Mini trouble, recommend me a garage in Stirling/Alloa

[Olly RM]

Hi folks, back story I bought an '03 Mini Cooper as a present for my fiancé a couple of weeks ago from a car dealers in Oldham. This dealer promised the earth and new it was for Em and not me, so they promised it was going to be in spot on condition. I drove the car up to Stirling last Wednesday (it had been MOT'd by the garage on the Monday 12th) it did the 250 mile trip with ease and no issues. The day after the drivers window packed in, whilst moving around to try and fix that issue I moved the car mat in the drivers foot well, to my horror there are two massive holes in the minis floor carpet. This was just a general ps off and must have been caused by the previous owner wearing heels! So, got the bloody window working then on Saturday morning we are off to Asda and went over a small pot hole 'Bang' we both said WTF is that? Then as I started to brake, it felt as though the front of the car was coming towards me and when I accelerated it felt like the wheels went off then the body caught up. Needless to say I had not bought an accordion, so this new action was not a welcome addition.

I then took the car home to investigate, the front wheels can be pushed and pulled about 1-2" on driver and 1" passenger. I took it to an ATS ( the only place I knew of) they had it up on their ramps and started to wiggle the wheels etc around. They then showed me underneath the car and where the control arms are bushed under the front firewall (rear control arm bushes I believe) they are totally shot! The arms are literately wiggling around like mad. Now I'm not physically capable at the moment of doing the work to fix this and ATS have quoted me £240 for the parts and for fitting. Do any of you know if theirs is a fair price or am I paying over the odds? I really am pissed off as I bought this a gift so Em could get to work easier and so she could look for another job closer home, so this failure of the car has severely hampered our enjoyment of her new car.

I called the dealers I bought this from (given it has a 3 month warranty & 3 years free MOT with oil and filter changes) and they basically called me a lier and the guy from ATS a cowboy quoting for work it didn't need! They have also stopped returning my calls and all the people I have dealt with no longer seem available to talk! To say I am annoyed. Is an understatement. So returning the car would need to be on a flat bed truck as it wouldn't do the 250 mile run back down to them, also I doubt they would be of any help at all given they told me flatly that the carpet damage was not an issue to them and I bought it! I should have checked, (fair enough) and the window they said, well what do you expect it's 10 years old.

I payed over 4k for this car as I was promised the earth after care and that the car was as clean as they came. I know I could have bought cheaper but this ticked all the boxes and I truly thought it was the best given it was going to Em and not to me, I just wanted her to be safe and sound in it.

So, I own the problem and its sat on the drive looking sad, can any of you recommend a garage or a way of doing this cheaper? Or is their quote a good one?

Sorry for this long thread I am using it as a rant as well as I am really pissed off.

TIA

Olly

[Limpet]

As you bought the car from a dealer, this is their problem whether they like it or not. You have statutory rights under the Sale of Goods Act which I won't recite here, but the information is readily available from Trading Standards

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/glos/co...

The important bit is that, inside of the first six months of ownership, the onus is on the trader to prove that the vehicle was sold without the fault(s) present when you bought it. Which, given the short time frame is going to be very difficult for them to do. However, you do need to do things in a specific way, and of course the dealer has the right to inspect the car themselves.

I guess you could pay up for repairs yourself, but this would stick in my throat as a matter of principle. Not only that, but I would wonder what else is lurking that have they not told you about?

[Dave200]

So, to be clear, you've come to PH to ask how to make a dealer act on their warranty?

Have you ever bought anything before? Where is the paperwork for the warranty? What are the terms, and what is covered?

[Olly RM]

Hi guys cheers for the replies.

Just to clarify, no I am not here trying to get the dealer to do anything, read it again, I need this fixing and I am going to pay as I they have promised the earth and given nothing. So I am pissed at the dealer but no I am not here asking how to make them pay I asked for recommendations on a garage, if the price quoted was. Or where else to go, the car is 250 miles from the garage so driving back is not really a possibility. Also, I am not here for an argument. I'm needing help.

[Limpet]

The warranty is irrelevant. What they have promised and not delivered is irrelevant.

It is their problem. Consumer rights are not optional, and you appear to have them pretty firmly on your side.

If you pay for this work on a car you've owned for a week or so, you are crazy.

[VolvoT5]

You have paid top money and I think you would be mad not to try and get the dealer to cough up or fix it. I can't see the parts you mentioned passing an MOT and then failing so catastrophically a couple of weeks / few hundred miles later.

I'm no expert but I don't think the price quoted sounds too bad.......... I just don't see why you should have to pay it. You paid a premium to buy from a dealer precisely to prevent this type of thing from happening. They have a responsibility to provide a car which is roadworthy and fit for purpose - a 4k car should last longer than a couple of weeks before needing expensive repairs.

[sherman]

The MINI dealership in Stirling is here
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=stirling&ll=5...

[matchmaker]

Don't know about the rights or wrongs of the warranty, but try A1 Autos in Alloa

http://www.a1autoservices.co.uk/