Local garage destroyed the engine
Discussion
Not on my car, my partner's 2005 Merc. We are not quite sure what to do next so hoping for some thoughts and advice.
About a month ago her car was running a bit rough so she contacted a guy from the local garage who has been looking after her car for years. Small things, not engine-related.
He picked it up and concluded it needed a new timing chain. £1200 was agreed and she had it back 5 days later with a new, supposedly OEM timing chain kit.
It was running and sounding fine, but the oil pressure warning light kept coming on. He said it was fine and just a faulty sensor. She kept driving, and after a longer trip the engine suddenly sounded horrible, and would cut out.
Agreed he would come out and pick up the car in a few days, but he called already the next day and said "I have a replacement car for you, you are going to love it!". He then came out with this replacement car, ripped the phone holder out and clipped it into the new car. Broke the vent. She said she didn't want that car, but want the issue fixed. He said it's a great car, but previous owner "had lot's of unpaid fines". He was acting like a mad person and then repeadedly tried to start her engine. "It's definitely not the timing chain, sounds like the valve". Although it kept cutting out he insisted he can drive it to his garage. "I swear to god, it will not get any worse". My partner had to stop him and he drove it back into the driveway.
https://youtu.be/gnWcVQvdrbU
https://youtu.be/0x-TT8B0SrQ
She called AA the next day - the guy immediately turned off the engine and said it sounds like the timing chain. He did a diagnostic and this is the result. Timing chain and too much oil. He said these engines rely on accurate oil levels or it can have catastrophic effects on the engine parts.
She agreed with AA to drop the car off at the guys garage. He knew AA would come over, but not that they had already done a diagnostic report.
So Tuesday this week AA came, picked it up and both my partner and I went with him as a little surprise.
He looked very flustered when he saw us and said "why are you here?".
I told him what AA found - AA guy confirmed - showed him the report, but all he could say was "leave it with me and I will sort" and that "half or one litre of too much oil does not damage anything" (admitting he put too much).
I asked him to do the diagnostics while we were there but he said he doesn't have time. As soon as we turned our backs to walk away, the bonnet was opened and other people from the garage gathered around.
He said the car would be ready friday/today which I knew is BS.
In spite of AA's report, he just called tonight saying the timing chain is in perfect order and sent this picture:
He could have told us that on day one if that was the case, but of course he just fixed that part or made it look fine.
Instead he now says the camshaft is twisted but can be fixed at our expense, that it has nothing to do with the timing chain repair or oil pressure, and that it would have had this issue from the start:
I know this is all bs - diagnostics would have shown this to be an issue from the start when he said only the timing chain was the problem. And too much oil can indeed cause issues like this - especially when he repeadetly tries to drive the car.
He maintains that a litre of too much oil has no effect, "just google it", he said. So we did. "mercedes m271 engine too much oil effect" proves he is a liar.
Long story, but it's clear that he knows he messed up and considers us complete idiots who fall for everything. You get nowhere with people like this so I want to escalate it. What would you do?
About a month ago her car was running a bit rough so she contacted a guy from the local garage who has been looking after her car for years. Small things, not engine-related.
He picked it up and concluded it needed a new timing chain. £1200 was agreed and she had it back 5 days later with a new, supposedly OEM timing chain kit.
It was running and sounding fine, but the oil pressure warning light kept coming on. He said it was fine and just a faulty sensor. She kept driving, and after a longer trip the engine suddenly sounded horrible, and would cut out.
Agreed he would come out and pick up the car in a few days, but he called already the next day and said "I have a replacement car for you, you are going to love it!". He then came out with this replacement car, ripped the phone holder out and clipped it into the new car. Broke the vent. She said she didn't want that car, but want the issue fixed. He said it's a great car, but previous owner "had lot's of unpaid fines". He was acting like a mad person and then repeadedly tried to start her engine. "It's definitely not the timing chain, sounds like the valve". Although it kept cutting out he insisted he can drive it to his garage. "I swear to god, it will not get any worse". My partner had to stop him and he drove it back into the driveway.
https://youtu.be/gnWcVQvdrbU
https://youtu.be/0x-TT8B0SrQ
She called AA the next day - the guy immediately turned off the engine and said it sounds like the timing chain. He did a diagnostic and this is the result. Timing chain and too much oil. He said these engines rely on accurate oil levels or it can have catastrophic effects on the engine parts.
