Reject or retain?
Discussion
Recently bought a used BMW 650i which misfired 4 days after collecting it. I also wasn't happy with the gearbox which had slightly jerky changes. It was returned to the dealer who has been more than helpful - I have been given a courtesy car and no attempts have been made to fob me off or question whether the faults were present at point of sale.
However, they have now had the car for 5 weeks. They have replaced the cats which were apparently blocked thus causing the misfire and they are now waiting on a part for the gearbox (a module?).
I know the consumer act states that the trader has a "reasonable amount of time" to effect repairs, but what is reasonable? I was wondering if anyone had a similar experience and whether I should reject the car and ask for a refund or possibly a replacement.
However, they have now had the car for 5 weeks. They have replaced the cats which were apparently blocked thus causing the misfire and they are now waiting on a part for the gearbox (a module?).
I know the consumer act states that the trader has a "reasonable amount of time" to effect repairs, but what is reasonable? I was wondering if anyone had a similar experience and whether I should reject the car and ask for a refund or possibly a replacement.
pinchmeimdreamin said:
They have started the repairs ( Replaced Cats ) and are waiting for the Module to fix the gearbox.
Do you still want the car ? if yes then let them fix it and you will know you have a well sorted car.
Is there a touch of buyers remorse ?
Not at all, I do really like the car, but I'm starting to think that 5 weeks isn't a "reasonable about of time" to effect repairs.Do you still want the car ? if yes then let them fix it and you will know you have a well sorted car.
Is there a touch of buyers remorse ?
Andy OH said:
OP, when was the last time you spoke to the dealer? Why not give them a call for an update on progress.
I have just rung them - the part for the gearbox will apparently be here at the end of the week and then they will let me know how the repair goes. Cheers for the comments, my gut feeling says remain patient and see what it's like when I get it back. Given that I only had the car for a few days I am still well within the 30 days rejection period once I receive it back. Any further faults with the same issues will probably result in a rejection.
I was just wondering if anyone else had a similar experience really.
George111 said:
bmw535i said:
Any further faults with the same issues will probably result in a rejection.
Why ? The dealer appears to be cooperative and is actioning the repairs as quickly as he can. The car must be what you wanted and you probably spent some time finding it. Why give up on it so easily ? It's a 10 year old car and people often trade in their cars when there is a fault they're not prepared to pay to fix . . . so you're bound to find some faults on an older car. It's not the dealer's fault that the part is on backorder, we had to wait months for a part for a car we bought and which developed a problem. The garage fixed the problem without a murmur and let us have a courtesy car the whole time which seems to be the situation you're in too. I'm not sure what else anyone could reasonably expect.
I suppose they could fit a used part but then what happens if it fails? I'd just hang on to be honest, at least you'd know it's been sorted.
I suppose they could fit a used part but then what happens if it fails? I'd just hang on to be honest, at least you'd know it's been sorted.
charltjr said:
Easy enough to find out, call the local BMW dealer's parts department and ask them what the lead time is on the relevant part.
Not even sure what the part is (gearbox module?)Not even sure which garage is actually repairing the car either - it's been to three different ones now. I will just trust that he is true to his word and it comes back good. Be interesting to see how many miles have been added though.
TooMany2cvs said:
Even apart from moving it between garages, I presume you would like it to have been tested before return...?
Unless it's got a couple of thousand miles on it, remember that it's a decade old...
Yes, of course I want it testing. I wouldn't envisage they'd need to do any more than 50-100 miles though.Unless it's got a couple of thousand miles on it, remember that it's a decade old...
Not sure the relevance of the age of the car?
TooMany2cvs said:
Do you know what it was used for in all those other tens of thousands of miles?
Going by your other posts on various threads it appears you are deliberately obtuse, but I'll humour you. I don't care what previous owners did with the car, buts it's mine now. So if the garage is misappropriating it, then yes, I'll want to know why.TooMany2cvs said:
No, I'm not being deliberately obtuse.
You bought a car with 69,000 miles of <shrug> use behind it.
You had a problem with that car.
You now have a fixed car with 70,000 miles of <shrug> use behind it.
Why is that last 1,000 miles of use somehow more important to you than the previous 69,000?
Sigh. because I don't want my car used as a courtesy car/runaround etc. Not to mention the need for NIP dropping through my letterbox - it's happened before.You bought a car with 69,000 miles of <shrug> use behind it.
You had a problem with that car.
You now have a fixed car with 70,000 miles of <shrug> use behind it.
Why is that last 1,000 miles of use somehow more important to you than the previous 69,000?
I'm sure most people, apart from you, wouldn't want their own car used by a garage whilst its in for repair. You wouldn't mind, I would.
TooMany2cvs said:
If a car that I'd only just bought was in for repair, then I'd want it back working - PROPERLY working, staying working. Tested. If that meant it'd clocked up something more than negligible mileage being tested or taken between garages, then that's part of getting it working and making sure it was working. You can't always see if something's fixed properly and going to stay fixed - especially if it's heat-related - on a two-mile-up-the-road-and-back-from-cold test.
You had the car four days before you noticed a misfire and jerky changes. That is the sort of subtle intermittent problem where I'd be actually asking the garage owner to properly test for recurrence, by putting some miles on the car of the course of a week or more. If it came back with only about 5-10 miles more than when I'd dropped it off, I'd be more concerned than if it came back with 500+, because there's no way they could say it was fixed with any certainty.
Ok, I'll be happy to see they've used it as they see fit. You had the car four days before you noticed a misfire and jerky changes. That is the sort of subtle intermittent problem where I'd be actually asking the garage owner to properly test for recurrence, by putting some miles on the car of the course of a week or more. If it came back with only about 5-10 miles more than when I'd dropped it off, I'd be more concerned than if it came back with 500+, because there's no way they could say it was fixed with any certainty.
TooMany2cvs said:
If you trust them so little, why did you buy the damn thing from them in the first place?
Well I can't say I planned on it breaking down and then not having it for 6 weeks and counting. I don't possess the crystal ball you seem to be blessed with. Thanks for your input though, it's been invaluable.TooMany2cvs said:
You miss my point, I suspect deliberately.
You are complaining you don't want them driving your car, because you don't trust them not to thrape and abuse it.
Yet they have already had PLENTY of opportunity to do that - before you ever saw it.
You miss my point, I suspect deliberately.You are complaining you don't want them driving your car, because you don't trust them not to thrape and abuse it.
Yet they have already had PLENTY of opportunity to do that - before you ever saw it.
It is now my car. If you'd be happy to let a garage use your car for whatever they wanted then fair play to you.
charltjr said:
It's not the dealer's fault that the part is on backorder, we had to wait months for a part for a car we bought and which developed a problem. The garage fixed the problem without a murmur and let us have a courtesy car the whole time which seems to be the situation you're in too. I'm not sure what else anyone could reasonably expect.
I suppose they could fit a used part but then what happens if it fails? I'd just hang on to be honest, at least you'd know it's been sorted.
How many months was it?I suppose they could fit a used part but then what happens if it fails? I'd just hang on to be honest, at least you'd know it's been sorted.
TooMany2cvs said:
And what's that changed, apart from a name on a piece of paper? It certainly hasn't affected the mechanical condition of the vehicle, or undone any damage that may or may not have been done from previous abuse.
ha ha I really am confused by you. Of course, ownership is just a piece of paper - I'm happy for anyone to do whatever they like with my car without question. I don't mind if they drive it, get caught speeding, park illegally, lend it to customers - they can do whatever they like. As the owner, who am I to argue.Fancy lending me your car while they are working on mine?
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