars that are brand new, like 6mths? Sorry.. I'm not totally clued up when it comes to this. I've been told it's been shipped, nut in concerned this could mean that delivery could be weeks away while it's actually shipped, like parceks first instance, they say it's shipped when in reality it's just a barcode being generated. Or am I just worried for you nothing? I've just heard too many many horrors stories where parts are on back order or delivery it's ridiculous even if the part is sourced.

No idea though why rear bumber was sourced here, but the front has to come direct for Germany....
 
I have no idea how Mercedes Benz UK stores and ships spare parts, however, just to say that in the event of a no-fault accident where the other-party's insurer accepted liability, you are legally entitled to a temporary replacement vehicle for as long as it takes, I.e. with no time limit, and more crucially, it must be a similar or better vehicle than your own vehicle (which is not the same as a dealer's curtesy car). So, while I'm sure that you'd like to have your own vehicle back as soon as possible, the potential delay in repairing your car shouldn't really be an issue for you.
 
Hi there.

What makes you say that? Assume part shortages hit cars that are brand new, like 6mths? Sorry.. I'm not totally clued up when it comes to this. I've been told it's been shipped, nut in concerned this could mean that delivery could be weeks away while it's actually shipped, like parceks first instance, they say it's shipped when in reality it's just a barcode being generated. Or am I just worried for you nothing? I've just heard too many many horrors stories where parts are on back order or delivery it's ridiculous even if the part is sourced.

No idea though why rear bumber was sourced here, but the front has to come direct for Germany....
You are understandably panicking because this is out of your comfort zone . Give it a few days and see where you are then .
 
I doubt you;ll have long to wait.
If the dealer has told you the part has been shipped, then its on its way from Germany.

Some parts for newish cars are in short supply, and it's unfortunate for those waiting, but I don't think you fall in that category.
 
Thanks everyone. Yes, a courtesy car was delivered next day. Bare in mind I have a 20 plate A class amg executive line, I got given a Audi A1 and it's potentially a basic entry or mid range, so I'd not say it was like for like and certainly not better. But I'm not gonna argue the car I got given and yes, I have this hire car for as long as needed. So its getting me to where I need to go, but I hate the idea of my car sitting for weeks on end. The 'accident' happened Monday morning, the parts sourced here in UK came Thurs morning. So it moved quick, just feel nervous til I know the part actually arrived at dealership.

So is there part shortages currently, is it aimed at newer cars? Just curious to know why my car wouldn't fall into that 'category'.... Can someone explain?
 
Sorry to hear of your frustrations.

Parts supply is a problem for lots of car manufacturers and Mercedes seem to be amongst the most affected. However as mentioned already, there’s not anything you can really do apart from remind the insurer that they are obliged to keep you in an appropriate purest.hire car until your car is fully repaired.

I’ve been waiting on a part since May. On 7 August the dealer was notified that it had been shipped and would arrive on 8 August, but didn't, and it stayed like that in the system until this week. On 21 October the dealer was notified that it had been shipped and would arrive on 22 August, and then 23 August the delivery date was removed.

On 24 August they were advised that it had been shipped but without a date, so fingers crossed it really is on its way. Parts from Germany can come overnight but can equally take up to 5 days. I don’t know but I suspect this may be dependent upon whether it’s shipped from stock or from the supplier. Either way, sit tight for a week or so 👍🏻
 
So is there part shortages currently, is it aimed at newer cars? Just curious to know why my car wouldn't fall into that 'category'.... Can someone explain?
Generally speaking parts supply issues tend not to affect current models as often or as severely as older models. The reason being is that parts suppliers have regular production runs to maintain stock for assembling cars / there are big penalties for delays to delivery as it stops the line.

With older cars they sometimes wait until stock has been full depleted and there are enough orders placed before they do a one-off production run as the switch over of tooling isn’t worth it until it’s worth it, if that makes sense, and so waits can be much much longer.

The other reason for delays is if the manufacturer experiences a high defect rate and so the part must be changed before they perform another production run, introducing extra delays for respecifying, redesigning, retooling, retesting and restocking the revised part.

Edited to add: Last but not least, if you’re going to have parts on back order - then it’s better to be part of an insurance claim as you’ll be in a courtesy or hire car. If it was not covered by insurance or a the part was required as a result of a failure, then you’re without a car!

Unfortunately my wait since May have been without a courtesy or loan car!
 
Supply of parts has been a problem ever since I've had a MB in 2003. the window, drivers front made clicking sounds - MB took the car in gave me a 320 clk - it was close to two weeks before they got it sorted.
Covid impact is still on-going and I guess that is still slowing down supplies in almost every sector of insutry
 
....Bare in mind I have a 20 plate A class amg executive line, I got given a Audi A1 and it's potentially a basic entry or mid range, so I'd not say it was like for like and certainly not better...

Again, assuming that the other-partys' insurer accepted liability, then you should not be getting the dealer's curtesy car. Instead, you are entitled to a rental car that is similar to the one that is being repaired. You can demand this, and if they do not oblige, just tell them that you're handing back the curtesy car, and renting a car from the likes of Hertz or Avis etc, and you'll be presenting them with the bill. A suitable car will materialise before you can count to 10.

....But I'm not gonna argue the car I got given and yes, I have this hire car for as long as needed. So its getting me to where I need to go...

