Tracker

[Aoraki]

I also checked the wording of my policy which promises to replace my new car in the first year with a new replacement.

However it adds the stipulation that they will only do this if the replacement is available in the UK.

So that makes a direct replacement impossible for a car like mine with lots of options specified.

Glad I opted for the VRI now

I belive that they mean a UK model not a grey import, you would get like for like. I would still have Tracker as well though.

 

[wxmclk]

Tesco would not insure me agaisnt theft unless I fitted a tracker on the CLK. No discount on premium though- I went elsewere!

 

[mbenz76]

Going to MB tomorrow to choose my registration plate for the car and he is going to cost up Tracker for me as well.

Definitely decided on it now - my had had been forced somewhat by Direct Line but I was leaning towards it anyway.

 

[Aoraki]

Going to MB tomorrow to choose my registration plate for the car and he is going to cost up Tracker for me as well.

Prices HERE

 

[mbenz76]

Prices much cheaper from MB surprisingly.

Tracker want £350 for the average one, but MB want £260 fitted.

Gave them the go ahead to install.

 

[trando]

Got Tracker on my C55 - peace of mind more than anything else. Plus Aviva give me a discount on my insurance for having it.

 

[markmifsud]

Why not fit one yourselves? I did, took less than 30 mins, and cost £65 from ebay. no subscription, just a PAYG sim to send either SMS or real time GPRS tracking data

See mercedesclub forums for my experiance with this cheap alternative to car tracking

GPS / GSM / GPRS Car Alarm - Mercedes-Benz Owners' Forums

 

[HR17]

Get one fitted. When my last MB was taken by burglars a couple of yrs ago, it vanished without a trace and has never been found. I wish I'd had one fitted, even for the sake of maybe getting them arrested, recovering the contents of the car and getting some closure.

 

[NewMB]

I would think twice about having one fitted.

A tracker unit have a live feed to the battery and it WILL drain it in 2-3 days (I know) and may leave you standing, especially if you perhaps left the car at an airport for a week.

 

[mbenz76]

Called Direct Line to check premium etc. and after getting one bloke who couldn't spell Mercedes I called back and spoke to someone who knew what they were doing.

No discount for Tracker but it is compulsory. And they will impose a £500 compulsory excess due to the value of the car.

They also said they won't cover me for theft until they receive the Tracker certificate.

Time to shop around I think - even if I get hit with a penalty for cancelling this policy.

Does anyone know what MB insurance are like?

Also, interesting to read above about battery drain. Never heard this before. I assume it consumes very little unless actually broadcasting for help?

 

[fuzzer]

Called Direct Line to check premium etc. and after getting one bloke who couldn't spell Mercedes I called back and spoke to someone who knew what they were doing.

No discount for Tracker but it is compulsory. And they will impose a £500 compulsory excess due to the value of the car.

They also said they won't cover me for theft until they receive the Tracker certificate.

Time to shop around I think - even if I get hit with a penalty for cancelling this policy.

Does anyone know what MB insurance are like?

Also, interesting to read above about battery drain. Never heard this before. I assume it consumes very little unless actually broadcasting for help?

didnt you have a lot of problems with direct line when you were getting a quote with all those optional extras? They made it a real hassle for me with my last 2 cars so much so i moved back to mercedes insurance for both cars who are fine with options and don't even ask what youve got as long as they are factory fitted.

On the other car we have had Mercedes insurance for a long time , they are a bit more expensive but i personally think its worth it for the cover. Very pleased with them

 

[NewMB]

Called Direct Line to check premium etc. and after getting one bloke who couldn't spell Mercedes I called back and spoke to someone who knew what they were doing.

No discount for Tracker but it is compulsory. And they will impose a £500 compulsory excess due to the value of the car.

They also said they won't cover me for theft until they receive the Tracker certificate.

Time to shop around I think - even if I get hit with a penalty for cancelling this policy.

Does anyone know what MB insurance are like?

Also, interesting to read above about battery drain. Never heard this before. I assume it consumes very little unless actually broadcasting for help?

Direct Line says a tracker is compulsary? I am very surprised.... lots of other companies will cover it without.

