Mobilio Renewal

[jberks]

I have been wondering whether, as my car has been serviced outside the dealer network I still had Mobilio, given that the car was serviced by the dealer last time, or if I'd blown it and I needed to join the AA.
Given that dealers are now getting competitive on servicing, I am tempted to return though I'd still use the indie for anything in depth where the hours are going to start clocking up and probably if I start doing big miles again.
Anyway, after a couple of mails I got this from MB.

Thank you for responding to my email dated 3rd January 2007, whereby you have requested clarification of the MobiloLife breakdown service relating to your Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Your interpretation is correct, if your vehicle has been serviced at a Mercedes-Benz authorised/approved dealership on the last service then you have instantly reinstated the MobiloLife package regardless of your first two services. Thereafter, MobiloLife is renewed every time a service is carried out at a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre and is valid until the next service is due.

So there you have it. Even if you don't have Mobilio, one service at the dealer and it's back. Not sure whether this includes the corrosion warranty but it is £100 worth of breakdown cover so at 1 service a year on a car over 3 years with the dealers new 25%+ off deals, it can work out quite reasonable.

 

[Blobcat]

Good news, it bugs me though that all I get are B services now :-(

 

[M6AJJ]

That really is good news, I know a couple of people who will be really pleased with that confirmation. Many thanks for posting.

 

[Rory]

Thanks for posting that, though it does seem to be at odds with every other similar query where customers are told that once out of Mobilo there's no way back.

 

[Jensen]

J Berks

It would be useful if you could find out if this does also include corrosion waranty, can't see logically why not.
As you have a contact could you please seek clarification regards corrosion warranty, and advise.

Many thanks

 

[Rory]

It would be useful if you could find out if this does also include corrosion waranty, can't see logically why not.
As you have a contact could you please seek clarification regards corrosion warranty, and advise.

Many thanks

There have been many reports of MB honouring the corrosion warranty on vehicles without full MB service history - strictly speaking, they're doing all the repairs as "goodwill" anyway, as the corrosion warranty covers perforation from the inside out, whereas most of the corrosion issues have been on the outside, under the paint.

 

[Jensen]

There have been many reports of MB honouring the corrosion warranty on vehicles without full MB service history - strictly speaking, they're doing all the repairs as "goodwill" anyway, as the corrosion warranty covers perforation from the inside out, whereas most of the corrosion issues have been on the outside, under the paint.

Yes and indeed I benefited from that. The position was 4 years from registration then a further 4 years as good will subject to max 8 years. Mine is C250 W202 04/98 before 30 year mobilo

What I want to know is will the 30 year corrosion warranty STILL apply to cars when this became effective, late 1998 I think.

I'm looking to the future and intend buying an E320cdi W211 poss reg 2004. If I got this serviced by my indie then later by main dealer thus renewing mobilo will the 30 year corrosion warranty apply.

Your help to the above J Berks would be useful via your contact

 

[jberks]

Ok guys, I've asked the question.

 

[jberks]

... and the answer is .....

In the unliklely event that any part of the bodywork or underbody should rust through from the inside, this will be repaired at a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre free of charge for labour and materials, to the exclusion of any further claims. You will find details of the individual services in your MobiloLife brochure.

The warranty against rusting through from the inside is valid for an initial period of 2 years from the date of first registration. Therefafter, this warranty is renewed every time a service is carried out at a Mercedes-Benz Service Center and is valid until the next service is due, up to a maximum of
30 years.

I hope that the above information is of benefit to you and should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Rebecca Lemmens
Customer Service

 

[Jensen]

Thanks J Berks, extremely useful.

So I understand that we can use an indie for major work, but have a small service at an approved dealer and reinstate mobilo and 30 year rust cover.

Interesting that they state "in the unlikely event" and also "to the exclusion of any further claims". Bit of a contradiction in terms me thinks, as they state unlikely to happen and if it does it will only be covered once. Thats real confidence in the product.

 

[stivesvelo]

How do you get the 'new 25% discount' on MB servicing??

I notice a couple of posts have mentioned that MB dealers are offering 25% discounts on servicing, just asked my local one & they aren't. Anyone know anything about this & how it works?

 

[Rory]

What model and year is your car?