That's your prerogative. I was just putting the information out there, in case anyone else in your position will be reading this thread in future.

.......I hate the idea of my car sitting for weeks on end...

Perfectly understandable.
 
I definitely could argue a much better more liked for like cars, if this dragged on I most certainly would. So technically being told it's shipped means nothing. I'm still in position of it could be god knows when?.....

The A class got face-lift this year's, my A class is part of the 2018-2023 design. Liability is definitely with person who hit me. Was even captured in my ring doorbell plus he admits it which is also captured.
 
I definitely could argue a much better more liked for like cars, if this dragged on I most certainly would. So technically being told it's shipped means nothing. I'm still in position of it could be god knows when?.....

The A class got face-lift this year's, my A class is part of the 2018-2023 design. Liability is definitely with person who hit me. Was even captured in my ring doorbell plus he admits it which is also captured.

To clarify, it's not enough that the person accepts liability, and that you have proof, because their insurer also needs to accept liability for your clsim to be successful. It's a technicality, I know, because in most cases the insurer will accept liability if the person did, but it's an important technicality, because you are dealing with the insurer, not the person. It's the other-party's insurer who will be paying the garage, and will be paying for your rental car, and for your taxis (should you have taxi expenses to claim), etc. So they need to say loud and clear to you (or to your insurer) that they accept liability. A formality, but an important one.
 
To clarify, it's not enough that the person accepts liability, and that you have proof, because their insurer also needs to accept liability for your clsim to be successful. It's a technicality, I know, because in most cases the insurer will accept liability if the person did, but it's an important technicality, because you are dealing with the insurer, not the person. It's the other-party's insurer who will be paying the garage, and will be paying for your rental car, and for your taxis (should you have taxi expenses to claim), etc. So they need to say loud and clear to you (or to your insurer) that they accept liability. A formality, but an important one.
I see what you mean. As far as I'm aware.... They accepted full liability otherwise Mercedes wouldn't have ordered parts and so forth. I'm going through Auxillis. Mercedes are just doing the repairs.

Regarding the 'ship' date of the bumber, should I be worried then? Given what was said above, I'm slightly worried. I assumed shipped means all good, it'll be here but after reading above and the delivery date being moved after they were notified it was shipped..... Its got my back up
 
I see what you mean. As far as I'm aware.... They accepted full liability otherwise Mercedes wouldn't have ordered parts and so forth. I'm going through Auxillis. Mercedes are just doing the repairs....

Note that Auxillis offer both Accident Management service and Replacement Vehicle service - and they are the people who should be proving the comparable rental vehicle (at the other-party's insurer's expense), which, again, is different to accepting a curtesy car from the garage. I am aware that you are happy to keep the car you have now, just putting it out there.

 
Note that Auxillis offer both Accident Management service and Replacement Vehicle service - and they are the people who should be proving the comparable rental vehicle (at the other-party's insurer's expense), which, again, is different to accepting a curtesy car from the garage. I am aware that you are happy to keep the car you have now, just putting it out there.

Yes. They are the ones who are paying for repairs and providing the car. It was a BT private car that hit me, something tells me they'll just pay whatever the cost because I've heard horror stories about Auxillis...

If my Mercedes looked to be sitting there beyond end of the week and that part hasn't shown up, then I would have a discussion with them for sure. A1 isn't like for like for A class amg executive haha. The problem right now isnt the hire car. It's my car and this 'ship' status after reading above. Personal opinion now, you think my car could be off road for +3/4 wks now?
 
If you're car isn't driveable, then unfortunately it will take as long as it takes. In other circumstances, the garage will order the parts first, then book you in once all the parts arrived.
 
“Shipped” means it’s been sent from the manufacturer, wherever that may be. Your A45 is made in Kecskemét (Hungary), and the bumper supplier would probably be somewhere close

It should arrive at your dealer in one to two weeks.

The supply chain issues were mainly to do with factories, delivery firms and warehouses being closed due to Covid. The secondary problem was chip shortages from Asia, and then the tertiary problem was suppliers being closed in the Ukraine. (Mainly seats and upholstery). None of that affects you.

If you were running a two or three decade old car, it could be a bit different, because parts end up being stored in obscure places, but that’s not happening with your car. It really shouldn’t take that long.

If your replacement car irks you, just explain that you need something bigger or better. (Your elderly mother needs space for her walker or wheelchair, or can’t cope with the rear doors.)
 
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I'll show the pictures of my car.... For me this is drivable at least I first thought. But because the head light wasn't sitting correctly when bonnet was open and technically flopping around, Mercedes declared it un driveable. I couldn't understand to begin with why they just wouldn't repair and why they would need to order complete new bumbers for front and back. I thought at least the rear number could be repaired easily, but they said no. Probably dealers rather then repair will replace.

For me yeh , shipped means shipped on route. But previous posts suggested that they were notified it was shipped, only for the months later no part. Do you see my concern? The guy dealing with it all at Mercedes did say they are thinking it'll arrive Tues/Wed and my car will be stripped down on Monday ready for it. So I gotta take him at his word I guess, but something feels off to me right now after hearing other stories whet they say shipped and 2/3wks later it's still a no show. The A1 will do for now, I'm just annoyed cause I only bought my MB 25th Sept and 3wks later or off road due to no fault of my own
 

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