I have been with Direct Line for years and they are slowly changing to the worse!

didnt you have a lot of problems with direct line when you were getting a quote with all those optional extras? They made it a real hassle for me with my last 2 cars so much so i moved back to mercedes insurance for both cars who are fine with options and don't even ask what youve got as long as they are factory fitted.

On the other car we have had Mercedes insurance for a long time , they are a bit more expensive but i personally think its worth it for the cover. Very pleased with them

DL made a lot of fuss with me as well over tinted windows (factory option) and wanted £80 for those.... on top of only £300 for the actual car insurance.

Is MB Insurance really not concerned about factory options???

 

[NewMB]

Also, interesting to read above about battery drain. Never heard this before. I assume it consumes very little unless actually broadcasting for help?

The 2003 E55 AMG that I bought had this installed (I didn't even know) and it kept draining the battery in just 2-3 days. I opted to de-install it which made life a lot easier.

Perhaps it's different today, but I wouldn't think so as the unit must have power on at all times so that you can "turn on" the actual tracker in case of theft. A friend, who's a detailer, says he has problems with this on some of his clients Porsche's etc all the time. They always have issues once customer comes to collect the car.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

No discount for Tracker but it is compulsory. And they will impose a £500 compulsory excess due to the value of the car.

They also said they won't cover me for theft until they receive the Tracker certificate.

That is my understanding too. IIRC Directline require that high-risk vehicles and those valued at more than £30,000 require an approved tracking device in order for them to pay out on a theft claim.

Of course the weird and wonderful ways that insurance premiums are calculated mean that one insurer is cheap for one person and expensive for another, despite appearing to be similar circumstances.

I found that it was still cheaper to insure with Directline even considering the lifetime cost of a Tracker than it was to go to the next cheapest insurer at that time. Payback plus a bit in the first year.

Before we bought our ML I got a quote on as we'd seen an ML270 CDi like ours but with the AMG bodystyling kit and wheels fitted. They had no problem with it and there was no additional premium. We then bought our car, another silver ML270 but almost new and without the kit, so when they converted the quote to a policy, the note on AMG bits went with it.

Does anyone know what MB insurance are like?

I've called for quotes on several occasions for both of our cars, and never been less than twice my renewal with Directline.

Worth a call though if you're shopping around.

 

[mbenz76]

They never asked about options. Just how much the car was worth and if it had been modified - which I don't consider a question about factory fit options.

I will get it confirmed with whoever I insure with just to be on the safe side though.

This is my second year with Direct Line And at renewal in December they were a lot cheaper than the closest rival. Only after I called and pointed out their renewal was £200 higher than if I was a new customer and got them to reduce my renewal accordingly.

I will do some shopping around this weekend and see what I can find.

I am considering the IAM and RoSPA as well so hopefully this might warrant some form of discount once I do, but I intend to ask if they offer discounts before changing.

 

[fuzzer]

Is MB Insurance really not concerned about factory options???

Nope , as long as its factory fitted thats fine. Suits me because my cars are far from standard specs, saves a lot of time and hassle.

 

[NewMB]

Nope , as long as its factory fitted thats fine. Suits me because my cars are far from standard specs, saves a lot of time and hassle.

Thanks.

 

[NewMB]

They never asked about options. Just how much the car was worth and if it had been modified - which I don't consider a question about factory fit options.

Direct Line did consider factory options as modifications last time round for me.....

I do agree with you though, mod's in my mind brings bling wheels, tuning, bigger exhausts etc.

 

[JohnDeere8530]

not too sure I agree about a tracker draining your battery.

I have one fitted to my quad bike, that has a smallish battery (compared to a car one). I regularly leave it 2 weeks withoout starting and it always starts first time when I do come back to it

I reckon on a car you should be able to leave it 4 or 5 weeks without any real prob, unless you have a knackered battery

 

[prprandall51]

Do you want a tracker?

If you think that having a brand new MB as a replacement for your less-than-one-year-old stolen car is a good thing, try running this converation through your mind:

Insurance agent: Have you had any claims in the last five years?
You: Yes
Insurance agent: How much was claimed against your insurance?
You (embarrased voice): £45,000
Insurance agent: That's no problem at all, it won't affect the premium.

Did you notice what I did there? I made up the last line of that dialogue.

Tracker: bargain.

PS: I have one and leave my car for a month or more and it starts immediately. No battery drain.