Come back on private buyer.

[Gmlgml]

Short version.

Bought a 2006 Mercedes SLK privately in Dec 21.

Pretty full service history. 6 months MOT left. Lots of expenditure. Seemed a decent buy. I test drove it, didn’t have it inspected, albeit I have the mechanical knowledge of a child.

I relied on the service history and MOT history SUGGESTING it’s worth a punt, obviously understanding that’s at my risk.

Airbag warning light came on. Into Indy specialist dealer to have a look. Needs an ECU. Cest la vie. It’s a 2nd hand car.

Also needs a tonne of suspension work. Cest la vie. It’s a 2nd hand car.

However.

It’s a rotten as a peach. Suspension turrets rotting form the inside out.

Garage stated it’s the worst he’s ever seen.


NOW I’M NOT SUGGESTING THE SELLER DID ANYTHING UNDERHAND, HE MAY WELL HAVE BEEN AS OBLIVIOUS AS I WAS.

But. I’m massively out of pocket.

Do I have any recourse with a private sale in terms the vehicle is utterly unroadworthy? If so what’s the best way to proceed?

[barryrs]

Unless it was deliberately miss represented I think you are on a hiding to nowhere.

[georgeyboy12345]

Nope. Hard cheese, sorry.

[Monkeylegend]

A "tonne of suspension work" and rusty as a peach might have been picked up as advisories on the current MOT?

Would be unusual for all that to happen in the last 6 months unless it was a dodgy MOT.

Having said that if you didn't specifically ask about these issue and the seller has not been untruthful in the advert it is really down to you as the buyer check.

[Gmlgml]

Monkeylegend said:

A tonne of suspension work and rusty as a peach might have been picked up as advisories on the current MOT?

Would be unusual for all that to happen in the last 6 months unless it was a dodgy MOT.

Having said that if you didn't specifically ask about these issue and the seller has not been untruthful in the advert it is really down to you as the buyer check.

Suspension work is
OSF coil spring isn’t even correct for the car. It doesn’t fit.
OSF lower arm bush
NSF lower arm bush
Rear ARB straps corroded
OSR spring broken

And when I say rotten…

[PH User]

Gmlgml said:

Short version.

Bought a 2006 Mercedes SLK privately in Dec 21.

Pretty full service history. 6 months MOT left. Lots of expenditure. Seemed a decent buy. I test drove it, didn’t have it inspected, albeit I have the mechanical knowledge of a child.

I relied on the service history and MOT history SUGGESTING it’s worth a punt, obviously understanding that’s at my risk.

Airbag warning light came on. Into Indy specialist dealer to have a look. Needs an ECU. Cest la vie. It’s a 2nd hand car.

Also needs a tonne of suspension work. Cest la vie. It’s a 2nd hand car.

However.

It’s a rotten as a peach. Suspension turrets rotting form the inside out.

Garage stated it’s the worst he’s ever seen.


NOW I’M NOT SUGGESTING THE SELLER DID ANYTHING UNDERHAND, HE MAY WELL HAVE BEEN AS OBLIVIOUS AS I WAS.

But. I’m massively out of pocket.

Do I have any recourse with a private sale in terms the vehicle is utterly unroadworthy? If so what’s the best way to proceed?

You didn't realise so there's a chance that he didn't realise either.

It's the chance you take when buying privately.

[Wacky Racer]

Sorry no comeback at all, unless it was mis described (For example as new)

Sometimes better to pay extra and buy from a reputable dealer who will offer a warranty.

[Monkeylegend]

Gmlgml said:

Monkeylegend said:

A tonne of suspension work and rusty as a peach might have been picked up as advisories on the current MOT?

Would be unusual for all that to happen in the last 6 months unless it was a dodgy MOT.

Having said that if you didn't specifically ask about these issue and the seller has not been untruthful in the advert it is really down to you as the buyer check.

Suspension work is
OSF coil spring isn’t even correct for the car. It doesn’t fit.
OSF lower arm bush
NSF lower arm bush
Rear ARB straps corroded
OSR spring broken

And when I say rotten…

Sorry, I wasn't disbelieving you, but surely as it is that bad the previous MOT should have picked something up to make you think maybe it was not such a good buy?

[Gmlgml]

Monkeylegend said:

Sorry, I wasn't disbelieving you, but surely as it is that bad the previous MOT should have picked something up to make you think maybe it was not such a good buy?

MOT history has minor advisories, nothing relating to any of this at all really. So how it was missed 7 months ago is beyond me. I may take it up with the MOT authorities.

[plenty]

MoT history is a data point but is not a substitute for inspecting a car properly. Chalk it up to experience and move on.

[Gmlgml]

plenty said:

MoT history is a data point but is not a substitute for inspecting a car properly. Chalk it up to experience and move on.

Indeed. First time I’ve been burnt this bad in nearly 30 years though.

Back to buying new cars I guess.

Oh wait. There aren’t any

[barryrs]

Rust isn’t necessarily a failure though, it needs to be excessive causing structural weakness.

[plenty]

Hopefully spend to sort isn't ruinous. I know a very good welder/restorer in Kent if you need one.

Looking under turrets is an absolute must on any inspection.

[Monkeylegend]

Gmlgml said:

Monkeylegend said:

Sorry, I wasn't disbelieving you, but surely as it is that bad the previous MOT should have picked something up to make you think maybe it was not such a good buy?

MOT history has minor advisories, nothing relating to any of this at all really. So how it was missed 7 months ago is beyond me. I may take it up with the MOT authorities.

Your only hope would be if the advert was misleading, as in "rust free example", etc, and you still have a copy to prove that, or if you were lied to in answer to a direct question about condition, and that is then a he said, she said scenario.

[Bill]

Gmlgml said:

And when I say rotten…

That's just surface rust, isn't it? On that era Merc that's a win...

[Monkeylegend]

Bill said:

Gmlgml said:

And when I say rotten…

That's just surface rust, isn't it? On that era Merc that's a win miracle...

EFA.

[Bill]

Yer, and that!

[Divieto di Sosta]

Gmlgml said:

MOT history has minor advisories, nothing relating to any of this at all really. So how it was missed 7 months ago is beyond me. I may take it up with the MOT authorities.

Don't bother ,there is a time limit for MOT complaints and 7 months is not it .

My car went from MOT pass to phoning the scrapper in 11 months , meh !

[Gmlgml]

plenty said:

Hopefully spend to sort isn't ruinous. I know a very good welder/restorer in Kent if you need one.

Looking under turrets is an absolute must on any inspection.

The Indy said he didn’t know where to start, or even recommend where to go it’s that bad (im near Chester.) The whole turret, on both sides, is like Swiss cheese and is basically dust underneath. You can pull it apart with your fingers. My only hope is a speculative punt to MB themselves under the 30 year anti corrosion warranty. Even though it doesn’t have a full MB history (it’s partial main dealer and others) with the subframe issue (which ironically this car has had fixed) they have been helping out on a case by case basis.

And not surface rust. It’s gone right the way through.

Hidden under the loom.

Edited by Gmlgml on Friday 4th February 21:00

[steveo3002]

does kinda look like that rust would clean up and last a good few years ...maybe its worse in person

youve asked a garage to rip it to bits and point out every fault...im sure they would find plenty wrong with most well used cars