Buying used car from dealer, spotted one tyre very low
Discussion
Hi,
So we've put a deposit down on on a car from a main dealer. On the test drive I could see a warning that one tyre had a low pressure warning compared to the others. I've told the salesman during the negotiations that if the tyre has a slow puncture I'm going to be back in a few weeks and expect him to replace it (or the wheel if that's the issue). I've also written him an email saying that if i goes flat again within 6 weeks I want them to fix it. He's assured my that BMW's AUC will cover everything at the point of sale so I don't need to worry.
I'm not so certain. Any idea where I stand legally on this?
So we've put a deposit down on on a car from a main dealer. On the test drive I could see a warning that one tyre had a low pressure warning compared to the others. I've told the salesman during the negotiations that if the tyre has a slow puncture I'm going to be back in a few weeks and expect him to replace it (or the wheel if that's the issue). I've also written him an email saying that if i goes flat again within 6 weeks I want them to fix it. He's assured my that BMW's AUC will cover everything at the point of sale so I don't need to worry.
I'm not so certain. Any idea where I stand legally on this?
mekondelta said:
Hi,
So we've put a deposit down on on a car from a main dealer. On the test drive I could see a warning that one tyre had a low pressure warning compared to the others. I've told the salesman during the negotiations that if the tyre has a slow puncture I'm going to be back in a few weeks and expect him to replace it (or the wheel if that's the issue). I've also written him an email saying that if i goes flat again within 6 weeks I want them to fix it. He's assured my that BMW's AUC will cover everything at the point of sale so I don't need to worry.
I'm not so certain. Any idea where I stand legally on this?
Wow! You're one tough cookie! So we've put a deposit down on on a car from a main dealer. On the test drive I could see a warning that one tyre had a low pressure warning compared to the others. I've told the salesman during the negotiations that if the tyre has a slow puncture I'm going to be back in a few weeks and expect him to replace it (or the wheel if that's the issue). I've also written him an email saying that if i goes flat again within 6 weeks I want them to fix it. He's assured my that BMW's AUC will cover everything at the point of sale so I don't need to worry.
I'm not so certain. Any idea where I stand legally on this?
You come across - from the information you have given - as quite a challenging customer, laying down the law, firing off emails etc before you've taken delivery.
Why make the time limit six weeks? Why not four, or eight? Six weeks can put a lot of road under a tyre.
Why even consider buying something you already have misgivings about to the point that you feel the need to contemplate your legal standpoint?
Its coverd under warranty as you say, so dont sweat it.
Maybe look for another car.
Perhaps you are better off buying new.
Seriously,. If you are unhappy about an aspect of this car, don't buy it.
Edited by Wildcat45 on Tuesday 12th June 08:34
If you were a customer of ours and had acted like that, we would have most likely refunded your deposit and told you to buy elsewhere, the whole tone of your post and you emailing the dealer in that manner, with those demands, indicates to me that you could be a bloody nightmare and sometimes, some deals are not worth the potential hassle.
Sorry, seem to have come across as a bit of an arse.
The car had been standing in the dealer for a few weeks and only was tyre was very low the others healthy. He said sometimes tyres go down if you leave them for a long time which is surely nonsense. We've left our car for weeks and the tyres don't go down by themselves, you can drive for a few weeks, does that pump them back up again?
My concerns about the tyre were dismissed by the salesman and it was pretty clear to me that the tyres would be pumped up and that would be the end of it. As if to back that up he sent me an email to say the tyre pressures would be correct when we picked it up. He at no point mentioned that he'd replace the tyre if it was a slow puncture but casually mentioned that the AUC would pick it up. I'm just sceptical about that. I thought it would be good to send an email to show proof that I was concerned about the tyre before the completion of the sale in case we do get a flat tyre a few weeks later.
If you were buying a car which you liked and you suspected a slow puncture wouldn't you try and ensure it was fixed before the sale completed?
The car had been standing in the dealer for a few weeks and only was tyre was very low the others healthy. He said sometimes tyres go down if you leave them for a long time which is surely nonsense. We've left our car for weeks and the tyres don't go down by themselves, you can drive for a few weeks, does that pump them back up again?
My concerns about the tyre were dismissed by the salesman and it was pretty clear to me that the tyres would be pumped up and that would be the end of it. As if to back that up he sent me an email to say the tyre pressures would be correct when we picked it up. He at no point mentioned that he'd replace the tyre if it was a slow puncture but casually mentioned that the AUC would pick it up. I'm just sceptical about that. I thought it would be good to send an email to show proof that I was concerned about the tyre before the completion of the sale in case we do get a flat tyre a few weeks later.
If you were buying a car which you liked and you suspected a slow puncture wouldn't you try and ensure it was fixed before the sale completed?
I think you are right to want to ensure the tyre is replaced should it turn out to be a slow puncture, if you were to just let it slide you can be pretty sure the dealer will try to swerve paying for it if you return in a few weeks (I say that as a former Sales Manager in a dealership).
I don't think you need to worry about your legal position however, if you can't get a commitment from the sales person speak to the sales manager as he/she is unlikely to want to waste time squabbling over a tyre and has the authority to agree a replacement if needed.
I don't think you need to worry about your legal position however, if you can't get a commitment from the sales person speak to the sales manager as he/she is unlikely to want to waste time squabbling over a tyre and has the authority to agree a replacement if needed.
