Approved used car leather damaged by dealer on pick up
Discussion
Wondering what some opinions are.....
I went to pick up my approved used 2022 M4 today.
Straight to the point - the car needed tyres as part of the prep and someone in the dealership had decided to use the interior of the M4 to move the new tyres. This has marked the front passenger seat and the rear seats (white Marino leather) with residue from the new tyres (you can see the branding in the seats). The sales guys were very apologetic and have offered to 'make it right'. They'll need to pick up the car, leave me a loan car and they have a local leather specialist who will try and sort the damage.
Too add to that I was asked to be at the dealer promptly as it was a busy day for hand over, fair enough, but I had to wait nearly 2 hours for the car to be valeted, 120 mile trip to the dealer, before then being told about the marks on the seats.
I wasn't too fussed about the wait, first world problems and all that but the seats being marked, when they weren't when I inspected the car prior sullied what was supposed to be a 'special' day.
From what I've read online the leather might never be the same again as the stains can reappear after cleaning. I'm not keen on someone hacking opening the leather to repair it.
I'm also cautious if accepting a 'repair' if the stains end up seeping through again.
They are not the worst stains in the world but that's not the point - they weren't there when I accepted to purchase the car and they are there now.
It would appear I can reject the car according to the consumer rights act within 30 days. I don't really want to do that but I'm dubious of any 'fix' and in fairness to the sales guys they also said stains can reappear after a 'repair'.
I went to pick up my approved used 2022 M4 today.
Straight to the point - the car needed tyres as part of the prep and someone in the dealership had decided to use the interior of the M4 to move the new tyres. This has marked the front passenger seat and the rear seats (white Marino leather) with residue from the new tyres (you can see the branding in the seats). The sales guys were very apologetic and have offered to 'make it right'. They'll need to pick up the car, leave me a loan car and they have a local leather specialist who will try and sort the damage.
Too add to that I was asked to be at the dealer promptly as it was a busy day for hand over, fair enough, but I had to wait nearly 2 hours for the car to be valeted, 120 mile trip to the dealer, before then being told about the marks on the seats.
I wasn't too fussed about the wait, first world problems and all that but the seats being marked, when they weren't when I inspected the car prior sullied what was supposed to be a 'special' day.
From what I've read online the leather might never be the same again as the stains can reappear after cleaning. I'm not keen on someone hacking opening the leather to repair it.
I'm also cautious if accepting a 'repair' if the stains end up seeping through again.
They are not the worst stains in the world but that's not the point - they weren't there when I accepted to purchase the car and they are there now.
It would appear I can reject the car according to the consumer rights act within 30 days. I don't really want to do that but I'm dubious of any 'fix' and in fairness to the sales guys they also said stains can reappear after a 'repair'.
Edited by babo456 on Friday 27th June 23:42
Edited by babo456 on Friday 27th June 23:49
babo456 said:
...in fairness to the sales guys they also said stains can reappear after a 'repair'.
It depends how obvious it is but would mean you'd feel less precious about the interior. But I'd want a hefty discount to keep it.Or reject it and take note of the car so you don't buy it somewhere else once it's been "repaired" and punted back through the auctions.
The leather repair guy may have to strip back the leather and repaint. Some are really good and you’d never notice, unless of course, you already knew about the stains.
I’d reject, personally. I did once before, when an M3 I’d put a deposit on was shown to me ‘’before final prep’ a week later with 2500 extra miles and utterly filthy. I suspect that someone took it for a long jolly between deposit and pickup. It took weeks to get my deposit back.
Be patient and another will come along, unsullied.
I’d reject, personally. I did once before, when an M3 I’d put a deposit on was shown to me ‘’before final prep’ a week later with 2500 extra miles and utterly filthy. I suspect that someone took it for a long jolly between deposit and pickup. It took weeks to get my deposit back.
Be patient and another will come along, unsullied.
With a repair you are always going to be waiting for the damage to reappear, so unless they are prepared to replace the damaged covers (which they won't because £££) I would reject & move on unless there is something unique about this M4.
On a separate note what sort of idiot puts tyres on a seat regardless of the colour!
On a separate note what sort of idiot puts tyres on a seat regardless of the colour!
Bonzo1930 said:
On a separate note what sort of idiot puts tyres on a seat regardless of the colour!
I still remember watching someone at the local tip pulling tree branches from the back seats of his brand new BMW. Just no, that car is never going to be the same again.
