Used car fault - OK to reject?

[unrepentant]

Who'd want to be a car dealer in the UK. You sell a 7 year old (7 year old!) car to an adult human being who presumably inspected and drove it prior to agreeing the purchase. They drive it for a while and notice a minor noise which is probably a tire issue and they are genuinely inquiring as to whether they should reject the car! Beggars belief.

[Jazoli]

unrepentant said:

Who'd want to be a car dealer in the UK. You sell a 7 year old (7 year old!) car to an adult human being who presumably inspected and drove it prior to agreeing the purchase. They drive it for a while and notice a minor noise which is probably a tire issue and they are genuinely inquiring as to whether they should reject the car! Beggars belief.

It does doesn’t it, sod being in the car trade and dealing with nonsense like this, PH is turning into Reddit.

[cuprabob]

As others have said its more than likely the rear tyres. It's common on VAG cars for the rears to wear in a manner where you get a drone / hum at certain speeds which sounds identical to a noisy wheel bearing. Just Google "VAG sawtooth wear" .

[MustangGT]

Trevor555 said:

MustangGT said:

I doubt a wheel bearing is sufficient to force a rejection. Even if you did the selling trader would be able to deduct a fair usage amount for the time you have had the car, often based on a pence per mile basis. Get it fixed for a reasonable price then try for a refund from the dealer.

No reduction allowed for a fault related rejection under 30 days.

I had not noted the timescale, thanks.

[lord trumpton]

40k miles seems low for a rear wheel bearing

Has the Haldex been serviced?

[liner33]

It will be the rear tyres , incredibly common on Golfs and Golf derived products , typically happens at 40mph as well , if its not loud on the motorway then its the tyres . Fit the rears on the front to stop the noise

[zedx19]

Dracoro said:

£23k Golf R.

Worn tyres, they all do it, geometry results in saw tooth on the tyre edge. Nothing wrong with the car whatsover, some tyres are worse than others for the noise.

2017 Golf GTi owner, mine sounded like a wheel bearing but VW forums said it'd be saw tooth tyres, replaced rear tyres, noise gone, it'll come back when they get worn again though. My cars on 70k now, replaced rears at 55k (from factory) and all been well for 10k.

Rejecting the car for this alone would be madness, you'll buy another and have the same noise unless the rear tyres are new.

[Dracoro]

Thanks for those that actually read my posts (even tho title is a little misleading, my bad. As posted do not want to reject car, just wanted to know where I stood etc if seller wanted to play silly (they’ve been fine).

Saw tooth issue - is this something noticeable on tyres as can’t feel/see anything odd. Tyres aren’t old all all good (Michelin pilot sport 5 I think). Swapped wheels back/side but don’t think that made a difference to hum sound.

[Dracoro]

lord trumpton said:

40k miles seems low for a rear wheel bearing

Has the Haldex been serviced?

Would Haldex service (or lack of) be related to issue as described?

All tyres (MPS5s all round) have year stamp of 0423 and one 4923 and all appear to have loads of tread. Also, I can’t see or feel anything untoward (I.e. edging like a saw or otherwise)….

Although steering/handling all seems good, could alignment be cause?

[Dracoro]

Hum appears at 44mph and goes away at 48. Also appears at 67 and goes away at 71… which sounds frequency based?…

[stevemcs]

Dracoro said:

Thanks for those that actually read my posts (even tho title is a little misleading, my bad. As posted do not want to reject car, just wanted to know where I stood etc if seller wanted to play silly (they’ve been fine).

Saw tooth issue - is this something noticeable on tyres as can’t feel/see anything odd. Tyres aren’t old all all good (Michelin pilot sport 5 I think). Swapped wheels back/side but don’t think that made a difference to hum sound.

Its really common on these, it doesn't matter what brand either. It happens on the Golf, the Passat, the A5 and A4, The Volvos S/V60 also suffer from it. The shock absorbers don't last long either, we have advised them on cars not even 3 yearsd old.

[zedx19]

Dracoro said:

Hum appears at 44mph and goes away at 48. Also appears at 67 and goes away at 71… which sounds frequency based?…

100% the tyres, you don't need to look for anything other than wear, unless the tyres are fairly new, you'll get a hum. If this is the only fault you have with the car, you'd be nuts to reject, other than the fact that 23k for a 17 plate R seems pricey.