She agreed with AA to drop the car off at the guys garage. He knew AA would come over, but not that they had already done a diagnostic report.
So Tuesday this week AA came, picked it up and both my partner and I went with him as a little surprise.
He looked very flustered when he saw us and said "why are you here?".
I told him what AA found - AA guy confirmed - showed him the report, but all he could say was "leave it with me and I will sort" and that "half or one litre of too much oil does not damage anything" (admitting he put too much).
I asked him to do the diagnostics while we were there but he said he doesn't have time. As soon as we turned our backs to walk away, the bonnet was opened and other people from the garage gathered around.
He said the car would be ready friday/today which I knew is BS.
In spite of AA's report, he just called tonight saying the timing chain is in perfect order and sent this picture:
He could have told us that on day one if that was the case, but of course he just fixed that part or made it look fine.
Instead he now says the camshaft is twisted but can be fixed at our expense, that it has nothing to do with the timing chain repair or oil pressure, and that it would have had this issue from the start:
I know this is all bs - diagnostics would have shown this to be an issue from the start when he said only the timing chain was the problem. And too much oil can indeed cause issues like this - especially when he repeadetly tries to drive the car.
He maintains that a litre of too much oil has no effect, "just google it", he said. So we did. "mercedes m271 engine too much oil effect" proves he is a liar.
Long story, but it's clear that he knows he messed up and considers us complete idiots who fall for everything. You get nowhere with people like this so I want to escalate it. What would you do?
Edited by Kessler on Friday 19th December 18:42
Awful situation.
Unfortunately I think you have to let him try and sort it out but keep records of all contacts, summarise/confirm conversations and phone calls with emails, etc. Main thing is for you to be reasonable, firm but reasonable.
When you get it back you could get an engineers report and sue him if it isn't right or trade it in for something else and find a new garage.
Unfortunately I think you have to let him try and sort it out but keep records of all contacts, summarise/confirm conversations and phone calls with emails, etc. Main thing is for you to be reasonable, firm but reasonable.
When you get it back you could get an engineers report and sue him if it isn't right or trade it in for something else and find a new garage.
I forgot to add that he wants us to pay for any further repairs. If he was willing to rectify his mess at his own expense - sure. As it stands he wants us to pay and that would be a never ending money pit. So pay and pray, scrap the car and buy a new one, or make him/the garage pay for their incompetence? I opt for the last choice, but need to investigate where to start. I think with the amount of evidence we have, they are in a pretty bad position to win a court case
Kessler said:
I forgot to add that he wants us to pay for any further repairs. If he was willing to rectify his mess at his own expense - sure. As it stands he wants us to pay and that would be a never ending money pit. So pay and pray, scrap the car and buy a new one, or make him/the garage pay for their incompetence? I opt for the last choice, but need to investigate where to start. I think with the amount of evidence we have, they are in a pretty bad position to win a court case
Is this something that your legal cover on your insurance might cover? We used our home insurance legal cover for an issue with a roofer and a couple of well drafted solicitors letters did the trick!Kessler said:
Not on my car, my partner's 2005 Merc. We are not quite sure what to do next so hoping for some thoughts and advice.
About a month ago her car was running a bit rough so she contacted a guy from the local garage who has been looking after her car for years. Small things, not engine-related.
He picked it up and concluded it needed a new timing chain. £1200 was agreed and she had it back 5 days later with a new, supposedly OEM timing chain kit.
It was running and sounding fine, but the oil pressure warning light kept coming on. He said it was fine and just a faulty sensor. She kept driving, and after a longer trip the engine suddenly sounded horrible, and would cut out.
