Which recovery
- Thread starter Paul Rice
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Points
- 178
- Location
- Newport, South Wales,UK
- Model of Z
- Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
I have Personal Cover with Auto Aid, been with them for a long time but never had to use them, cover includes the other half as well so whatever car we are using is covered. https://secure.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/join
That is a plus for AA , it's covers the driver, not the vehicle.
Tony.
Tony.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Points
- 145
I’m not sure if the new EU inherited working time directive‘s impact on recovery operations will impact anyone’s selection of recovery organisation?
Very strangely 2 friends and a neighbour have all broken down away from home in the last 28 days…a friend with a P reg Range Rover lost an alternator near Penrith…the recovery to Mansfield took 11 hours from first call..
The second a neighbour here near Jedburgh had their 13 plate XC90 develop some disabling electrical fault at Wetherby..they took 36 hours to get home.
The third with an 11 plate Range Rover had a Christmas tree of error lights near Skipton..it took 37 hours from pre-agreed pick up time to get to Hemel Hempstead.
The common issues were..>
Over 2 hours to get an initial diagnosis, then several hours wsit for initial recovery, then the recovery only would go as far as 62 miles , 100 kms.
So then another large delay and repeat.
One was AA, one was RAC and one a smaller boutique recovery organisation.
Out of all the frustrating hops, the only thing that worked was the RAC holder flagged a RAC recovery truck down while waiting for another relay and managed a whole 82 miles in one go.
Its made me re-think the issue of breakdowns…I’m going to make more effort to ensure I can limp home in the event of an issue..especially in regard to tyres, punctures etc..
Very strangely 2 friends and a neighbour have all broken down away from home in the last 28 days…a friend with a P reg Range Rover lost an alternator near Penrith…the recovery to Mansfield took 11 hours from first call..
The second a neighbour here near Jedburgh had their 13 plate XC90 develop some disabling electrical fault at Wetherby..they took 36 hours to get home.
The third with an 11 plate Range Rover had a Christmas tree of error lights near Skipton..it took 37 hours from pre-agreed pick up time to get to Hemel Hempstead.
The common issues were..>
Over 2 hours to get an initial diagnosis, then several hours wsit for initial recovery, then the recovery only would go as far as 62 miles , 100 kms.
So then another large delay and repeat.
One was AA, one was RAC and one a smaller boutique recovery organisation.
Out of all the frustrating hops, the only thing that worked was the RAC holder flagged a RAC recovery truck down while waiting for another relay and managed a whole 82 miles in one go.
Its made me re-think the issue of breakdowns…I’m going to make more effort to ensure I can limp home in the event of an issue..especially in regard to tyres, punctures etc..
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Been with the RAC for over 20 years. Always been very good and we've had use them a handful of times. They were superb last Xmas Eve when Jues steering rack failed. They even towed it twice on the same claim due to nowhere being open being Xmas. I have no complaints.
Dxbolton
Zorg Guru (II)
We use Rescue My Car and have three of us on the policy, personal recovery for any car we are in. Always fast and professional when we used them and I think it was around £120 total.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Points
- 145
I've never been recovered a long distance home, but I was warned by one of the RAC guys that it would take at least 24 hours to get to Nottingham from Edinburgh. I was able to get a local recovery guy on standby to take me for £200 in one go, but he wasn't needed. The car was repaired in his mate's garage instead.
They work a relay system. We did the same "duwing the waaaar". Each recovery wagon was responsible for keeping its own area clear of breakdowns. You can't do that if you leave your area, so you recovery to the next area. It works for the recovery company, but the casualty takes longer to get home.
A warning tale of how the simplest fault could halt you in your tracks...
A tale from last month. The driver's wiper blade flew off in Egremont, Cumbria. It was 1730 on a dark, windswept Friday night and everywhere was shut. I swapped the passenger blade over. Luckily, the failure had left the stump of the blade on the arm, so the windscreen wasn't getting scratched. We made it to the hotel a few miles away, and called the RAC. After about four hours, RAC phoned to say they had no wiper blades for a Range Rover. It turns out that this was quite fortunate, as it could have been embarassing.
The rear wipers and the front wipers are different fitments.