My local dealer, MB Chester, is offering such discounts, both by postcard from Inchcape head office (so I assume the offer is available at all their dealerships) and also in local newspaper adverts.

Inchape MB dealers are here:
http://www.inchcaperetail.co.uk/DealerLocator/Franchise.aspx?Franchise=Mercedes-Benz

You could always call MB Chester and get a price off them, then call your local dealer and say "another dealer" (failing to mention they're a million miles away) offered £xxx and see if they'll compete.

 

[jberks]

All dealers are competing now so if yours isn't offering some form of discount then get a list of local dealers from the MB web site. and ring round a few. My main one is owned by the Stratstone group and they have posters up, They don't state the actual discount but do detail the cost differences which I worked out to be around 25%. but even one of the others offered me a discount on my last service without me even asking, so even if yours doesn't officially offer anything it's still worth asking what they'd be willing to offer to keep your custom.
No discount, no business.

 

[stivesvelo]

10% Discount

Rang them, 10%..so far, I'll try the next nearest one

 

[hawk20]

In the unliklely event that any part of the bodywork or underbody should rust through from the inside, this will be repaired at a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre free of charge for labour and materials, to the exclusion of any further claims. You will find details of the individual services in your MobiloLife brochure.

The warranty against rusting through from the inside is valid for an initial period of 2 years from the date of first registration. Therefafter, this warranty is renewed every time a service is carried out at a Mercedes-Benz Service Center and is valid until the next service is due, up to a maximum of
30 years.

I hope that the above information is of benefit to you and should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Rebecca Lemmens
Customer Service

JBerks i don't want to muddy the waters or cause confusion but I find what you are being told almost incredible and contrary to what I have been told in the past. See this from the MB website as of today:-
This from the MB website today: -
MobiloLife is valid on new Mercedes-Benz passenger cars sold in the UK and the EU. It is valid for an initial period of 2 years from the date of first registration of the car *.

MobiloLife covers you for a broad range of incidents and over a remarkably long period of time. It’s not surprising, however, that it does have some limitations. It does not cover you in the event of damage caused by:



■ Accidents, external factors (e.g. theft, collision, stone chippings), environmental effects or lack of due care.

■ Deliberate or grossly negligent behaviour on the part of you, the driver, a passenger or a third party.

■ Changes that you make to the vehicle or vehicle parts that you install without the prior approval of Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd.

■ Repairs, body and paint work not performed according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

■ Taking part in motor-racing or motorsport contests, military or similar manoeuvres, disaster-aid operations or similar events.

■ Warfare, civil unrest, earthquakes or other acts of God.

■ Non-observance of repair recommendations made by the Mercedes-Benz Authorised Repairer during an inspection.

■ Defects of which you were aware but did not have rectified immediately by a specialist workshop according to the manufacturer’s specifications.



* Following this initial 2 year period please note that MobiloLife is valid until the next service is due, for a maximum of thirty years. (Servicing after the second year has to be carried out by an authorised Mercedes-Benz Repairer.)

NOTE THAT IT SAYS that after the first two years servicing MUST be carried out by an authorised MB repairer. I hope the person who wrote to you has not misunderstood and mislead because that has happened to me with MB Customer Service in the past.

 

[hawk20]

NOTE ALSO the reply you got on RUST is ambiguous. She says: -
"The warranty against rusting through from the inside is valid for an initial period of 2 years from the date of first registration. Thereafter, this warranty is renewed every time a service is carried out at a Mercedes-Benz Service Center and is valid until the next service is due, up to a maximum of
30 years.

I hope that the above information is of benefit to you and should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Rebecca Lemmens
Customer Service"

Please note that is consistent with what I have posted above from MB. During the first two years while under the factory guarantee you can service outside the MB network (because Europe won't let them make the guarantee conditional on servicing at an MB dealer. The third year is an MB UK guarantee -a sort of bonus given in the UK but not in mainland Europe).

As I understand it, Mobilo is not subject to the European ruling and so can have conditions. So Mercedes return as in the past to the rule that you must service after year two with an MB dealer to keep the MobiloLife intact.