Agreed he would come out and pick up the car in a few days, but he called already the next day and said "I have a replacement car for you, you are going to love it!". He then came out with this replacement car, ripped the phone holder out and clipped it into the new car. Broke the vent. She said she didn't want that car, but want the issue fixed. He said it's a great car, but previous owner "had lot's of unpaid fines". He was acting like a mad person and then repeadedly tried to start her engine. "It's definitely not the timing chain, sounds like the valve". Although it kept cutting out he insisted he can drive it to his garage. "I swear to god, it will not get any worse". My partner had to stop him and he drove it back into the driveway.
https://youtu.be/gnWcVQvdrbU
https://youtu.be/0x-TT8B0SrQ
She called AA the next day - the guy immediately turned off the engine and said it sounds like the timing chain. He did a diagnostic and this is the result. Timing chain and too much oil. He said these engines rely on accurate oil levels or it can have catastrophic effects on the engine parts.
She agreed with AA to drop the car off at the guys garage. He knew AA would come over, but not that they had already done a diagnostic report.
So Tuesday this week AA came, picked it up and both my partner and I went with him as a little surprise.
He looked very flustered when he saw us and said "why are you here?".
I told him what AA found - AA guy confirmed - showed him the report, but all he could say was "leave it with me and I will sort" and that "half or one litre of too much oil does not damage anything" (admitting he put too much).
I asked him to do the diagnostics while we were there but he said he doesn't have time. As soon as we turned our backs to walk away, the bonnet was opened and other people from the garage gathered around.
He said the car would be ready friday/today which I knew is BS.
In spite of AA's report, he just called tonight saying the timing chain is in perfect order and sent this picture:
He could have told us that on day one if that was the case, but of course he just fixed that part or made it look fine.
Instead he now says the camshaft is twisted but can be fixed at our expense, that it has nothing to do with the timing chain repair or oil pressure, and that it would have had this issue from the start:
I know this is all bs - diagnostics would have shown this to be an issue from the start when he said only the timing chain was the problem. And too much oil can indeed cause issues like this - especially when he repeadetly tries to drive the car.
He maintains that a litre of too much oil has no effect, "just google it", he said. So we did. "mercedes m271 engine too much oil effect" proves he is a liar.
Long story, but it's clear that he knows he messed up and considers us complete idiots who fall for everything. You get nowhere with people like this so I want to escalate it. What would you do?
Sorry to say it but I wouldn’t even have bothered trying to repair a 2005 C200 or whatever it is, especially for £1200, when the car itself probably can’t be worth more than £2000. You should have scrapped it and got a new car. Persevering with a car like this is a fools errand. About a month ago her car was running a bit rough so she contacted a guy from the local garage who has been looking after her car for years. Small things, not engine-related.
He picked it up and concluded it needed a new timing chain. £1200 was agreed and she had it back 5 days later with a new, supposedly OEM timing chain kit.
It was running and sounding fine, but the oil pressure warning light kept coming on. He said it was fine and just a faulty sensor. She kept driving, and after a longer trip the engine suddenly sounded horrible, and would cut out.
Agreed he would come out and pick up the car in a few days, but he called already the next day and said "I have a replacement car for you, you are going to love it!". He then came out with this replacement car, ripped the phone holder out and clipped it into the new car. Broke the vent. She said she didn't want that car, but want the issue fixed. He said it's a great car, but previous owner "had lot's of unpaid fines". He was acting like a mad person and then repeadedly tried to start her engine. "It's definitely not the timing chain, sounds like the valve". Although it kept cutting out he insisted he can drive it to his garage. "I swear to god, it will not get any worse". My partner had to stop him and he drove it back into the driveway.
https://youtu.be/gnWcVQvdrbU
https://youtu.be/0x-TT8B0SrQ
She called AA the next day - the guy immediately turned off the engine and said it sounds like the timing chain. He did a diagnostic and this is the result. Timing chain and too much oil. He said these engines rely on accurate oil levels or it can have catastrophic effects on the engine parts.
She agreed with AA to drop the car off at the guys garage. He knew AA would come over, but not that they had already done a diagnostic report.
So Tuesday this week AA came, picked it up and both my partner and I went with him as a little surprise.
