Folding Wing Mirrors

[SpaceRanger]

Bought a five year old car last week and when we got home noticed that the folding wing mirrors didn't work.
On closer inspection I found a thin bead of hardened glue on the hinge of the driver's side mirror.
Looks like it has been welded on as a repair after an accident.

Spoke to the dealer today and he said that the ad didn't specify folding mirror and he wouldn't be repairing it. I checked the ad again and it just states 'electric mirrors' - I assume he takes this to mean electrically adjustable mirrors.

I realise that we should have checked this feature when we inspected the car but I also think that the dealer should have brought this fault to out attention beforehand.
Apart from this, the car drives fine.
Is it worth the hassle in pursuing this?

[Northernchimp]

Is it standard spec? If so, surely it doesn't matter if he listed it, if you expected the car to have it based on the make and model?

[SteBrown91]

depends what car and what you paid (was it a bit cheaper), if you got a good deal then maybe accept the fact you got a god deal anyway and save the hassle of an argument, and just buy a new one

[SpaceRanger]

Northernchimp said:

Is it standard spec? If so, surely it doesn't matter if he listed it, if you expected the car to have it based on the make and model?

Yes - the specification section below the ad on Autotrader lists this as a standard feature.

[SpaceRanger]

SteBrown91 said:

depends what car and what you paid (was it a bit cheaper), if you got a good deal then maybe accept the fact you got a god deal anyway and save the hassle of an argument, and just buy a new one

Sticker price was average for models of that age £4000 - managed to get £300 for my shagged 10 year old focus with 160k and a week's MOT as part ex.

I think the replacement part alone is over £200

[kiethton]

Hate to say it but unless there is good offered by the dealer it wouldn't be a goer in court IMO.

Why - the car is 5 years old and must be of merchantable quality - does it function as a car getting you reliably from A to B?, the failure of a very minor accessory is accepted to a degree with age and price paid compared to new, likewise if you attempted to reject - not going to happen.

Suck it up unfortunately and add it to the pre-purchase checklist for next time IMO.

[SpeckledJim]

You got the testing and the buying in the wrong order.

[valiant]

SpaceRanger said:

Yes - the specification section below the ad on Autotrader lists this as a standard feature.

Don't rely on Autotrader's description. They have been known to get it wrong.

If the car is otherwise fine then I'd put it down to experience and move on with life. Whenever I've bought a new (used) car, I have a little pot of money put to one side to get it up to my spec whether that be brakes, tyres, cosmetic finishes or as in your case - a mirror.

[Dave^]

SpeckledJim said:

You got the testing and the buying in the wrong order.

This, take it as an expensive lesson for next time.

It's something you won't use anyway.