Help! - related to scam
Discussion
We tried to sell our BMW and we were visited by 2 scammers who did something to our car in an attempt to buy it half the price. We are struggling to figure out what they did. Something happened with the sensors and they mentioned something about oil mixing with water....If you can recommend anybody in South of London, or if you have any idea what we could do.... We cannot sell our car anymore and we are afraid to drive it. We took it to Mr Clutch yesterday and he couldn't figure out, however I am very sure that these people did something to our car as one of them distracted our attention while calling us to the back of the car.
There were 3 people (the third one drove them in front of our building but did not want to park the car there, he just came to pick them up at the end); one of them asked us to go to the boot as he wanted to see something there... the other one was alone behind the hood for a couple of minutes. I can guarantee that they were Romanian gypsies as I recognised the language and usual expressions translated from Romanian to English, also their profiles are in Romanian language.
After they damaged the car we could see warning signs on the display such as: "Engine fault! Reduced power"; "Driving stabilisation failure!", "Flat Tyre Monitor Failure" (we have no issues with the tyres) and "FTM system error". Even like this, they are very interested in buying the car and still insisting online.
Could you help with any information please?
There were 3 people (the third one drove them in front of our building but did not want to park the car there, he just came to pick them up at the end); one of them asked us to go to the boot as he wanted to see something there... the other one was alone behind the hood for a couple of minutes. I can guarantee that they were Romanian gypsies as I recognised the language and usual expressions translated from Romanian to English, also their profiles are in Romanian language.
After they damaged the car we could see warning signs on the display such as: "Engine fault! Reduced power"; "Driving stabilisation failure!", "Flat Tyre Monitor Failure" (we have no issues with the tyres) and "FTM system error". Even like this, they are very interested in buying the car and still insisting online.
Could you help with any information please?
They most likely tried to convince you that the head gasket had gone. To do this they squirt a little used engine oil in the header tank and some up the exhaust.
The oil in the exhaust will cause clouds of smoke on the test drive, and when they get the car back to your property they will put their finger in the header tank, show you the oil and try and convince you the head gasket has gone.
I had this happen to me, I was able to remove the oil from the header tank using a turkey baster. The oil in the exhaust is another issue and takes AGES to burn off.
I suspect they would have disconnected something under the bonnet to cause the warning lights to show.
Absolute b
ds
It may be racist but I would never let any of these people view a car I was selling.
The oil in the exhaust will cause clouds of smoke on the test drive, and when they get the car back to your property they will put their finger in the header tank, show you the oil and try and convince you the head gasket has gone.
I had this happen to me, I was able to remove the oil from the header tank using a turkey baster. The oil in the exhaust is another issue and takes AGES to burn off.
I suspect they would have disconnected something under the bonnet to cause the warning lights to show.
Absolute b
dsIt may be racist but I would never let any of these people view a car I was selling.
A little late for you OP. But never, ever leave them alone with the bonnet up. If the other guy wants to talk to you about how lovely the boot is, always shut the bonnet, then go talk to him about the boot. If the other guy insists he is still busy staring at the engine, then wait for him to finish staring, then close the bonnet, then go talk to boot man.
ClaudiaI said:
We tried to sell our BMW and we were visited by 2 scammers who did something to our car in an attempt to buy it half the price. We are struggling to figure out what they did. Something happened with the sensors and they mentioned something about oil mixing with water....If you can recommend anybody in South of London, or if you have any idea what we could do.... We cannot sell our car anymore and we are afraid to drive it. We took it to Mr Clutch yesterday and he couldn't figure out, however I am very sure that these people did something to our car as one of them distracted our attention while calling us to the back of the car.
There were 3 people (the third one drove them in front of our building but did not want to park the car there, he just came to pick them up at the end); one of them asked us to go to the boot as he wanted to see something there... the other one was alone behind the hood for a couple of minutes. I can guarantee that they were Romanian gypsies as I recognised the language and usual expressions translated from Romanian to English, also their profiles are in Romanian language.
After they damaged the car we could see warning signs on the display such as: "Engine fault! Reduced power"; "Driving stabilisation failure!", "Flat Tyre Monitor Failure" (we have no issues with the tyres) and "FTM system error". Even like this, they are very interested in buying the car and still insisting online.
Could you help with any information please?
Do not sell them the car. Stop talking to them. Block all contact.There were 3 people (the third one drove them in front of our building but did not want to park the car there, he just came to pick them up at the end); one of them asked us to go to the boot as he wanted to see something there... the other one was alone behind the hood for a couple of minutes. I can guarantee that they were Romanian gypsies as I recognised the language and usual expressions translated from Romanian to English, also their profiles are in Romanian language.