He looked very flustered when he saw us and said "why are you here?".
I told him what AA found - AA guy confirmed - showed him the report, but all he could say was "leave it with me and I will sort" and that "half or one litre of too much oil does not damage anything" (admitting he put too much).
I asked him to do the diagnostics while we were there but he said he doesn't have time. As soon as we turned our backs to walk away, the bonnet was opened and other people from the garage gathered around.
He said the car would be ready friday/today which I knew is BS.
In spite of AA's report, he just called tonight saying the timing chain is in perfect order and sent this picture:
He could have told us that on day one if that was the case, but of course he just fixed that part or made it look fine.
Instead he now says the camshaft is twisted but can be fixed at our expense, that it has nothing to do with the timing chain repair or oil pressure, and that it would have had this issue from the start:
I know this is all bs - diagnostics would have shown this to be an issue from the start when he said only the timing chain was the problem. And too much oil can indeed cause issues like this - especially when he repeadetly tries to drive the car.
He maintains that a litre of too much oil has no effect, "just google it", he said. So we did. "mercedes m271 engine too much oil effect" proves he is a liar.
Long story, but it's clear that he knows he messed up and considers us complete idiots who fall for everything. You get nowhere with people like this so I want to escalate it. What would you do?
Edited by Kessler on Friday 19th December 18:42
Kessler said:
Well, that's a separate issue. If a garage assures you it's fixed and then overfills it with oil causing further damage, that is all on the garage to rectify.
Or you think they are innocent simply because of the age of the car?!?
Obviously the first thing to be done is to correct the oil level and see how it runs, you maybe lucky and no serious damage has been done.Or you think they are innocent simply because of the age of the car?!?
This is what I would be expecting the garage to do in the first instance. If it runs reasonably after that, get the car home and have it checked by someone else but you are now spending your money on it.
When you have the car home you could always do a chargeback and get your money back.
georgeyboy12345 said:
Sorry to say it but I wouldn t even have bothered trying to repair a 2005 C200 or whatever it is, especially for £1200, when the car itself probably can t be worth more than £2000. You should have scrapped it and got a new car. Persevering with a car like this is a fools errand.
Must admit I was thinking that - I got £800 off a friend of a friend for a 2005 C270CDi estate with 98K miles, and that was a few years ago now. Loads of people said they were interested - but wanted to pay scrap value. It was working perfectly when he bought it, but apparently he had all sorts of issues with it.Even if you end up in small claims court the best you could hope for is its write off value.
What a horrible situation to be in.
Unfortunately trying to prove his negligence is a tough one, despite the AA report.
Might be time to cut your losses really....compare the repair costs to the value of the car or a replacement.
You can pick them up pretty cheap I'd expect.
Crap time of year for all this to materialise too.
Unfortunately trying to prove his negligence is a tough one, despite the AA report.
Might be time to cut your losses really....compare the repair costs to the value of the car or a replacement.
You can pick them up pretty cheap I'd expect.
Crap time of year for all this to materialise too.
I'm fully aware this car is not worth a lot of money, that is besides the point at this stage.
If you pay £1200 to a garage to fix your vehicle, they mess it up in a blatantly obvious way and ask you to pay for the repairs they caused - you just walk away and give them a break? At this point it's about justice and punishing this disgusting behaviour.
In regards to "difficulty proving their negligence" - have you seen the videos?!?
What mechanic would attempt to drive a car like this 2 miles?!?
If you pay £1200 to a garage to fix your vehicle, they mess it up in a blatantly obvious way and ask you to pay for the repairs they caused - you just walk away and give them a break? At this point it's about justice and punishing this disgusting behaviour.
In regards to "difficulty proving their negligence" - have you seen the videos?!?
What mechanic would attempt to drive a car like this 2 miles?!?
Kessler said:
I'm fully aware this car is not worth a lot of money, that is besides the point at this stage.
If you pay £1200 to a garage to fix your vehicle, they mess it up in a blatantly obvious way and ask you to pay for the repairs they caused - you just walk away and give them a break? At this point it's about justice and punishing this disgusting behaviour.
