getting money out of a dealer

[dieseluser07]

Hi there, to what extent can you get money out of a dealer for repairs, say you bought a 7 year old car with 95000 miles on it and was described as immaculate but then you find the following things wrong within the first month:

Worn turbo (not blown but had it inspected and it has a lot of play etc)
Coolant leak from radiator (new radiator needed)
New pads needed
Head gasket gone (not confirmed yet but i cant personally see a leak)


Which ones could you claim for saying its not fit for purpose??

Also could you get the repairs done yourself and send them the reciept or would you have to take it to them to be repaired (bear in mind the fault might break the car getting it to the dealer)

[Joeguard1990]

How many miles have you done within the 1st month of ownership?

[dieseluser07]

Joeguard1990 said:

How many miles have you done within the 1st month of ownership?

About 700 max

[Zoon]

These are all things which could have been checked with an inspection before purchase.
It's a high mileage car that has been around the earth four times, it's hardly going to be immaculate.

I'd say you've got very little chance of money back unless you were offered a warranty.

[sandman77]

Turbo - no chance. Its not blown but is showing signs of wear? No st, it has done 95000 miles.
Coolant leak - maybe a chance this will be repaired.
Brake pads - No chance, wear and tear item.
Head gasket gone - if it is just a small oil leak then I would say no.

Didnt you inspect the car when you bought it?

[PanzerCommander]

Brake pads are a consumable item so you can strike those off the list.

Also to me (as a buyer) the term immaculate has always only been a reference to the condition of; paint, body panels, external and internal trim, wheels and interior not the mechanical condition of the vehicle.

I would check the warranty provided with the car and see if it covers the faulty parts - if it does then you are fine and the dealer should fix them (assuming they agree) if not then the repairs are on you I am afraid.

[dieseluser07]

sandman77 said:

Turbo - no chance. Its not blown but is showing signs of wear? No st, it has done 95000 miles.
Coolant leak - maybe a chance this will be repaired.
Brake pads - No chance, wear and tear item.
Head gasket gone - if it is just a small oil leak then I would say no.

Didnt you inspect the car when you bought it?

Im a layman i should have maybe paid to get it checked but i assumed a dealer wouldent sell such a poor car.

They wouldent repair the head gasket? Seriously??

[cootuk]

sounds like wear and tear..turbo, brakes....worn pads at least should have been picked up before purchase.

[dieseluser07]

PanzerCommander said:

Brake pads are a consumable item so you can strike those off the list.

Also to me (as a buyer) the term immaculate has always only been a reference to the condition of; paint, body panels, external and internal trim, wheels and interior not the mechanical condition of the vehicle.

I would check the warranty provided with the car and see if it covers the faulty parts - if it does then you are fine and the dealer should fix them (assuming they agree) if not then the repairs are on you I am afraid.

He verbally told me theres a month on engine and gearbox, but surely under the sald of goods act it should be fit for purpose ive literally just bought it.

[oilslick]

dieseluser07 said:

He verbally told me theres a month on engine and gearbox, but surely under the sald of goods act it should be fit for purpose ive literally just bought it.

Sale of Goods act allows for fair wear and tear - I think it'd be perfectly fair to expect a 95,000 mile turbo to be a lot closer to the end of its life than the beginning.

[dieseluser07]

oilslick said:

Sale of Goods act allows for fair wear and tear - I think it'd be perfectly fair to expect a 95,000 mile turbo to be a lot closer to the end of its life than the beginning.

What about radiator or headgasket then? Surely thats not wear and tear

[B'stard Child]

dieseluser07 said:

oilslick said:

Sale of Goods act allows for fair wear and tear - I think it'd be perfectly fair to expect a 95,000 mile turbo to be a lot closer to the end of its life than the beginning.

What about radiator or headgasket then? Surely thats not wear and tear

Why isn't it - do both last forever??

[TrackMegane]

Really seems like everyone is out for a free ride these days. You didnt check the car enough so now you feel its the dealers issue. Man up take it on the chin and move on. Its 7 year old car done near 100k god forbid you'll need to start replacing bushes and the likes soon. Maybe you should get the dealer to pay for them too...

[dieseluser07]

TrackMegane said:

Really seems like everyone is out for a free ride these days. You didnt check the car enough so now you feel its the dealers issue. Man up take it on the chin and move on. Its 7 year old car done near 100k god forbid you'll need to start replacing bushes and the likes soon. Maybe you should get the dealer to pay for them too...

I think replacing bushes is a bit different to a leaking head gasket which has literally occured in the last 500 miles.

[Highway Star]

If the head gasket issue has occurred within the last 500 miles, and you've done 700 since buying it, it wasn't present when he sold you the car.

Head gaskets go, especially if run low on coolant, maybe caused by the leaking radiator you've also got and is an item that you might expect to be up for a change at 95k (the rad).

I don't think you've much chance getting 'money out of' the dealer.

Edited by Highway Star on Wednesday 6th August 13:43

[dieseluser07]

Highway Star said:

If the head gasket issue has occurred within the last 500 miles, and you've done 700 since buying it, it wasn't present when he sold you the car.

Head gaskets go, especially if run low on coolant, maybe caused by the leaking radiator you've also got and is an item that you might expect to be up for a change at 95k (the rad).

I don't think you've much chance getting 'money out of' the dealer.

Edited by Highway Star on Wednesday 6th August 13:43

I dont know when it went just that the coolant light came on the other day so i checked and coolant was low.

[ToothbrushMan]

You had an inspection after 700 miles?
Id have had it before or during negotiations but then were all experts in hind sight.....


Try and get new pads cos youre unlikely to get the big ticket items sorted. Youve nowt to lose but the car shouldnt be sold with pads that are dangerously worn.....

[valiant]

You shouldn't be waiting till a light comes on to check your fluids! Rads do corrode and can be susceptible to damage from stones and what not and could well lead onto more extensive damage like HG failure.

How much have the pads worn? Did you take it to one of these fast fit places for an opinion? How much 'meat' is left? Remember that as soon as pads are fitted and you've driven off, they're worn.

Turbo is working and was at point of purchase and to be honest 100k is about all they last nowadays.

[JamesD1]

many dealers have questionable trading practices. it sounds like he sold you a pup, if you dont have a warranty then you really have little comeback.

dealer can claim he was un-aware or that these mechanical defects have occured due to you not following guidelines laid down by manufacturer e.g not checking oil / water.

i bought a pup once and i will never buy a second hand car from a dealer, i prefer to go private and take my chances.

[forzaminardi]

Moving on from the 'should have had it inspected before you bought it' comments, which are correct but also totally useless to you, I'd suggest you'll be lucky to get anything out of the dealer. It would be worth approaching the dealer in a pleasant and positive way and saying you've had these problems, you understand it is an old car but you hoped you could come to some sort of compromise on the cost of repairs in view of the dealers good repuation.