Private Sale Calamity- What Would You Do?

[randomcharacter]

I know that there’s not going to be clear answer on this but I wanted to see what the general opinion was on the following dilemma.

To keep it short: I bought a Mini from a private seller at the weekend. Seller seemed genuine and car cosmetically good (for a 16 year old car). Paid market average.

I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t give it a proper test drive and, as you’ve probably guessed, I soon realised after purchase that the car had a problem; a misfire. I took it to a specialist who diagnosed a compression problem so at the very least I’m looking at a top end rebuild, if not a new engine.

I know that legally I don’t have any real rights (the ad made no mention of the car’s condition) so I’m inclined to suck it up, but am I being a mug?

I don’t believe that the seller realised that the car had a serious issue, but at the same time, should I make them aware of the issue in the hope that their conscience prompts them to offer a partial refund. I certainly wouldn’t dream of demanding one however.

Most of us have heard stories of chancers contacting sellers after a sale asking for money back to fix an imaginary problem so I feel proper scammy even considering it!

So should I let the seller know or should I just suck it up?

[Tindersticks]

What have you got to lose. They can only say no.

[stevemcs]

If it stated excellent runner then you may have some come back, even then it wouldn’t be straight forward.

I presume they have owned it for sometime?

[randomcharacter]

stevemcs said:

If it stated excellent runner then you may have some come back, even then it wouldn’t be straight forward.

I presume they have owned it for sometime?

Yep, they’d had it a while.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Tindersticks said:

What have you got to lose. They can only say no.

That'd be my approach, in a calm "can you help me out a bit" style. As said, why not?

[BlackTails]

randomcharacter said:

I don’t believe that the seller realised that the car had a serious issue, but at the same time, should I make them aware of the issue in the hope that their conscience prompts them to offer a partial refund. I certainly wouldn’t dream of demanding one however.

This is basically begging.

You can, as you recognise, go on the warpath and lose, or suck it up. The former leads to the latter with a bit of wasted energy on the way. So adopt the latter now.

[randomcharacter]

BlackTails said:

This is basically begging.

You can, as you recognise, go on the warpath and lose, or suck it up. The former leads to the latter with a bit of wasted energy on the way. So adopt the latter now.

Yeah, it doesn’t sit comfortably with me to even hint at some sort of recompense from the seller. I’m generally of the opinion that if I’ve screwed up (in this case by not checking the car out properly first) then I just learn from it and move on.

[Nickp82]

Suck it up. I absolutely would in your situation, you didn’t test drive it properly so missed your best chance to spot the issue.

Bloody annoying but the majority of us have done it at some point, you have to take it on the chin and just move forward.

[Cupid-stunt]

What did the advert say?
Can you share a copy?

[randomcharacter]

Cupid-stunt said:

What did the advert say?
Can you share a copy?

The ad in now down, but in any case, there was no mention of condition on the ad so there was no false representation.

[randomcharacter]

Thanks all for your views. I’m going to take it on the chin and see it as a lesson learned. Onwards and upwards!

[paul_c123]

How bad is the issue? As in, numbers, what are the compression test readings (or did they diagnose it via relative cranking amperage)?

[BlackTails]

randomcharacter said:

Thanks all for your views. I’m going to take it on the chin and see it as a lesson learned. Onwards and upwards!

Good man. It hurts, but it’s the right thing to do.

[fflump]

Did the misfire not trigger the engine management warning light?

[samoht]

randomcharacter said:

Thanks all for your views. I’m going to take it on the chin and see it as a lesson learned. Onwards and upwards!

+1

Good luck getting it sorted out not too expensively.

[ChrisH72]

Is it a cooper or cooper s?

My mate has a 2010 cooper which has had a few issues with misfires over the years. It's always been relatively cheap and easy to fix though and is now on around 130k miles.

In the end I'd guess it was a pretty cheap car. There are quite a few good owners clubs and forums for these. Maybe get some advice and opinions and hopefully get it sorted. As far as the previous owner goes I'd probably leave it. Unless you wanted to ask them if they have any idea what the issue is or if they've had it looked at.

[scot_aln]

fflump said:

Did the misfire not trigger the engine management warning light?

Unless that'd been coded out or reset.

[Robertb]

I had an R56 Cooper which misfired, a coil pack change and new plugs sorted it and my daughters drove it for a few years after their tests.

The engine used progressively more oil until it was like a two-stroke, the clutch went and we px’d it with a trader for scrap value.

A CEL was not triggered until it unwittingly ran v low on oil (which they do as there is no oil light and the dipstick is v hard to read)

Good luck, hope things work out for you!

Edited by Robertb on Tuesday 21st January 23:10

[rlg43p]

I recently sold a car which turned out to develop a fault within a couple of days of being collected.

It was a genuine issue; I did have a suspicion about the fault but had thought it had been resolved.

I gave the buyer a refund of about 50% of the repair cost after he asked "nicely".

So I don't think there is any problem with asking. If the seller is genuine they may consider it.

[Tisy]

Misfires are often a result of coil packs dying. I've certainly had my fair share of them over the past 30 odd years mainly with Vauxhalls and Citroens. They are relatively cheap and easy fix. Get someone with a code reader to plug it in and see what's coming up.