Questionable Indie Dealers...
Questionable Indie Dealers...
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Discussion

phey708

Original Poster:

55 posts

161 months

Monday 13th January 2014
quotequote all
Just picked up a used Astra H 1.6 VVT just Friday and got all the paper work. On the MOT it mentioned that pads will need to be replaced soon on the back. Just herd a metal type grinding sound while driving on the motorway today which was quite alarming.

Anyway, just got home today to check the rear brakes and I was amazed to find that there is no pad left on the outer edge pads both side, and the discs are very warn down! It is questionable IMO that the MOT passed this car just recently for me to find metal on metal contact on rear discs. You can also smell a sort of burning metal smell on the side with no pad left.

Can they get away with this? Should I go and pay them a visit and give them grieve about it hoping that they will change the pads/discs? Can't believe they would sell a car in this condition given the fact that they advertise on their website that each vehicle undergoes a 40 point inspection lol. What do they inspect? Certainly not the brakes that's for sure!

I got the car on HP btw, should I alert them to this given the fact that the car was sold as 'FSH' despite only stamps being present in the service book (no list/checked boxes of work completed or receipts present).

Those bds!

Matt UK

18,084 posts

230 months

Monday 13th January 2014
quotequote all
On one hand ask to see the 40 point inspection for the car.

On the other, its quite easy as a seller to check pads/discs on most cars.

Edited by Matt UK on Monday 13th January 17:37

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

200 months

Monday 13th January 2014
quotequote all
I had an Audi from a main dealer that within a few hundred miles became evident that the brakes were shot even after a multi point inspection.. they replaced front and rear pads and discs FOC after a call to the salesman.

A polite phone call to your supplying indie will get you a better answer than from an internet forum.

Dr G

15,977 posts

272 months

Monday 13th January 2014
quotequote all
How old is the vehicle and how many miles has it done? Was it particularly cheap (honestly, not just "I paid top money")?

Assuming it is neither ancient nor very high mileage (and you have not put a lot of miles on it already yourself) you need to coolly and calmly approach the dealer and explain your grievance in a factual manner. Dependent on your answers to the above questions a small contribution for betterment may be in order but it is not unreasonable to expect there to be good life remaining in the brakes even if friction materials are not brand new.

You never know, it may well be a genuine error from an otherwise sound and honest dealer.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

156 months

Monday 13th January 2014
quotequote all
phey708 said:
Just picked up a used Astra H 1.6 VVT just Friday and got all the paper work. On the MOT it mentioned that pads will need to be replaced soon on the back. Just herd a metal type grinding sound while driving on the motorway today which was quite alarming.
How many miles since the MOT? How many miles have you done in it? You've just, today, noticed the grinding - not previously?

phey708 said:
Anyway, just got home today to check the rear brakes and I was amazed to find that there is no pad left on the outer edge pads both side, and the discs are very warn down! It is questionable IMO that the MOT passed this car just recently for me to find metal on metal contact on rear discs.
Are the pads visible with the wheels on? If not, then the MOT man has no way of even knowing if the pads are spankin' new or down to the last mm of friction material.

The dealer's a separate issue, of course.

Edited by TooMany2cvs on Monday 13th January 19:42

POORCARDEALER

8,666 posts

271 months

Monday 13th January 2014
quotequote all
Heard

Worn


Carry on.

dufflecoat

949 posts

260 months

Monday 13th January 2014
quotequote all
phey708 said:
On the MOT it mentioned that pads will need to be replaced soon on the back.
time passes...
pads need replacing...


I don't get the issue. Time space continum, all is normal.

poing

8,743 posts

230 months

Monday 13th January 2014
quotequote all
POORCARDEALER said:
Heard

Worn


Carry on.
That's all I saw too, I need to get out more! Actually I did have a moment of confusion because I didn't remember Vauxhall making VVC on the H plate, then I saw the finance thing and guessed it was code for hatchback. God my life is dull, I'm off to take the cat for a walk!

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

156 months

Monday 13th January 2014
quotequote all
poing said:
Actually I did have a moment of confusion because I didn't remember Vauxhall making VVC on the H plate, then I saw the finance thing and guessed it was code for hatchback.
Astra H refers to the "mark" of Astra - the one before was the Astra G, the one after's the Astra J. (I was probably ignored as to similar to 1)

This shape...

poing

8,743 posts

230 months

Monday 13th January 2014
quotequote all
Well there's something you don't get the chance to forget every day.

Phateuk

1,001 posts

167 months

Monday 13th January 2014
quotequote all
poing said:
Well there's something you don't get the chance to forget every day.
hehe I had the same thought about H reg, then realised I've seen corsas and vextras referred to as "A" "B" etc - this is the first time I've seen it applied to an astra, but obviously the astra has been around a long time getting to H lol smile

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

156 months

Tuesday 14th January 2014
quotequote all
poing said:
Well there's something you don't get the chance to forget every day.
...unlike the car itself...