List of faults with used car from a dealer - what to do now?
Discussion
Hi,
Ive held of posting this up on here for the time being, but I think I need some advice.
We recently bought a new car from a dealer around 200 miles away. The reason we had to drive so far was because we wanted a particular configurations of options, and this one fit the bill perfectly.
The car looked good, very tidy and a good service history from a main dealer. However, I noticed the engine oil was a bit low and the brake fluid hadnt been changed for 4 years. The dealer agreed for his local garage to top up the oil and change the brake fluid and I thought nothing of it. The dealer just sold the cars, they had no engineers of their own and used a local garage.
On the drive home the passenger seat belt alarm was sounding. I had noticed that when the garage drove the car back to the dealer the passenger seat belt was plugged in. I notified the dealer that the alarm was sounding when no one was sat in the passenger seat and they said for me to have it looked at over the next few days.
I took the car to a German car specialist and they carried out a healthcheck. They found the following problems:
Engine oil low (presumably it wasnt topped up by the garage)
Brake fluid very old and contained excess moisture
Battery unserviceable and needs replacing. Causing a lot of low voltage error codes on the airbag circuit and suspects this is causing the seat sensor to malfunction
Turbo diverter valve needs replacing
Positive crankcase ventilation PCV valve needs replacing
Front n/s CV boot is split
Brake discs are heavily corroded (we did notice that at the time and knocked some money off for this)
Front lower rear bushes need replacing
Low tyre pressures
Ive had two quotes for above work, one at 877.36 and another at 653.97, both including VAT and excluding the brake discs. Some of the jobs I can do myself (DV, PCV, battery) which will save on some labour, so the quotes should be a bit lower. On top of these prices are 20 for oil and 48 for the healthcheck.
The dealer is offering to pay 350 towards parts and half the healthcheck, 24. They wont budge on this at all and they need receipts for all parts before they will transfer any money. The alternative is claim through the credit card company. Whats involved when claiming through the credit card co? Is it worth the hassle? I am frustrated that firstly the car dealer let the car go in that state. Its really very simple to check the engine oil and tyre pressures!! Im even more frustrated that the garage the car went to did absolutely nothing to it! They dont seem to have topped up the engine oil or changed the brake fluid.
So, what would you do?
Dan
Ive held of posting this up on here for the time being, but I think I need some advice.
We recently bought a new car from a dealer around 200 miles away. The reason we had to drive so far was because we wanted a particular configurations of options, and this one fit the bill perfectly.
The car looked good, very tidy and a good service history from a main dealer. However, I noticed the engine oil was a bit low and the brake fluid hadnt been changed for 4 years. The dealer agreed for his local garage to top up the oil and change the brake fluid and I thought nothing of it. The dealer just sold the cars, they had no engineers of their own and used a local garage.
On the drive home the passenger seat belt alarm was sounding. I had noticed that when the garage drove the car back to the dealer the passenger seat belt was plugged in. I notified the dealer that the alarm was sounding when no one was sat in the passenger seat and they said for me to have it looked at over the next few days.
I took the car to a German car specialist and they carried out a healthcheck. They found the following problems:
Engine oil low (presumably it wasnt topped up by the garage)
Brake fluid very old and contained excess moisture
Battery unserviceable and needs replacing. Causing a lot of low voltage error codes on the airbag circuit and suspects this is causing the seat sensor to malfunction
Turbo diverter valve needs replacing
Positive crankcase ventilation PCV valve needs replacing
Front n/s CV boot is split
Brake discs are heavily corroded (we did notice that at the time and knocked some money off for this)
Front lower rear bushes need replacing
Low tyre pressures
Ive had two quotes for above work, one at 877.36 and another at 653.97, both including VAT and excluding the brake discs. Some of the jobs I can do myself (DV, PCV, battery) which will save on some labour, so the quotes should be a bit lower. On top of these prices are 20 for oil and 48 for the healthcheck.
The dealer is offering to pay 350 towards parts and half the healthcheck, 24. They wont budge on this at all and they need receipts for all parts before they will transfer any money. The alternative is claim through the credit card company. Whats involved when claiming through the credit card co? Is it worth the hassle? I am frustrated that firstly the car dealer let the car go in that state. Its really very simple to check the engine oil and tyre pressures!! Im even more frustrated that the garage the car went to did absolutely nothing to it! They dont seem to have topped up the engine oil or changed the brake fluid.
So, what would you do?
Dan
The quotes EXCLUDE the brake discs. Here's the cheaper quote
LABOUR
Replace crankcase breather (positive crankcase ventilation valve PCV) with latest revision - 33.00
Replace turbo diverter valve with latest revision - 66.00
Replace Battery- 12.00
Replace Front lower arm rear bushes - 99.00 which also includes front wheel alignment after
Replace N/S/F outer cv boot - 66.00
Brake Fluid Change - 41.20
PARTS/MATERIALS
PCV valve and seal 42.00
Turbo diverter valve 61.75
Battery 83.94
F/Lower arm rear bushes 117.60
Cv boot 23.68
Brake Fluid 7.80
Total 653.97 including VAT.
I can do the DV, PCV and battery, meaning a reduction of 111 in labour. So a new total of 542.97. Plus the cost of the oil I've put in and the healthcheck.
LABOUR
Replace crankcase breather (positive crankcase ventilation valve PCV) with latest revision - 33.00
Replace turbo diverter valve with latest revision - 66.00
Replace Battery- 12.00
Replace Front lower arm rear bushes - 99.00 which also includes front wheel alignment after
Replace N/S/F outer cv boot - 66.00
Brake Fluid Change - 41.20
PARTS/MATERIALS
PCV valve and seal 42.00
Turbo diverter valve 61.75
Battery 83.94
F/Lower arm rear bushes 117.60
Cv boot 23.68
Brake Fluid 7.80
Total 653.97 including VAT.
I can do the DV, PCV and battery, meaning a reduction of 111 in labour. So a new total of 542.97. Plus the cost of the oil I've put in and the healthcheck.
I should also mention that the car was advertised as just being serviced and MOTd, hence why its assumed the car is up together and roadworthy. Certainly not expecting a car with flat tyres, low oil, split CV boot and old brake fluid.
I really want to hand the car back, but weve incurred costs collecting it and bringing it back, healthcheck and putting oil in it etc. The dealer doesnt even seem that bothered by the fact that their garage didnt do the work they were supposed to. The issue is, we cant find another car on the market with the same spec.
I really want to hand the car back, but weve incurred costs collecting it and bringing it back, healthcheck and putting oil in it etc. The dealer doesnt even seem that bothered by the fact that their garage didnt do the work they were supposed to. The issue is, we cant find another car on the market with the same spec.
Yes, I had taken into accounts the discs when we bought the car, but the quotes above don't include discs.
Not sure regarding the oil, I've topped it up, so I need to check it again this afternoon to see if it's dropped. I assumed that seeing as they didn't bother changing the brake fluid, then they didn't bother topping up the oil either.
Is it fair for me to have to buy the parts first and then claim the money back from the dealer? What if they refuse to pay?
Is it safe to assume that if the car has just been serviced & MOTd, then things like oil, fluids and CV boots should all be ok.
Not sure regarding the oil, I've topped it up, so I need to check it again this afternoon to see if it's dropped. I assumed that seeing as they didn't bother changing the brake fluid, then they didn't bother topping up the oil either.
Is it fair for me to have to buy the parts first and then claim the money back from the dealer? What if they refuse to pay?
Is it safe to assume that if the car has just been serviced & MOTd, then things like oil, fluids and CV boots should all be ok.
zed4 said:
The issue is, we cant find another car on the market with the same spec.
That's the catch. If it really is exactly what you want, then accept the dealers 350, get the work done and relax in the knowledge that the items you've had replaced are brand new, rather than as old as the car.Edit: Why do pound signs get deleted out of my post?
Edited by mnkiboy on Friday 23 May 11:50
What I would do would depend on how much it cost to buy it. If it had main dealer S/H I'd expect most of those things to have been picked up prior to this dealer selling it during in it's normal service life. TBH their offer seems pretty good but is there more to this car than meets the eye?
ETA, split CV boot is MOT fail isn't it?? Brake fluid wouldn't be tested, if the brakes work hard enough to pass the MOT you get the ticket.
ETA, split CV boot is MOT fail isn't it?? Brake fluid wouldn't be tested, if the brakes work hard enough to pass the MOT you get the ticket.