In regards to "difficulty proving their negligence" - have you seen the videos?!?
What mechanic would attempt to drive a car like this 2 miles?!?
Well, you posted up asking for advice and opinions. That's my opinion right there to you.If you pay £1200 to a garage to fix your vehicle, they mess it up in a blatantly obvious way and ask you to pay for the repairs they caused - you just walk away and give them a break? At this point it's about justice and punishing this disgusting behaviour.
In regards to "difficulty proving their negligence" - have you seen the videos?!?
What mechanic would attempt to drive a car like this 2 miles?!?
If your sails are full of wind then get cracking - go speak to him, tell him you want it fixed for no additional cost, show him the videos and tell him you will escalate it if he doesn't.
You'll have a nightmare trying to do that though - it's just two videos of a noisy old car rattling it balls off and some eastern european sat in it.
Have you got any recepits for work done? Have you got any proof he changed the timing chain? Can you prove the oil was overfilled? (He'll just say you topped it up) I suspect you've got nothing otherwise you'd have some form of recompense.
If you have then get legal advice and hit him with it.
You've just got a load of circustancial evindence.
Dog Biscuit said:
Well, you posted up asking for advice and opinions. That's my opinion right there to you.
If your sails are full of wind then get cracking - go speak to him, tell him you want it fixed for no additional cost, show him the videos and tell him you will escalate it if he doesn't.
You'll have a nightmare trying to do that though - it's just two videos of a noisy old car rattling it balls off and some eastern european sat in it.
Have you got any recepits for work done? Have you got any proof he changed the timing chain? Can you prove the oil was overfilled? (He'll just say you topped it up) I suspect you've got nothing otherwise you'd have some form of recompense.
If you have then get legal advice and hit him with it.
You've just got a load of circustancial evindence.
Got him saying on video that the extra half to one litre extra oil he put wouldn't damage the engine.If your sails are full of wind then get cracking - go speak to him, tell him you want it fixed for no additional cost, show him the videos and tell him you will escalate it if he doesn't.
You'll have a nightmare trying to do that though - it's just two videos of a noisy old car rattling it balls off and some eastern european sat in it.
Have you got any recepits for work done? Have you got any proof he changed the timing chain? Can you prove the oil was overfilled? (He'll just say you topped it up) I suspect you've got nothing otherwise you'd have some form of recompense.
If you have then get legal advice and hit him with it.
You've just got a load of circustancial evindence.
And it's rattly because he f
ked it up nothing to do with ageEdited by Kessler on Friday 19th December 21:30
Kessler said:
No dipstick.
It's my partner's car and I wasn't around. She just took the advice by a supposed professional
It's proving it though - that's the issue.It's my partner's car and I wasn't around. She just took the advice by a supposed professional
Its been a right s
t show; nobody disputes that. It's just going to be very hard to prove without a paper trail.Do you have an invoice for the work and proof of payement?
Is it a VAT registred garage etc?
Dog Biscuit said:
It's proving it though - that's the issue.
Its been a right st show; nobody disputes that. It's just going to be very hard to prove without a paper trail.
Do you have an invoice for the work and proof of payement?
Is it a VAT registred garage etc?
Yes, it won't be easy. Just found out he is not registered, but using the facilities of a local garageIts been a right s
t show; nobody disputes that. It's just going to be very hard to prove without a paper trail.Do you have an invoice for the work and proof of payement?
Is it a VAT registred garage etc?
Kessler said:
Dog Biscuit said:
It's proving it though - that's the issue.
Its been a right st show; nobody disputes that. It's just going to be very hard to prove without a paper trail.
Do you have an invoice for the work and proof of payement?
Is it a VAT registred garage etc?
Yes, it won't be easy. Just found out he is not registered, but using the facilities of a local garageIts been a right s
t show; nobody disputes that. It's just going to be very hard to prove without a paper trail.Do you have an invoice for the work and proof of payement?
Is it a VAT registred garage etc?
So he doesn't exist really.
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