Breakdown cover. Worth it?

EmilysDad

Senior Member
Joined
May 8, 2012
Messages
12,120
Reaction score
5,664
Location
Bury Lancs
Your Mercedes
ML350
I believe you can join RAC and ask for attendance all in the same phone call if you are already broken down.
I used the RAC at home service for my wife's non starting Ford yesterday. The guy came, diagnosed the cam sensor and wanted to change it for free at a cost of £51 for the part. I know from experience that £51 is too much for a cam sensor so I sent him on his way. I got one from a local factor for £18 and it took literally five minutes to fit. Moral of the story is to only let them fit parts if you have no other choice. They always overcharge you. I enjoyed giving feedback to them later on.

Pattern cam and crank sensors are notorious for failing ..... :rolleyes:

Having said that, an OE cam sensor for EmilysMum's Citroen was less than £30 a few years ago ;)
 

ajlsl600

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
9,031
Reaction score
6,029
Location
france
Your Mercedes
clk3202001,sl6002003 with everything regrettably sold ,A class 170cdi auto. NG/TF1800 ML250
I have it independent to the stuff that comes with the insurance (Rac Member).

In 20 years of doing about 1,000 miles a week, I've probably used it a breakdown service less than 10 times. Only the BMWs left me stranded on a motorway and the other times it was a surprise dead battery, passenger in another car etc.

You never know when you may breakdown or how bad the problem is. However, its nice to rest assured you can just dial your phone and the help you need will be on its way.

If its a modern car, ha, don't be fooled into thinking it won't break down and get yourself covered. A modern car is even more reason to have break down cover.


sadly ,i sure yr right, these days the first problem you will find is some prxxk will have designed a new kind of fastner that you never thought to buy. 2nd problem ,likely to need a damn laptop.! nuts but thats how its getting to be .
 
  • Like
Reactions: DSK

DSK

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2019
Messages
2,187
Reaction score
2,257
Your Mercedes
CLS 320 CDI, S350 Bluetec
sadly ,i sure yr right, these days the first problem you will find is some prxxk will have designed a new kind of fastner that you never thought to buy. 2nd problem ,likely to need a damn laptop.! nuts but thats how its getting to be .

Its just what I see, new cars always on the back of a recovery truck and not older cars. With the complexity of the stupid things, those who do DIY probably just stop doing it as its too much hassle so become more reliant on dealers filled with plug n play technician's that can barely wipe the backside in the morning let along do some good old fashioned trouble shooting/root cause analysis and finish it off with a first class repair.

First time I went to work on the CLS I ended up shutting the bonnet and going to halfords to get a new toolset containing those stupid star type sockets.
 

EmilysDad

Senior Member
Joined
May 8, 2012
Messages
12,120
Reaction score
5,664
Location
Bury Lancs
Your Mercedes
ML350
.....

First time I went to work on the CLS I ended up shutting the bonnet and going to halfords to get a new toolset containing those stupid star type sockets.

Torx, both male & female, have been fitted to cars for years now. They were under the bonnet of my 1993 Senator
 

d215yq

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2008
Messages
2,664
Reaction score
702
Age
39
Location
Valencia, Spain
Your Mercedes
1987 W124 300D 280k miles
Like any insurance there is the amount they spend on recovery and then taxes, advertising, profit, staff, actuary professionals etc. I thought mine was good value as at 60/yr its peace of mind but then thinking now in 10yrs/200k miles ive had them out twice for punctures (once couldnt get wheel bolts undone, second time had not repaired flat before i got another one a yr later)...so basically 600 quid for one time where i could have just bought a hammer from a shop round the corner and one time that was my fault... nice to have at the end of the phone but ultimately youll always lose long term like with any insurance policy.

I havent taken my own advice and not bought it but have got it for half price this year as towing limited to 250km. Im regularly 500-1000km from home but would mostly rather a repair at a local garage even if it extends the trip than have to endure 1000km of being relayed back home!
 

ajlsl600

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
9,031
Reaction score
6,029
Location
france
Your Mercedes
clk3202001,sl6002003 with everything regrettably sold ,A class 170cdi auto. NG/TF1800 ML250
Its just what I see, new cars always on the back of a recovery truck and not older cars. With the complexity of the stupid things, those who do DIY probably just stop doing it as its too much hassle so become more reliant on dealers filled with plug n play technician's that can barely wipe the backside in the morning let along do some good old fashioned trouble shooting/root cause analysis and finish it off with a first class repair.

First time I went to work on the CLS I ended up shutting the bonnet and going to halfords to get a new toolset containing those stupid star type sockets.


yup on sockets and i DO wish the stuff on and for these cars WAS plug and play . over ten yr ago it took me 5 hr to fit a clk tow bar . 2 week ago it took me more than 2 days .1 dauy for the NON plug and play electrics/electronics.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DSK

EmilysDad

Senior Member
Joined
May 8, 2012
Messages
12,120
Reaction score
5,664
Location
Bury Lancs
Your Mercedes
ML350
It's Yug's fault ...... my Smart broke down this morning on my way to work! :eek::D:D

Abandoned it in a car park as a lad from work was passing & gave me a lift. :)
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
31,328
Reaction score
21,575
Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Used recovery 4 times in 30 years.
1st time was Land Rover Defender broke a CV joint whilst out green laning. No problems thinks I... Drive home in diff lock. About 3 miles later the pieces jammed the steering with about +5/-2 degrees of lock available. Cue 100 mile yellow taxi ride.
2nd time was Defender on the M6 near Preston around 11pm. Front propshaft disintegrated. No problem thinks I.... Drive home in diff lock. No drive. Transfer box linkage also damaged. Cue big yellow taxi. Problem... I was towing a Sankey trailer on a military hitch (what a great piece of kit they are!) and the yellow taxi couldn't carry or tow the trailer. Cue second yellow taxi for the trailer!
3rd time was Land Cruiser Colorado that ran out of elastrickery. Alternator fried itself and didn't give a warning. Battery went flat and the vehicle stopped. After a phone call a very nice man came with a spare battery and followed me home, recovered his battery and left.
4th time was Mercedes w210. Bought it with a suspect CPS which 5 miles after leaving the seller stopped dead. Cue big yellow taxi and new CPS and it hasn't missed a beat since.

The first two breakdowns I could have fixed myself on the roadside if I'd had to. The last two no chance.
 

star

Forum Supporter
Authorised Forum Supporter
Joined
Oct 6, 2004
Messages
6,209
Reaction score
1,874
Location
Reading
Your Mercedes
Smart + others :)
Cars can break at anytime or place, no matter how well its been serviced. It might just only be a dirty connection that made you stop but not good if your on the m.way. That's why I always have breakdown/recovery cover.
 

Blobcat

Moderator
Joined
Feb 8, 2006
Messages
38,786
Reaction score
27,420
Location
Grange Moor
Your Mercedes
R171 SLK280, Smart R451, Land Rover 110 County SW, 997 C2S, R1250 GSA TE 40th, CBR600FP
Cars can break at anytime or place, no matter how well its been serviced. It might just only be a dirty connection that made you stop but not good if your on the m.way. That's why I always have breakdown/recovery cover.
I had the tyre valve fail on my Landy in Lane 3 of the M1... could have self rescued if the valve on the spare didn’t also snap off when I took it off the bonnet...:(
 
OP
Yugguy

Yugguy

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2016
Messages
2,241
Reaction score
566
Location
Rugby, UK
Your Mercedes
C220CDI W204 Elegance Comand
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #33
Should mention that this is on my upcoming Focus.

First year European wide breakdown is free. A service extends it for another year, as does a £99 convenience check. Yep, 99 quid seems a lot so you are basically paying for the recovery.

Unsure yet as to wether I will chop it in before the first service which would be at 2 years, looking at my mileage.
 

DREAMER NO2

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2013
Messages
4,903
Reaction score
1,296
Age
79
Location
Kidderminster in Worcestershire
Your Mercedes
W124 2.6E M103 1989
I took the B/D cover from my insurance company . If you break down by the time you get back to the car , after sorting out recovery , then all you would find would be a few washers and nuts on the floor in the place you had left your car.
 

MalcQV

Senior Member
Joined
May 4, 2017
Messages
278
Reaction score
85
Location
Manchester
Your Mercedes
Mercedes CLA200
I would not leave home without breakdown cover.
 

davemercedes

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2012
Messages
4,345
Reaction score
2,099
Location
Glos
Your Mercedes
2007 Merc 220 CDi Est Auto Av (s203)
Breakdown cover is completely unnecessary.
- Until you need it; then it's worth its weight in gold!

I get full European breakdown cover for "free" with my Nationwide bank account. It covers either/both of us in "any eligible vehicle" and also anyone driving our vehicle with permission.

I particularly like the peace of mind if SWMBO is out on her own at any time. A few months ago I had an issue with a transmission warning message on my S203 and had to have the car trailered to Mercland (about an hour away). Quick phone call - "Certainly, Sir - no charge."
 
OP
Yugguy

Yugguy

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2016
Messages
2,241
Reaction score
566
Location
Rugby, UK
Your Mercedes
C220CDI W204 Elegance Comand
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #39
Do you pay for the upgraded current account?
 

Frontstep

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2007
Messages
9,201
Reaction score
3,436
Your Mercedes
T210 320cdi
Like all "Insurance" its an expensive waste of money till you need it, then IF it works its a bargain.
 


Chris Knott Insurance, see oursticky posts here!
www.ckinsurance.co.uk
Top Bottom