If it bothers you that much but you love the car, replace the tyres yourself as you the dealer will not replace road legal tyres that hum a little.

[Dracoro]

zedx19 said:

Dracoro said:

Hum appears at 44mph and goes away at 48. Also appears at 67 and goes away at 71… which sounds frequency based?…

100% the tyres, you don't need to look for anything other than wear, unless the tyres are fairly new, you'll get a hum. If this is the only fault you have with the car, you'd be nuts to reject, other than the fact that 23k for a 17 plate R seems pricey.

If it bothers you that much but you love the car, replace the tyres yourself as you the dealer will not replace road legal tyres that hum a little.

The tyres are fairly new (0423 markings on 3 and 4923 on another) so barely a year old and loads of tread. As I have said a few times, I don't want to reject just have it sorted.

As for price, for a low mileage 7.5R (67 plate) with sunroof/DCC/Leather/Pro navi/19 Spielbergs/etc., it was about the going rate, loads of lower spec ones (cheaper) of course

[Trevor555]

Op the garage that diagnosed the wheel bearing, guess you won't be using them again.

Hope not anyway

[liner33]

Dracoro said:

Thanks for those that actually read my posts (even tho title is a little misleading, my bad. As posted do not want to reject car, just wanted to know where I stood etc if seller wanted to play silly (they’ve been fine).

Saw tooth issue - is this something noticeable on tyres as can’t feel/see anything odd. Tyres aren’t old all all good (Michelin pilot sport 5 I think). Swapped wheels back/side but don’t think that made a difference to hum sound.

Did you put the rear tyres on the front or just switch side to side ?

[zedx19]

Dracoro said:

The tyres are fairly new (0423 markings on 3 and 4923 on another) so barely a year old and loads of tread. As I have said a few times, I don't want to reject just have it sorted.

As for price, for a low mileage 7.5R (67 plate) with sunroof/DCC/Leather/Pro navi/19 Spielbergs/etc., it was about the going rate, loads of lower spec ones (cheaper) of course

There's nothing to sort though, even if you somehow get the dealer to change road legal tyres for new tyres, the hum will come back, it's a trait of the car. You either live with the trait, or you don't own a Golf (or similar). I run 19s with 35 profile as well, the hum was never loud enough to bother me though and has gone since fitting new P Zero's on the back 10k ish ago, I'm fully aware it'll come back once the tyres wear more.

[Dracoro]

liner33 said:

Dracoro said:

Thanks for those that actually read my posts (even tho title is a little misleading, my bad. As posted do not want to reject car, just wanted to know where I stood etc if seller wanted to play silly (they’ve been fine).

Saw tooth issue - is this something noticeable on tyres as can’t feel/see anything odd. Tyres aren’t old all all good (Michelin pilot sport 5 I think). Swapped wheels back/side but don’t think that made a difference to hum sound.

Did you put the rear tyres on the front or just switch side to side ?

Swapped left rear to left front.

Then swapped left rear to right rear. i.e. only one not changes is front right. Which I may do later and see if makes a difference..

So far, changing wheel location hasn't changed anything...

[liner33]

Dracoro said:

Swapped left rear to left front.

Then swapped left rear to right rear. i.e. only one not changes is front right. Which I may do later and see if makes a difference..

So far, changing wheel location hasn't changed anything...

Might be worth trying another set of wheel in case its been done before .

It might not be the issue of course but since your symptoms are the same as 99% of others that suffer stepped or sawtoothing tyres on these cars , Occums razor applies

Either way is almost certainly not a wheel bearing so if you love the car its probably worth putting a fresh set of tyres on and getting the geometry done

[Sticks.]

Dracoro said:

Swapped left rear to left front.

Then swapped left rear to right rear. i.e. only one not changes is front right. Which I may do later and see if makes a difference..

So far, changing wheel location hasn't changed anything...

Did you check for play or noise in the wheels?

[Dracoro]

I did not notice any play etc. in wheels.

Am going to swap the wheels round that hasn't been changes (so all wheels are on opposite side AND axle to what they were originally) to see if noise the same.

Note, garage noticed sound on test drive and did stethoscope test to identify wheel bearing. I suppose it's possible there was and issue with bearing AND with tyres I suppose.......