What are the latest rules? I used it once a long time ago , 7 years maybe, on a car that i had never had at the dealer and had the number in the glove box. They came out , no questions asked and helped me out. Then another time i called and they said i didn't qualify as i hadn't had any service lately or car was too old or something. I didn't pay much attention.


What is the current policy on that for second hand cars?

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

It's really restricted now.

"Roadside Assistance will be offered on vehicles which have received at least $100.00 in customer pay services at an Authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealer prior to 1/1/2014, provided that the request for Roadside Assistance is made within 18 months of said services."

And...if your car is out of any Mercedes-Benz Warranty and was not purchased directly from an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership prior to January 4, 2011, then you are not eligible for complimentary Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance.

If you're not eligible, then you may purchase individual Roadside services through the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center.

Source: Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Eligibility Chart (Effective 1/1/2014)


I have no idea what they might charge for their various services; call and find out. Time to set up AAA?

They have pulled back on the coverage.
I thought the MB club membership gave you access, but I was incorrect.....

In other words, if you didn't buy your car from the dealer, you don't have it anymore.......

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

You had to have bought it from new now.

That stinks, I misunderstood what I had thought I read earlier.

I thought if you had spent the service dollars that reset you for another 18 months regardless of when or where you bought the car.

I remember the days when it was every MB for life no matter what.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Do part buys also count towards the $100 ??

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

The way I read it can be made into a pseudo logic statement
Edit: Forum does not support the tab stop, it would have looked much better indented...

car must be under warranty (new, factory extended, CPO)
OR
purchased by you prior to 4 Jan 2011 from an MB dealer (does not specify new or used)

AND

you have to have spent >= $100 in the dealer service department (does not say anything about parts) within the last 18 months (I assume this is a rolling 18 month window from the last >= $100 event)

EQUALS

Visit from tech for flat repair/jump start/fuel replenish
OR
Battery replacement, you pay for the battery, (but not for MLs or Rs with the buried battery)

OR
Free tow to MB dealer
IF
You commit to the repair at the dealer
ELSE
You pay $150 for the tow

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

$15/yr for roadside assistance from your insurance company sure is less complicated than that.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

Make a few claims a year with that "$15 annual RA coverage" and get back to us with your premium increase!

I don't blame MB for locking down their freebies. Years ago there were members bragging on the numerous calls they'd make to MB at their whim up to several times a week to come serve their repeated breakdowns on their aged relics. Aged cars they bought very used for a pittance of what they cost new.

Chalk it up to their abuse of the system that ended the gravy train. Kinda sad, really.

It is worth checking your policy.

I had a serpentine belt break on my E320. I called CAA number but being in USA AAA truck towed us. Someone suggested I check my insurance policy, and sure enough, it cover first $50 of any tow. CAA membership we had covered only first 10km.

I submitted bill and got my $50 refund so was only out of pocket a few bucks. Mind you, the dealer cost to replace the belt wasn't cheap But at least done properly for such a key part.

On our older classic cars, Hagerty offers roadside assistance as an extra cost, but we now have upgraded CAA so rely on that. Newest car is still covered by MB and will be for first 7 years (because of extended warranty we purchased)

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

The bottom line is to know your policy's limits and detail.

My policy provides up to a $750.00 reimbursement per disablement. No strings attached. That's peace of mind I can live with. However, I'm not stupid.....one claim of $500.00 and they would sock it to me on the premium.

That's why I have off and on carried a 100% completely independent towing and roadside disablement policy. For less than $80.00 a year, I am covered for everything I own up to and including my trailer(s) RV, etc. - EVERYTHING is covered, without any ramifications whatsoever.

There's no way my policy will ever be beat.

Better check 6 on your AAA policies - you call too many times and they'll throttle you and drop you like a hot potato.

I'm sure if it's a constant usage situation you'd be right. I've used it twice in the ~5 years I've been with my company, my premium has only gone down. One tow, and once when I'd locked my keys in my truck- with the engine running.

Not a common thing by any means.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

Thanks clarification. I've tried the insurance option. They always take forever and it's not great coverage. Any tow to my house is 125.00 now.

We get Aaa premium. Costs 100 a year. 4 free 100 mile tows no questions asked. I add the wife for 50.00. So we have 8 tows a year. Plus usually a 10.00 hotel discount. On average it pays for itself, especially running Wvo and clogging filters and such. I pretty much recommend it to anyone driving a old car or any mercedes

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius