Used car issue

[motor mad]

Not sure if this is the right section to post this, but I'd appreciate peoples views.

I bought a used car that's six years old from an independent garage that comes with a three month comprehensive warranty. It wasn't an insignifcant amount of money and the garage stated that they thoroughly inspect all their cars before putting them on the forecourt (fairly standard stuff).

We've had the car a month but only driven it two weeks due to holiday, in which time we've coverd 300 miles. I decided to get the car serviced at a main dealer as it was on long life intervals which I'm not that keen on. They carried out an inspection as part of the service and noticed that both the rear springs were corroded and one had snapped, therefore being an MOT failure. The dealer made a note that both rear springs should be replaced otherwise the car will sit unevenly.

I phoned the garage that I purchased the car from who immediately went on the defensive accusing me of hitting a pot hole and causing the damage. Hand on heart this is not the case. I'm convinced the spring has been broken for a little while because the rear tyres have worn unevenly and I replaced them the morning it was serviced. After a heated conversation they agreed to change the snapped spring, but not both as has been recommended.

I don't want a temporary fix because knowing my luck, the other corroded spring will snap just out of warranty. From the garages perspective they won't fix something that isn't currently broken and it might be hard to notice whether the car sits right afterwards or not.

Any one been in a similar situation and how was it resolved?

Thanks

[9mm]

Dealer action sounds reasonable to me. If you wanted the other spring replaced you should have paid for it to be done when they did the broken one. Six years old, of course the springs will be corroded.

[Davie_GLA]

I believe you have to give them the chance to fix it which they are doing. It is down to their good will if they want to fix the other one as you point out it isn't broken. The garage may choose to do it anyway for fear of further work. But they may not.

[motor mad]

9mm said:

Dealer action sounds reasonable to me. If you wanted the other spring replaced you should have paid for it to be done when they did the broken one. Six years old, of course the springs will be corroded.

Nothing has been done at this point. Getting them to agree to fix the broken spring was a real battle which just gives a negative impression of the place.

[9mm]

motor mad said:

9mm said:

Dealer action sounds reasonable to me. If you wanted the other spring replaced you should have paid for it to be done when they did the broken one. Six years old, of course the springs will be corroded.

Nothing has been done at this point. Getting them to agree to fix the broken spring was a real battle which just gives a negative impression of the place.

What do you think they should do?

[liner33]

Springs should be replaced in pairs , so I would suggest you pay for one spring and the dealer pay for the other and replacement of both

[MitchT]

If I were paying a 'not insignificant' amount of money for a used car I'd have an independent inspection carried out (regardless of what the dealer claims they have had done) and let the outcome of said inspection form the basis of my negotiations on the price. Ahead of the event I'd have said change both springs and put it through a new MOT. As it stands now, change both springs and let the dealer pay for the broken one.

[MrPicky]

Were the broken ends of the spring rusted or clean, that may be an indication of when the spring actually broke.

[motor mad]

liner33 said:

Springs should be replaced in pairs , so I would suggest you pay for one spring and the dealer pay for the other and replacement of both

Thanks, I will suggest this and see what they say.

[itcaptainslow]

liner33 said:

Springs should be replaced in pairs , so I would suggest you pay for one spring and the dealer pay for the other and replacement of both

This. I'd suggest however the dealer you bought the car from will use a pattern part rather than an original VW part. Fine for a runabout, but even more significant that the springs are fitted as a matched pair. Therefore it's worth (subject to how much they want to charge you!) paying for the other spring to be replaced.

As a side note, an aftermarket warranty company would most likely only pay for one spring (the broken one).

[motor mad]

itcaptainslow said:

This. I'd suggest however the dealer you bought the car from will use a pattern part rather than an original VW part. Fine for a runabout, but even more significant that the springs are fitted as a matched pair. Therefore it's worth (subject to how much they want to charge you!) paying for the other spring to be replaced.

As a side note, an aftermarket warranty company would most likely only pay for one spring (the broken one).

Thanks. I've got a trade price for a pair of genuine springs so am thinking I'll give the 'warranty' a miss. I'd rather get the job done properly the first time than mess about having one changed with a pattern part.