My ex wife just bought a 3 year old approved Kia sport age and when she viewed it the back was full of dog hair because the previous owner put their dogs in the back.
I know I am OCD about my stuff, but the way people use and treat new cars just blows my mind.
I hate to say it, but I’d reject the car as I can almost guarantee it will just have had a cheap repair or been cleaned with abrasive chemicals/brushes.
Incidentally, my local main dealer has just made a mess of my white Merino leather passenger seat and door arm rest whilst my car was in for a service. I always leave the car with a cover on the drivers seat when it’s in for any work (not that I should have to - but for peace of mind). The idiot who was working on the car didn’t bother to protect the passenger side of things when (I assume) changing the micro filter which is under the glove compartment.
Incidentally, my local main dealer has just made a mess of my white Merino leather passenger seat and door arm rest whilst my car was in for a service. I always leave the car with a cover on the drivers seat when it’s in for any work (not that I should have to - but for peace of mind). The idiot who was working on the car didn’t bother to protect the passenger side of things when (I assume) changing the micro filter which is under the glove compartment.
I've got an XC90 daily which has a very light colour leather and i've chucked tyres, gearboxes & god knows what else in the back and any marks have always just wiped off with AutoSmart G101 all purpose cleaner. Do you know what products they've already tried on it? Failing that a magic sponge can work wonders on getting marks out of leather seats!
Bonzo1930 said:
With a repair you are always going to be waiting for the damage to reappear, so unless they are prepared to replace the damaged covers (which they won't because £££) I would reject & move on unless there is something unique about this M4.
On a separate note what sort of idiot puts tyres on a seat regardless of the colour!
It's somewhat unique in that it's basically fully loaded (minus the carbon buckets which I don't fit in) and in portimao blue which seems somewhat rare on the M4. Car hadn't even been photographed yet and I had my deposit in after going to view.On a separate note what sort of idiot puts tyres on a seat regardless of the colour!
It seems to be pure laziness. For the sake of saving a few minutes between the tyre machine.
If I keep the car and I decided to sell down the line and the stains are back it's also very much now my problem. I'm not sure how much discount would be reasonable as 2nd hand interiors for a full set run into 0000's online. I'm not sure of a 'figure' in my head that would make it 'acceptable' to me.
Regarding about being less precious about the car too - the thought did run through my mind but it's not really the point. If I'd mucked it up then it's on me but coming from a dealer I don't know if I can accept it.
I'll try and get some photos up - they are not the easiest marks to see in some lights but I'll try post the most obvious one.
123DWA said:
I've got an XC90 daily which has a very light colour leather and i've chucked tyres, gearboxes & god knows what else in the back and any marks have always just wiped off with AutoSmart G101 all purpose cleaner. Do you know what products they've already tried on it? Failing that a magic sponge can work wonders on getting marks out of leather seats!
The trouble with Merino leather is that it’s uncoated so many stains are extremely difficult to remove permanently. 123DWA said:
I've got an XC90 daily which has a very light colour leather and i've chucked tyres, gearboxes & god knows what else in the back and any marks have always just wiped off with AutoSmart G101 all purpose cleaner. Do you know what products they've already tried on it? Failing that a magic sponge can work wonders on getting marks out of leather seats!
Thank you for the suggestions - a friend did try a magic sponge, didn't work and apparently shouldn't be used on leather.... As tempting as it is to try and scrub it I don't want to attempt anything as it's the dealer that should be fixing.Top is the front passenger bolster, the front passenger area base of the seat is also marked, where the crease of your legs would sit but it's hard to show up in the pic added at the bottom and the middle image of the rear seats.
The middle seat mark and side bolster mark are fairly obvious to the naked eye but aren't so much in a photo - and as much as the marks look 'wipeable' it's not.
The middle seat mark and side bolster mark are fairly obvious to the naked eye but aren't so much in a photo - and as much as the marks look 'wipeable' it's not.
Edited by babo456 on Saturday 28th June 09:54
k would put tyres on the seats of a car, never mind white leather. 
if you do somehow decide to keep it , get it in writing that they warranty the repair for however long you feel happy about and that it was to cover tyre prints, you don't want park in the sun and find the marks bleed through again and they shrug it off
id always be looking at it waiting for the leather paint to crack or peel etc
id always be looking at it waiting for the leather paint to crack or peel etc
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