I've read a few posts where a Mercedes breaks down, and they allways say, I went back to picj up the car, or I limped home, I was wondering if anybody ever used the 1-800-4Mercedes free towing? If so, how would you rate the service, how long did it take for the tow truck to arrive,,,

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Closing the store
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i've had them come to my house twice becuase i was too busy to change a flat and considering i live 35 miles away from the dealer, they made it in a timely manner and did the job in about 5 minutes. Very professional. Called me the next day to see if everything was up to par

What are the requirements to have mb come out and change a tire or something to that? Im assuming you have to have a newer car?

I have a 92 sel 600. Im just wondering what you have to show of proof of car, and any requirements to use this?

Every Mercedes-Benz in the U.S. - no matter how old, how many miles it's logged or how many owners it's had - qualifies for Roadside Assistance, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

quoted from http://www.mbusa.com/care/client-care/roadside-assistance.do

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wow really? So say I had a flat they would come out and change it? If so for how much?

What if I ran out of gas? or broke down? Would they bring gas, or give me a tow? If yes how much? And how far would they tow me? Do I just show im the owner of the car? I would love to know more about this?

Thanks.

just read the link, it sounds like they only charge for services or parts? What would that classify??

Quoting from the Roadside Assistance brochure that came with my '92 300E, "There will be charges for Roadside Assistance repairs. The fees are as follows: $25.00 service fee plus labour at 1.5 times the participating dealer's normal rate (minimum charge: 30 minutes, plus towing and any parts used)."

The labour rates at nearby dealers in my area range from $95 to $125 per hour, so roadside assitance will be in the $150 (CAD) per hour rate with a minimum of 30 minutes; plus parts & towing. Close to $100 to change a tire? Ouch!! Hello CAA/AAA.

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ARVY

1999 E430
1999 C230 Kompressor
1992 300E (write-off)
1984 190D 2.2 (sold)

Oh , ain't that the truth.
I did Mercedes roadside for years until, I got tired for working for someone else and now I do it as an independent full time in Atlanta.

As a dealer tech, we used to have customers regularly abuse the roadside program.
I remember this one guy who lived in a severely bad area of town and would call roadside every time his old, beat up, corroded out diesel would not start.

It was usually a jump start because he was too cheap to pay for a new battery, even at the auto parts store.

One day, in one of the oddball days that it actually got below freezing here in Atlanta, he called and said his car would not start, well he called roadside, we went out, found bad glow plugs and replaced them.

He insisted that we should replace them for free, and we went round and round, and he complained to management (joke), and the debacle went round and round for a couple of days with management over the phone.

Finally our notoriously sheepish management agreed to let him have the service for free, but never to call our roadside department again.

That's one of the reasons I went on my own , and I get to choose what jobs I want to fool with, but usually you can feel people out over the phone before you make that decision, but while working for a dealership, you do not have that option, and now I can carry protection without worrying about getting jumped on a road call and having some management weenie crying about policy and liability.
Ain't this a great country.

No , But I've called them other names . Never "Roadside assistance" though . LOL

Broke down outside of Dallas half way to
Tulsa, needed a tow called Mercedes wanted $400 to tow me to Tulsa, had a local guy jump the battery was able to limp to a nearby AutoZone and put a rebuilt alternator in and drove home to Chicago. Couldnt believe an AutoZone in Muskogee, Oklahoma would have an alternator for a 89 300TE. Couldnt believe that Muskogee would have an AutoZone, so much for roadside assisstance

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'05 Ford Escape 100,000 miles
'87 560SL 92000 miles
'89 300TE 199,000 miles
'02 Audi TT 100,000 miles
'00 Ford Excursion V-10 121000 miles
'92 Mercury Capri 100000 miles
'02 BMW 325XI 60000 miles
'92 230CE 160000
'87 BMW 535SI 160,000 miles
'93 Rinker Captiva 209
5 Kids
2 Dogs
1 Wife

That reminds me of my old ('85?) 190E that blew a radiator hose on I-20 on a 100-degree day in the middle of Mississippi. Coolant was blowing over the front of the hood. It was a Sunday, and I had my wife and 6-month-old daughter in the car, and there is NOTHING along that interstate for most of the state. God was happy with me then, though, because just as the temp needle started to rise, the sign for the first Jackson exit came up. I was able to coast down the ramp, where an OPEN Autozone awaited. Of course, they didn't have the correct hose, but my, "Look, I'm not leaving until I get another hose on that car." prompted the clerk to let me comparison shop with the old part in hand. I bought an X-acto knife, trimmed a hose to fit, refilled with God-knows-what coolant, and brought flustered wife and baby back home safe & sound.

I have always had good service from Roaside Assistance especially on my ex ML. The only tow that you get for free is if it is under warranty! MB provides the "roadside" service for lifetime on your vehicle. If your vin is not in MB database they might not (gray market). If you dont want a tow they wont force it on you and you can make your own arrangements,(they can contact a towing company) they will change a tire , bring fuel, and provide a jump. All other services which they provide at roadside, belts hose etc. are billed. I dont understand why there is any whining, most manufacturers dont support their cars after the warranty period, including BMW and LEXUS.
The only time they dont supprt this if there is no dealership, but they will contact a provider such as AAA

People always expect something for nothing.

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Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

Res non semper sunt quae esse videntur

My Gallery

Not in this weather!

Just last week, I left all the lights on on my '01 E-320 sitting in the garage. Came out 5 hour later to the sound of nothing. I couldn't get my Vette out of the garage to jump the wagon, it's a two car deep garage, so I called the MBRSA and they called my dealer, four miles away. Within 30 min. tech showed, jumped the car, reset everything, we bantered a little about my Vette, real nice tech. Thanked him and all was OK! What else can I say...it works!

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....just drive'em!
'89 300TE White w/Blue, 152K SOLD!
'93 300E Blue w/Tan, 154K SOLD!
'01 E-320 4-Matic wagon, 130K
'67 Vette Conv. White w/Blue, 217,421K

I had the opportunity to use this service and was very imprested with the service and the time and work done. My customer's 86 300-E was in my shop for a auto detail service. upon finishing to delivery the car back the battery failed to restart the car. At that point I called my client to advise him that a jump would not work and if he wanted me to install a battery. The reply was do what ever is nessessary as the detail wasa gift for his wife and they wer out of town.
I called the Mercedes-Benz servicegave them the car vin number and in less than a half hour they arrived checked out the problem installed a new battery under rear seat and recoded the radio and checked to make sure that was indeed the problem. Very curtious
I can only add prase to this service because my time was saved and they got the car up and running in noo time with a new factory battery.
Now that I am a owner of a 1992 300-E I feel better to deal with emergy situtions on the road.
Bob Geco