Shezbo
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2012
- Messages
- 69
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Church Stretton, Shrosphire UK
- Your Mercedes
- 300 sl
As a reply to a earlier thread - I thought it prudent to enlighten and help some when it comes to insurance:
All
Just a quick word about insurance, insurance policy rates (£'s) and insurance company "repair" activity. Let me start by saying day in day out I work with insurance companies and Bodyshops and see both ends of the market work i.e. the initial cost of an annual policy and then HOW that policy fixes the car?
Just step back from the situation for a moment, you have purchased £40k worth of Merc and then find the cheapest cover possible. That sentance just does not compute does it?
Why not have the car serviced by a back street garage as cheaply as possible whilst you are at it....well we would not do that would we! Yet the choice of insurance (by price) ONLY seems to be our only focus?
Please look at what the insurance company provides IF you need to make a claim....this IS the critital thing NOT the price: I have listed below some (and this is not exhaustive) things some insurance are doing to your pride and joy:
• Insurers may not use vehicle manufacture repair methods – this is compromises occupant safety and the vehicle does not perform to its Euro NCAP rating – if a second accident occurs.
• Insurers have a panel repair policy, incentivising bodyshops to repair with filler rather than fit new panels – this has both a safety implication and a negative impact on VM and Dealer Crash Parts Sales.
• Use of Non OE panels (from China) and Green Parts (salvage) – not all “pattern” parts have been designed to meet Euro NCAP crash testing specifications – it also invalidates the vehicle warranty has safety and resale implications.
• Re-use of door mouldings etc., via the application of double sided tape, manufacturer’s process dictates that new parts should be used. This comprises the aesthetics of the customer’s car, as this is not a long term repair solution (i.e. the parts will come loose/fall off!)
• Insurers also instruct bodyshops to glue or plastic weld plastic parts; this is not a permanent solution and again comprises safety, mainly to pedestrians.
• Insurers may specify the use of non-VM recommended paint products – invalidating the manufacturer’s warranty.
• Insurers may specify the use of certain support products i.e. windscreen sealant, again compromising safety and VM design rigidity.
• Write off car replacement policy – a customer may receive a competitors branded vehicle to “replace” their written off vehicle.
• Use of Non Franchise Bodyshops, i.e. nominated Insurance Approved Repairer - do they have the correct equipment and have the Body Technicians been MB trained
• Set “average repair costs” for Bodyshop repairs regardless of the size/complexity of the job, the result is a vehicle that has been repaired as cheaply as possible, comprising the total vehicle.
As I say the above is the tip of the iceberg (honestly) - just think some insurers WILL repair YOUR car in a way that: invalidates the vehicle warranty has safety and resale implications. enough said
All
Just a quick word about insurance, insurance policy rates (£'s) and insurance company "repair" activity. Let me start by saying day in day out I work with insurance companies and Bodyshops and see both ends of the market work i.e. the initial cost of an annual policy and then HOW that policy fixes the car?
Just step back from the situation for a moment, you have purchased £40k worth of Merc and then find the cheapest cover possible. That sentance just does not compute does it?
Why not have the car serviced by a back street garage as cheaply as possible whilst you are at it....well we would not do that would we! Yet the choice of insurance (by price) ONLY seems to be our only focus?
Please look at what the insurance company provides IF you need to make a claim....this IS the critital thing NOT the price: I have listed below some (and this is not exhaustive) things some insurance are doing to your pride and joy:
• Insurers may not use vehicle manufacture repair methods – this is compromises occupant safety and the vehicle does not perform to its Euro NCAP rating – if a second accident occurs.
• Insurers have a panel repair policy, incentivising bodyshops to repair with filler rather than fit new panels – this has both a safety implication and a negative impact on VM and Dealer Crash Parts Sales.
• Use of Non OE panels (from China) and Green Parts (salvage) – not all “pattern” parts have been designed to meet Euro NCAP crash testing specifications – it also invalidates the vehicle warranty has safety and resale implications.
• Re-use of door mouldings etc., via the application of double sided tape, manufacturer’s process dictates that new parts should be used. This comprises the aesthetics of the customer’s car, as this is not a long term repair solution (i.e. the parts will come loose/fall off!)
• Insurers also instruct bodyshops to glue or plastic weld plastic parts; this is not a permanent solution and again comprises safety, mainly to pedestrians.
• Insurers may specify the use of non-VM recommended paint products – invalidating the manufacturer’s warranty.
• Insurers may specify the use of certain support products i.e. windscreen sealant, again compromising safety and VM design rigidity.
• Write off car replacement policy – a customer may receive a competitors branded vehicle to “replace” their written off vehicle.
• Use of Non Franchise Bodyshops, i.e. nominated Insurance Approved Repairer - do they have the correct equipment and have the Body Technicians been MB trained
• Set “average repair costs” for Bodyshop repairs regardless of the size/complexity of the job, the result is a vehicle that has been repaired as cheaply as possible, comprising the total vehicle.
As I say the above is the tip of the iceberg (honestly) - just think some insurers WILL repair YOUR car in a way that: invalidates the vehicle warranty has safety and resale implications. enough said