Next day, we started to drive home via every motor factors in Cumbria. Nobody had wipers with the correct fitments, not even the Range Rover dealership in Carlisle, but one of the motor factors did have Rain-ex. I usually get two bottles for £8.50 in Costco. This bottle cost me £15!
It would seem that one of the previous owners had fitted new arms and blades, but the blades have a very uncommon (B9) fitment
One of the motor factors found some blades on Amazon and I got my son to buy them and have them delivered to Nottingham. They were in the house before we got home later that night.
In hindsight, we could have sourced them, and had them delivered to the hotel, but you would expect wiper blades to be commonly available, wouldn't you?
We made it home thanks to Rain-ex
. Life's an adventure
.
I now carry a spare wiper blade.
They work a relay system. We did the same "duwing the waaaar". Each recovery wagon was responsible for keeping its own area clear of breakdowns. You can't do that if you leave your area, so you recovery to the next area. It works for the recovery company, but the casualty takes longer to get home.
A warning tale of how the simplest fault could halt you in your tracks...
A tale from last month. The driver's wiper blade flew off in Egremont, Cumbria. It was 1730 on a dark, windswept Friday night and everywhere was shut. I swapped the passenger blade over. Luckily, the failure had left the stump of the blade on the arm, so the windscreen wasn't getting scratched. We made it to the hotel a few miles away, and called the RAC. After about four hours, RAC phoned to say they had no wiper blades for a Range Rover. It turns out that this was quite fortunate, as it could have been embarassing.
The rear wipers and the front wipers are different fitments.
Next day, we started to drive home via every motor factors in Cumbria. Nobody had wipers with the correct fitments, not even the Range Rover dealership in Carlisle, but one of the motor factors did have Rain-ex. I usually get two bottles for £8.50 in Costco. This bottle cost me £15!
It would seem that one of the previous owners had fitted new arms and blades, but the blades have a very uncommon (B9) fitment
One of the motor factors found some blades on Amazon and I got my son to buy them and have them delivered to Nottingham. They were in the house before we got home later that night.
In hindsight, we could have sourced them, and had them delivered to the hotel, but you would expect wiper blades to be commonly available, wouldn't you?
We made it home thanks to Rain-ex
. Life's an adventure.I now carry a spare wiper blade.
I've had breakdown cover with Auto Aid since 2017 when RAC told me they wanted to increase premium from £95 to £165 - got cover for £39.77 with Auto Aid instead. I'd been with RAC for 33 years, they said that was best they could do - I said you've lost a "loyal" customer.
Touch wood I've never had to use Auto Aid so far, latest premium in August was £78.54. God knows what the premium would be with RAC now.
Extensive cover includes:
• Home assistance – If your car will not start at home
• Roadside assistance
• Nationwide Recovery to any UK destination
• Cover for you as a Person in any eligible vehicle - Both my wife and I are covered
• Unlimited call outs
• Unlimited claims
• Covers vehicles of any age (Vehicle over 10 years old would have to pay £25 excess per claim)
Touch wood I've never had to use Auto Aid so far, latest premium in August was £78.54. God knows what the premium would be with RAC now.
Extensive cover includes:
• Home assistance – If your car will not start at home
• Roadside assistance
• Nationwide Recovery to any UK destination
• Cover for you as a Person in any eligible vehicle - Both my wife and I are covered
• Unlimited call outs
• Unlimited claims
• Covers vehicles of any age (Vehicle over 10 years old would have to pay £25 excess per claim)
Until these these three incidents that affected friends and neighbours I hadn’t really thought of the implications of a long distance recovery…anything within 50-100 miles can be managed with friends to help resolve…however when you’re a long away…I've never been recovered a long distance home, but I was warned by one of the RAC guys that it would take at least 24 hours to get to Nottingham from Edinburgh. I was able to get a local recovery guy on standby to take me for £200 in one go, but he wasn't needed. The car was repaired in his mate's garage instead.
They work a relay system. We did the same "duwing the waaaar". Each recovery wagon was responsible for keeping its own area clear of breakdowns. You can't do that if you leave your area, so you recovery to the next area. It works for the recovery company, but the casualty takes longer to get home.
A warning tale of how the simplest fault could halt you in your tracks...
A tale from last month. The driver's wiper blade flew off in Egremont, Cumbria. It was 1730 on a dark, windswept Friday night and everywhere was shut. I swapped the passenger blade over. Luckily, the failure had left the stump of the blade on the arm, so the windscreen wasn't getting scratched. We made it to the hotel a few miles away, and called the RAC. After about four hours, RAC phoned to say they had no wiper blades for a Range Rover. It turns out that this was quite fortunate, as it could have been embarassing.
The rear wipers and the front wipers are different fitments.
Next day, we started to drive home via every motor factors in Cumbria. Nobody had wipers with the correct fitments, not even the Range Rover dealership in Carlisle, but one of the motor factors did have Rain-ex. I usually get two bottles for £8.50 in Costco. This bottle cost me £15!
It would seem that one of the previous owners had fitted new arms and blades, but the blades have a very uncommon (B9) fitment
One of the motor factors found some blades on Amazon and I got my son to buy them and have them delivered to Nottingham. They were in the house before we got home later that night.
In hindsight, we could have sourced them, and had them delivered to the hotel, but you would expect wiper blades to be commonly available, wouldn't you?
We made it home thanks to Rain-ex
I now carry a spare wiper blade.
My 35is electric water pump decided to stop working at the furthest northwest point of Scotland near Durness whilst on a NC500 bash…about 350 miles from home…it was late on Sunday..fortunately I was with 3 other cars..I did know that these electric pumps could fail..I had a decent code reader which showed the faults..we let the car cool down and decided to try and see if we could limp on given the time taken even for a basic roadside inspection would take many hours..
By keeping the speed down to 40-50 we managed to get all the way home..
Given it’s very difficult to carry a spare wheel in E89s and retain luggage space roof down I’ve avoided getting a spare..
I’ve now decided to get a space saver and carry it whenever possible..
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Points
- 145
Yes, despite having recovery, I see it as an aid. I don't rely on it. I'll give them a call to see if they can help. If not, I'm prepared to sort it on my own.
I'd use them to get my car home from Scotland, but I wouldn't use them to get me home from Scotland. If need be, I'd hire another, or let the train take the strain.
I do use them as my spare wheel, though. I may find out that they are flat when I come to use them, as like 99.999% of the population, I've never checked this hypothetical spare. I don't even know if the wheel brace fits the lug nuts, or if the bolts are too tight.
I don’t know about Z3s as I’ve only spent limited time in their company on just a couple of runs..although one was 1,500 miles ..but with E85/E86 and E89s..I’ve done now about 100 days worth of touring events ..probably with an average of 6-8 cars ..so that‘s say 700 car days of touring at around 200 miles a day..about 140,000 Zed miles..
What’s always struck me is the reliability of those cars…in all that time we’ve never had a breakdown caused by a mechanical fault..however in that time that fleet has had 4 punctures…in each case the tyre was irrevocably damaged so no amount of rats tails, gunk, foam would get them going..fortunately in two cases they were carrying a spare.., one was fixed by finding a tyre garage 60 miles away with the others in the group sorting out a new tyre…one was recovered.
So I think for my sort of use the space saver is the way forward..
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2016
- Points
- 231
- Model of Z
- Z3M Imola and Z4 (e89)
Been with AA since buying my first Zed in 2015, every year they try to fleece me but I just quote the current Green Flag prices, which are lower and they have matched it every year to date.
I'm a member of the AA. Both of them unfortunately!
I was with the AA a few years ago. One Sunday evening travelling back to my hotel I had a problem with the car whilst on holiday in Devon and called the AA. They took some details then put me on hold. After over 30 minutes on hold I gave up . Managed to get help from a local garage and haven't used the AA since.
nfu includes a basic RAC cover as standard , can uprate it to "all dancing" for additional charge. Thats is my cover on Z3. The X1 is covered under BMW extended warrantee
Just joined Autoaid at £95.64 against Green Flag £202 ! for 2 cars
If you like the AA sign up to Health Service Discounts: NHS Discounts, Offers & Codes and yes you don't need to work for the NHS. 40% off. Do auto renew and then leave 1 day between old renewal and next ... year 2 repeat ...
When I had to use my RAC cover recently, they farmed out my recovery to another local company. It took over 48 hours for my Merc to be recovered from a public car park. RAC sent 2 patrol vans even though they knew it was immovable and needed trailering.. useless!. wont be renewing