Asking dealer contribution to repair on car owned 6 months
Discussion
Apologies for typo in title - and I can't change it now!
Car (2012 / 64k miles) was bought for £6k from an independent dealer in July 2020. Police owned, with print out of service history (very basic with no detail at all).
Car has been faultless until last week, when it dumped its oil through a hole in sump. Local garage investigated, assuming I had holed the sump somehow.
The hole was caused by a bit of a tappet, that had worked its way down through the engine, and got caught between the sump and the oil pump pully.
Rocker cover removed to investigate and all found to be intact. Garage is sure that car had suffered a cambelt failure in the past, and been shoddily repaired (many missing bolts etc).
Car now running fine. But the bill for the repair was about £450 (3.5 hrs labour & new sump/sealant). Whilst it was apart I asked them to put a new cambelt on/aux belt/water pump and obviously oil/filter/coolant. Total bill £999.
I was lucky to catch it before it wrote the engine off.
Do you think I have a case against the dealer for the £450 proportion of the bill for the new sump and investigative work? I have emailed dealer with all the information, but no response yet being the weekend.
Thanks
Car (2012 / 64k miles) was bought for £6k from an independent dealer in July 2020. Police owned, with print out of service history (very basic with no detail at all).
Car has been faultless until last week, when it dumped its oil through a hole in sump. Local garage investigated, assuming I had holed the sump somehow.
The hole was caused by a bit of a tappet, that had worked its way down through the engine, and got caught between the sump and the oil pump pully.
Rocker cover removed to investigate and all found to be intact. Garage is sure that car had suffered a cambelt failure in the past, and been shoddily repaired (many missing bolts etc).
Car now running fine. But the bill for the repair was about £450 (3.5 hrs labour & new sump/sealant). Whilst it was apart I asked them to put a new cambelt on/aux belt/water pump and obviously oil/filter/coolant. Total bill £999.
I was lucky to catch it before it wrote the engine off.
Do you think I have a case against the dealer for the £450 proportion of the bill for the new sump and investigative work? I have emailed dealer with all the information, but no response yet being the weekend.
Thanks
Edited by alfabeat on Sunday 10th January 11:52
Edited by alfabeat on Sunday 10th January 11:56
How was a dealer expected to know that an 8 year old car with 64k on the clock was going to go wrong in 6 months time?
I have no idea on your legal rights but in my opinion, if you even get 1p from the dealer it'll be another nail in the coffin for all second hand car dealers.
Consumer rights laws were put in place to protect the buyer from rogue traders (and rightly so), they were not put in place so that buyers could take the piss and expect to run an old banger for free.
It's an unfortunate fact of life that cars can go wrong, and that running a car costs money. That's life - live with it!
I have no idea on your legal rights but in my opinion, if you even get 1p from the dealer it'll be another nail in the coffin for all second hand car dealers.
Consumer rights laws were put in place to protect the buyer from rogue traders (and rightly so), they were not put in place so that buyers could take the piss and expect to run an old banger for free.
It's an unfortunate fact of life that cars can go wrong, and that running a car costs money. That's life - live with it!
Thanks for the reply. I know exactly what you are saying, and to be honest agree with the sentiment.
What if this had happened 1 day after purchase though....I imagine your response would have been different? The existing fault that caused the damage, was there at day one...a ticking time bomb if you like.
It isn't the same as "my car went wrong 6 months after purchase and I want financial compensation".
I won't push it. I'm not like that.
What if this had happened 1 day after purchase though....I imagine your response would have been different? The existing fault that caused the damage, was there at day one...a ticking time bomb if you like.
It isn't the same as "my car went wrong 6 months after purchase and I want financial compensation".
I won't push it. I'm not like that.
Edited by alfabeat on Sunday 10th January 13:37
Bemmer said:
Few dare say it... but I agree with you,Ex police,8 year old,64000 miles and no history to speak of. What priced was paid..? And how many miles since purchase. ? But six months down the line expects the dealer to cough up £450...!