I have a car sales business.
We had a customer royally kick off and complain to the finance company and citizens advice who in turn notify trading standards. This was because she had a nail in the tyre and had to replace a tyre after 4 weeks. It had apparently been like that since she bought it as we inflated all 4 tyres pre test drive ( just something we do to ensure cars drive right / safe etc....)
You sound like a dick and I would not want to sell you a car.
We had a customer royally kick off and complain to the finance company and citizens advice who in turn notify trading standards. This was because she had a nail in the tyre and had to replace a tyre after 4 weeks. It had apparently been like that since she bought it as we inflated all 4 tyres pre test drive ( just something we do to ensure cars drive right / safe etc....)
You sound like a dick and I would not want to sell you a car.
HTP99 said:
If you were a customer of ours and had acted like that, we would have most likely refunded your deposit and told you to buy elsewhere, the whole tone of your post and you emailing the dealer in that manner, with those demands, indicates to me that you could be a bloody nightmare and sometimes, some deals are not worth the potential hassle.
Same here.I had similar when buying, I just told the dealership, ideally in email or recorded on paper
No need to go all legal or mental
Just keep an eye on the pressure, if it drops more than a few psi a week ask them to fix it.
Most people never check pressures , or inflate them to the wrong pressure anyway
Could also be a faulty sensor
No need to go all legal or mental
Just keep an eye on the pressure, if it drops more than a few psi a week ask them to fix it.
Most people never check pressures , or inflate them to the wrong pressure anyway
Could also be a faulty sensor
Amazing responses from some of the ‘dealers’ on here. The OP might not have gone about this in the right way but all he wants is some acknowledgement that there could be a tyre issue/puncture and that should it persist it will be addressed by the dealer, doesn’t seem unreasonable to me. You can guarantee that if it had not been raised that any subsequent issue would have been dismissed as occurring post sale. What the dealer should have done was to have acknowledged the issue in writing on the invoice, in absence of this the OPs email approach is understandable.
I agree with Green1man, The OP doesn't state the make model or age of the car in question, but does say it's a BMW. That means we can reasonably suppose it's run flat tyres which cannot (should not) be repaired in the event of a puncture or if run on flat / low pressure. And in my experience - checking weekly for the last 18 months - properly fitted BMW approved tyres don't loose enough pressure to set off the Tyre Pressure Warning system in the time car will have been at the dealers. Therefore its safe IME to assume the tyre is punctured, badly fitted or the wheel is damaged
On my 645Ci as an extreme example, a new tyre is 275/35/19's on the rear at £250 a corner fitted, and that's before you get into whether the wheel needs replacing. I don't know whether the AUC warranty covers wheels in this situation but my 53 year old PA will spend the afternoon willingly noshing me off if it covers tyres.
If I was that committed to the car I would take the OPs approach and if the dealer wants my money they'll change the tyre. If they don't I'll find a new car, from a different dealer.
On my 645Ci as an extreme example, a new tyre is 275/35/19's on the rear at £250 a corner fitted, and that's before you get into whether the wheel needs replacing. I don't know whether the AUC warranty covers wheels in this situation but my 53 year old PA will spend the afternoon willingly noshing me off if it covers tyres.
If I was that committed to the car I would take the OPs approach and if the dealer wants my money they'll change the tyre. If they don't I'll find a new car, from a different dealer.
JimmyConwayNW said:
I have a car sales business.
We had a customer royally kick off and complain to the finance company and citizens advice who in turn notify trading standards. This was because she had a nail in the tyre and had to replace a tyre after 4 weeks. It had apparently been like that since she bought it as we inflated all 4 tyres pre test drive ( just something we do to ensure cars drive right / safe etc....)
You sound like a dick and I would not want to sell you a car.
Your customer was an idiot. Don't conflate me with her. I'm talking about a pre-existing tyre condition that I want properly rectified as part of the sale. My question with is something like a slow puncture, what is the legal position? If it's "You haven't got a chance, live with it" then fine. I'll do that. I've already apologised and clarified my original post. We had a customer royally kick off and complain to the finance company and citizens advice who in turn notify trading standards. This was because she had a nail in the tyre and had to replace a tyre after 4 weeks. It had apparently been like that since she bought it as we inflated all 4 tyres pre test drive ( just something we do to ensure cars drive right / safe etc....)
You sound like a dick and I would not want to sell you a car.
Your dick comment only shows you up.
zetec said:
If the tyre is faulty then I would imagine the dealership would replace the ONE tyre with the cheapest option available. Would you want that?
They sell tyres as well. No, that wouldn't be great but it would at least show that the issue is recitified. If that's their position I'd pay to make up the difference.TwistingMyMelon said:
I had similar when buying, I just told the dealership, ideally in email or recorded on paper
No need to go all legal or mental
Just keep an eye on the pressure, if it drops more than a few psi a week ask them to fix it.
Most people never check pressures , or inflate them to the wrong pressure anyway
Could also be a faulty sensor
Thanks! Promise to not go mental..No need to go all legal or mental
Just keep an eye on the pressure, if it drops more than a few psi a week ask them to fix it.
Most people never check pressures , or inflate them to the wrong pressure anyway
Could also be a faulty sensor
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