After they damaged the car we could see warning signs on the display such as: "Engine fault! Reduced power"; "Driving stabilisation failure!", "Flat Tyre Monitor Failure" (we have no issues with the tyres) and "FTM system error". Even like this, they are very interested in buying the car and still insisting online.
Could you help with any information please?
As above, odds are a pulled plug or two (I'm thinking maybe ABS module), and a squirt of oil in the tank and the exhaust. An hour or so's work to wash out the header tank, replug whatever has been unplugged, and run it until the oil burns off.
Someone will be along shortly to tell you this absolutely never happens and that you're a racist. Normal for here.
shtu said:
Do not sell them the car. Stop talking to them. Block all contact.
As above, odds are a pulled plug or two (I'm thinking maybe ABS module), and a squirt of oil in the tank and the exhaust. An hour or so's work to wash out the header tank, replug whatever has been unplugged, and run it until the oil burns off.
Someone will be along shortly to tell you this absolutely never happens and that you're a racist. Normal for here.
Deleted my reply because this is exactly it.As above, odds are a pulled plug or two (I'm thinking maybe ABS module), and a squirt of oil in the tank and the exhaust. An hour or so's work to wash out the header tank, replug whatever has been unplugged, and run it until the oil burns off.
Someone will be along shortly to tell you this absolutely never happens and that you're a racist. Normal for here.
Thats What She Said said:
A little late for you OP. But never, ever leave them alone with the bonnet up. If the other guy wants to talk to you about how lovely the boot is, always shut the bonnet, then go talk to him about the boot. If the other guy insists he is still busy staring at the engine, then wait for him to finish staring, then close the bonnet, then go talk to boot man.
Absolutely. Sorry, yes late for OP but I’d add, learn to recognise this common scam developing and tell them to sling their hooks. As others have said, it’s unlikely there’s real damage, just look for tampering with plugs and wiring terminations, especially at control modules. Any honest garage will be able to remove the oil from the header and as has been said, if the exhaust has also suddenly gone smoky once the car is warm then you’ll just have to let it burn off. It’s unlikely there’s any real damage. If you are completely unfamiliar with what’s under the bonnet, then find a trusted mechanic, explain the situation and he should be able to sort it for you quick.
Don’t forget to cease all contact immediately with the scammers. If they persist tell em you are planning on calling in plod.
Edited by Calinours on Thursday 24th August 17:49
ClaudiaI said:
After they damaged the car we could see warning signs on the display such as: "Engine fault! Reduced power"; "Driving stabilisation failure!", "Flat Tyre Monitor Failure" (we have no issues with the tyres) and "FTM system error". Even like this, they are very interested in buying the car and still insisting online.
Any chance you could post up a picture of these warning lights?
ClaudiaI said:
Lo-Fi said:
Afraid to drive it, but took it to Mr Clutch.
Ok then.
Mr Clutch is next to our home. I take common transport to go to work. Hopefully you can sleep better tonight. Have a good day.Ok then.
I'm afraid I won't sleep. I need to know what the next chapter brings.
Russian sailors? Mikey Forrester?
They may have done the oil up the exhaust & in the header tank. Both easily dealt with.
As far as the warning lights are concerned all they will have done is unplugged things - they aren't going to have cut or broken anything.
If they'd got the car at a knock down price as a result of their shenanigans they would have just driven round the corner & plugged things back in.
You need to find which things have been unplugged & it may need a code reader to clear any lights that are showing.
As far as the warning lights are concerned all they will have done is unplugged things - they aren't going to have cut or broken anything.
If they'd got the car at a knock down price as a result of their shenanigans they would have just driven round the corner & plugged things back in.
You need to find which things have been unplugged & it may need a code reader to clear any lights that are showing.
Lo-Fi said:
This whole thing is a wind-up, right? New account, basic 'scam', zero knowledge of cars, Mr Clutch, Romanian gypsies.
I'm afraid I won't sleep. I need to know what the next chapter brings.
Russian sailors? Mikey Forrester?
My guess is we will get lots and lots and lots of questions with each answer resulting in more questions.I'm afraid I won't sleep. I need to know what the next chapter brings.
Russian sailors? Mikey Forrester?
Lo-Fi said:
ClaudiaI said:
Lo-Fi said:
Afraid to drive it, but took it to Mr Clutch.
Ok then.
Mr Clutch is next to our home. I take common transport to go to work. Hopefully you can sleep better tonight. Have a good day.Ok then.
I'm afraid I won't sleep. I need to know what the next chapter brings.
Russian sailors? Mikey Forrester?
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