Sold with FSH. Bought for £6k. 5k miles added since purchase. I think you were lucky the damage was so small.
Dealers normally indicate how much "warranty" it comes with, whether self-insured or third party. On this age you can expect no more than 3 months unless you pay extra. I had a 10-year old car from a dealer which came with 1-month warranty (it was on the invoice).
The newer the car the more you can expect.
Dealers normally indicate how much "warranty" it comes with, whether self-insured or third party. On this age you can expect no more than 3 months unless you pay extra. I had a 10-year old car from a dealer which came with 1-month warranty (it was on the invoice).
The newer the car the more you can expect.
M4cruiser said:
I think you were lucky the damage was so small.
Dealers normally indicate how much "warranty" it comes with, whether self-insured or third party. On this age you can expect no more than 3 months unless you pay extra. I had a 10-year old car from a dealer which came with 1-month warranty (it was on the invoice).
The newer the car the more you can expect.
I have a warranty, which I paid more for, but they have refused to entertain a claim, as it was due to a pre-existing fault.Dealers normally indicate how much "warranty" it comes with, whether self-insured or third party. On this age you can expect no more than 3 months unless you pay extra. I had a 10-year old car from a dealer which came with 1-month warranty (it was on the invoice).
The newer the car the more you can expect.
Rozzers said:
I’m not sure what sort of Police vehicle has such a low mileage, maybe CNC or MOD?
Think it was Manchester CID. Totally unmarked, no holes for lights, dashboard equipment etc. Unless carefully looking at the electrics under the bonnet, you wouldn't know it was ex police.Generally speaking, if a car goes wrong, you have to give the Dealer the chance to put it right first. This is so that they can keep the cost to them to a minimum.
You are correct that it was a potential problem that was present when you bought the car and if it had gone wrong sooner, you would have had a good chance of getting the Dealer to put it right.
It can't hurt to explain to the Dealer what happened and as long as you don't get shouty, they may offer you something as a goodwill gesture, but don't be surprised if they decline.
You are correct that it was a potential problem that was present when you bought the car and if it had gone wrong sooner, you would have had a good chance of getting the Dealer to put it right.
It can't hurt to explain to the Dealer what happened and as long as you don't get shouty, they may offer you something as a goodwill gesture, but don't be surprised if they decline.
alfabeat said:
normalbloke said:
Three things ring massive alarm bells for me and would have had me running a mile.Ex Police vehicle, Police ‘service history’, and wet timing belts!
What do you mean by "wet timing belts"?alfabeat said:
What if this had happened 1 day after purchase though....I imagine your response would have been different? The existing fault that caused the damage, was there at day one...a ticking time bomb if you like.
In the first six months it's up to the dealer to prove the fault wasn't present at the time of sale.Edited by alfabeat on Sunday 10th January 13:37
If the dealer can't prove that, a court will probably assume the fault was present.
After six months it becomes the buyer's job to prove it was there.
It's a sensible law, but as posters have indicated, it gets abused.
OP, if you're under six months I'll guess you'll have a case as you can easily prove the fault was present. But rather than get into legal wranglings that can drag on for ages I'd see what the dealer suggests.
I guess you've got it in writing from the warranty company that say that was found in the sump?
NGee said:
How was a dealer expected to know that an 8 year old car with 64k on the clock was going to go wrong in 6 months time?
I have no idea on your legal rights but in my opinion, if you even get 1p from the dealer it'll be another nail in the coffin for all second hand car dealers.
Consumer rights laws were put in place to protect the buyer from rogue traders (and rightly so), they were not put in place so that buyers could take the piss and expect to run an old banger for free.
It's an unfortunate fact of life that cars can go wrong, and that running a car costs money. That's life - live with it!
I had my own forecourt at the time this law came in.I have no idea on your legal rights but in my opinion, if you even get 1p from the dealer it'll be another nail in the coffin for all second hand car dealers.