Note the ambiguity: she says the warranty against rusting is renewed every time a service is carried out at an MB dealer up to 30 years. And in my view that is true; it is renewed every time so long as you keep a complete MB service record after the first two years. SHE DOES NOT SAY IT IS RENEWED EVEN IF THERE IS A GAP WHEN SERVICING WAS CARRIED OUT ELSEWHERE.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Thought the servicing discount was dependant on vehicle age.

 

[Phil D]

Hi Andy - I think the formal discount schemes are - I've seen 2 dealers from different groups offering discounts once they're 3 years old - had mine serviced with a 25% discount in November. However I think point to bear in mind is that you could still get a discount - though perhaps not as much if you ask.
When I needed new discs and pads a year or so ago the main dealer quoted me a crazy price - I got a quote from a good indie and when I said "do the service, but I'm getting the brakes done elsewhere" they matched the price ! They know they can make squillions from the company car brigade anyway so it's no great loss to them

 

[jberks]

JBerks i don't want to muddy the waters or cause confusion but I find what you are being told almost incredible and contrary to what I have been told in the past. See this from the MB website as of today:-
This from the MB website today: -
MobiloLife is valid on new Mercedes-Benz passenger cars sold in the UK and the EU. It is valid for an initial period of 2 years from the date of first registration of the car *.

MobiloLife covers you for a broad range of incidents and over a remarkably long period of time. It’s not surprising, however, that it does have some limitations. It does not cover you in the event of damage caused by:

* Following this initial 2 year period please note that MobiloLife is valid until the next service is due, for a maximum of thirty years. (Servicing after the second year has to be carried out by an authorised Mercedes-Benz Repairer.)

NOTE THAT IT SAYS that after the first two years servicing MUST be carried out by an authorised MB repairer. I hope the person who wrote to you has not misunderstood and mislead because that has happened to me with MB Customer Service in the past.

Hi hawk,
I was surprised too, which is why I sent them a further couple of emails to clarify.Your above points are correct as I understand it though. In order for Mobilio to be valid, your service MUST be carried out by the dealer. The oddity is that there is no requirement for continuity and so you have the option to re-instate it, simply by having your next service done at a dealer. In other words, they are only interested in where the LAST service was performed, and once done, any previous servicing is irrelevant. It seems a generous allowance but I suppose that you could argeu that if they didn't, Mobilio could actually serve as a disincentive to return to the fold once you'd left (what would be the point) and the point of Mobilio is, after all, as a marketing tool to encourage us all to use the dealer network.

Your yr 2-3 point is interesting. I agree that the 3rd year is an MBUK feature, but I suspect that as, from the perspective of the average customer, MBUK is no different to MB worldwide (is is wholly owned? - I don't know) , that the extra year is also covered by Block exemption. They can do what the like with Mobilio as it isn't under block exemption - hence the 1 year difference in rules.

I agree there is an aspect of ambiguity with the rust warranty, but then the rust warranty is itself ambiguous. I have always believed that whilst most of us put the rust warranty down as part of Mobilio, it isn't really. "The warranty against rusting through from the inside " is to cover for corrosion starting on the INSIDE. Yes, you can argue that this includes from under the paint, but really it's about the type of corrosion that cars suffered from in the 80's and 90's where most Euroboxes over 5 years old would have the bottom edge of their doors peeling off. The truth is that people have frequently been succesful with the rust warranty despite not having fmbsh and also not re-instating it prior to the claim either.

 

[jaroph]

This is an extract from the Telegraph's excellent motoring journalist, Honest John.


..just because...

I have a W-registered Mercedes-Benz C180, which was two years old when I bought it from the local main dealership. I have recently noticed some rust bubbles around the front parking lights, the boot lock and the lower front doors. I'm told the car's warranty is valid only if the car has been serviced by main dealers, but I've always had such work done independently. Where do I stand?
R.H., Hayling Island

If you care to look at your M-B service/warranty document, it reads as follows: "Mobilo 30-year warranty against perforated bodywork. From the fifth year onwards the car should have been serviced by an authorised Mercedes-Benz workshop within the last two years prior to the damage being repaired." That is obviously fair and reasonable because it allows the franchised dealer the chance to correct any impending corrosion.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...VCBQUIV0?xml=/motoring/2007/11/17/mrjon17.xml