Edited by Dave_ST220 on Friday 23 May 12:02
Dave_ST220 said:
What I would do would depend on how much it cost to buy it. If it had main dealer S/H I'd expect most of those things to have been picked up prior to this dealer selling it during in it's normal service life. TBH their offer seems pretty good but is there more to this car than meets the eye?
ETA, split CV boot is MOT fail isn't it?? Brake fluid wouldn't be tested, if the brakes work hard enough to pass the MOT you get the ticket.
Yes, CV boot is an MOT fail. Brake fluid should be changed every 2 years. Last tick in the service book for brake fluid change was 4 years ago, so it should have been done when it was serviced. ETA, split CV boot is MOT fail isn't it?? Brake fluid wouldn't be tested, if the brakes work hard enough to pass the MOT you get the ticket.
Edited by Dave_ST220 on Friday 23 May 12:02
On any new car I tend to take any promises with a pinch of salt and will usually assume that some things will need done beyond that which the dealer/seller will pick up. Unless the bushes are truly falling apart I wouldn't be concerned with them, and the other issues, while annoying, probably aren't things that are desperate. Get the oil, brakes and battery done, take the 350 and then get the rest done as and when they're truly required. That the dealer is offering you money seems to imply that they're genuine and willing to step in to resolve the situation.
What car ? What Age? What milage? What Price?
I'd take the 350 sounds fair most dealers would ignore you
All second hand cars have the odd issue if you took them straight to another garage, bear in mind the garage you took it to wants work!
Dealer sounds dodge, I never trust them when they say "we'll do it before you pick it up"
I'd take the 350 sounds fair most dealers would ignore you
All second hand cars have the odd issue if you took them straight to another garage, bear in mind the garage you took it to wants work!
Dealer sounds dodge, I never trust them when they say "we'll do it before you pick it up"
It's an 8 year old second hand car, I'd say pretty much everything was par for the course! Everything you've listed is wear and tear IMHO. There are no catastrophic/dangerous failures, and some of them you were even aware of at time of purchase.
Reject it? Seriously? Mental. I'd bite their hand off for the money and sort the rest. I just paid 2k for a SH car and it needs a fair bit doing I hadn't noticed. So I'll pay to sort it.
Their offer of sorting the brake fluid saves the hassle of a flush. The only thing I'd get arsey about is the split CV boot if it's got a fresh MOT.
Reject it? Seriously? Mental. I'd bite their hand off for the money and sort the rest. I just paid 2k for a SH car and it needs a fair bit doing I hadn't noticed. So I'll pay to sort it.
Their offer of sorting the brake fluid saves the hassle of a flush. The only thing I'd get arsey about is the split CV boot if it's got a fresh MOT.
Edited by FD3Si on Friday 23 May 12:36
Apart from the things you have found is the car otherwise spot on? Does the s/h all add up? When was the MOT carried out?
In situations like this you have to go with your gut feeling IMO. Forget the long journey to return it. If it isn't right or something nags there maybe more to it take it back while you can. Otherwise take the offer, get the bits fixed & enjoy
In situations like this you have to go with your gut feeling IMO. Forget the long journey to return it. If it isn't right or something nags there maybe more to it take it back while you can. Otherwise take the offer, get the bits fixed & enjoy
It happens. Similar thing happened with the 330I we bought in January. Had a fresh MOT put on it before we picked it up but the week after we had to drop it into a local BMW dealer as the engine light had come on. Whilst in there they had a look over it and found 3 things that should have at least been flagged as advisories on an MOT. As it happens, they were cheap to sort and I wanted to put new tyres all around anyway to replace the budgets on it but I have a feeling that some MOT places used by dealerships are bunged a bit extra every now and then to give cars a clean bill of health...
FD3Si said:
It's an 8 year old second hand car, I'd say pretty much everything was par for the course! Everything you've listed is wear and tear IMHO. There are no catastrophic/dangerous failures, and some of them you were even aware of at time of purchase.
Reject it? Seriously? Mental. I'd bite their hand off for the money and sort the rest. I just paid 2k for a SH car and it needs a fair bit doing I hadn't noticed. So I'll pay to sort it.
This.Reject it? Seriously? Mental. I'd bite their hand off for the money and sort the rest. I just paid 2k for a SH car and it needs a fair bit doing I hadn't noticed. So I'll pay to sort it.
Have you bought a second hand car before OP? Believe me, the list you have isn't bad at all for 8 years old.
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