Consumer rights laws were put in place to protect the buyer from rogue traders (and rightly so), they were not put in place so that buyers could take the piss and expect to run an old banger for free.
It's an unfortunate fact of life that cars can go wrong, and that running a car costs money. That's life - live with it!
Most dealers accept that it's the game, we buy cars, we sell them, some will cost us money to fix.
You just hope that the profitable ones outweigh the costly ones.
I've also been heavily involved in buying cars over the years, for other dealers.
If you could see some of the right bodges I've seen then the law will make a little more sense.
I agree this dealer couldn't possibly have known, it's unfortunate for the dealer, and the buyer, but that's the game they're in.
Take your profits, and take your chances the car doesn't go seriously wrong within six months.
Trevor555 said:
In the first six months it's up to the dealer to prove the fault wasn't present at the time of sale.
If the dealer can't prove that, a court will probably assume the fault was present.
After six months it becomes the buyer's job to prove it was there.
It's a sensible law, but as posters have indicated, it gets abused.
OP, if you're under six months I'll guess you'll have a case as you can easily prove the fault was present. But rather than get into legal wranglings that can drag on for ages I'd see what the dealer suggests.
I guess you've got it in writing from the warranty company that say that was found in the sump?
Yes under 6 months. Garage have written a report, stating what was found. I'll see what the dealer says. Thanks for your help.If the dealer can't prove that, a court will probably assume the fault was present.
After six months it becomes the buyer's job to prove it was there.
It's a sensible law, but as posters have indicated, it gets abused.
OP, if you're under six months I'll guess you'll have a case as you can easily prove the fault was present. But rather than get into legal wranglings that can drag on for ages I'd see what the dealer suggests.
I guess you've got it in writing from the warranty company that say that was found in the sump?
alfabeat said:
Trevor555 said:
In the first six months it's up to the dealer to prove the fault wasn't present at the time of sale.
If the dealer can't prove that, a court will probably assume the fault was present.
After six months it becomes the buyer's job to prove it was there.
It's a sensible law, but as posters have indicated, it gets abused.
OP, if you're under six months I'll guess you'll have a case as you can easily prove the fault was present. But rather than get into legal wranglings that can drag on for ages I'd see what the dealer suggests.
I guess you've got it in writing from the warranty company that say that was found in the sump?
Yes under 6 months. Garage have written a report, stating what was found. I'll see what the dealer says. Thanks for your help.If the dealer can't prove that, a court will probably assume the fault was present.
After six months it becomes the buyer's job to prove it was there.
It's a sensible law, but as posters have indicated, it gets abused.
OP, if you're under six months I'll guess you'll have a case as you can easily prove the fault was present. But rather than get into legal wranglings that can drag on for ages I'd see what the dealer suggests.
I guess you've got it in writing from the warranty company that say that was found in the sump?
Start off relaxed, do not start off quoting regulations, law, courts etc.. Many dealers will just clam up if you go in heavy. Keep it up your sleeve.
As another poster has said, probably easier just to accept what they might offer. Of the £450 I'll guess they might offer you half.
Good luck.
Trevor555 said:
No worries.
Start off relaxed, do not start off quoting regulations, law, courts etc.. Many dealers will just clam up if you go in heavy. Keep it up your sleeve.
As another poster has said, probably easier just to accept what they might offer. Of the £450 I'll guess they might offer you half.
Good luck.
No way would I be shouty or legal - I am not like that. Have presented the facts and asked if they would consider a contribution. I don't blame them - there is no way they could have known. Car was well presented, good value and is a good car, bar this (potentally catastrophic) issue.Start off relaxed, do not start off quoting regulations, law, courts etc.. Many dealers will just clam up if you go in heavy. Keep it up your sleeve.
As another poster has said, probably easier just to accept what they might offer. Of the £450 I'll guess they might offer you half.
Good luck.
Any contribution will be welcome.
Edited by alfabeat on Sunday 10th January 14:20
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff