Potential used car issue - fault confirmation required?

[Prawo Jazdy]

I bought a 2020 BMW last week from a used car dealership which is part of a VW franchise group. I had a drive in it for about 20 minutes, inspected it as much as I could without a lift or tools (not much to look at under the bonnet apart from plastic covers). Checked the service history which seemed fine. Everything seemed in order so I bought it. The car was delivered the following week because it's about two hours drive from where I live.

I've driven it five times since delivery. On the two longer drives I've done in it (40 mins), there was a smell which seemed like coolant at the end of the journey. I've had a look under the bonnet and there's a small amount of liquid which seems to be leaking from the charge cooler.

I haven't spoken to the dealer yet because they're closed. I've had a look at other threads, Consumer Rights Act, advice about Citizens Advice Bureau etc. What I'm not sure about is if my assessment of something being wrong is enough to approach the dealer for some sort of resolution. Do I need to get a specialist to have a look first to have it confirmed that there's an issue?

In an ideal world I'll send them some photos and they'll say that if a local (to me) independent says there's an issue, then they'll pay the bill. Not sure if that's realistic though.

[Trevor555]

One of the best ways to confirm a fault is to go out for a drive, call the AA/RAC if you have cover, and they'll confirm a coolant leak.

Your supplying dealer will probably want you to return it to base, but of course you shouldn't be driving a car with a coolant leak.

So in an ideal world, the dealer should come and pick the car up from you to repair it.

Decide now if you want to give the dealer a chance to repair, or you're going straight to rejection.

They didn't check the car over very well, coolant leaks are very easy to spot from underneath with a bright torch.

I'd also be worried that the car may have been overheated previously, then PX'd

Edited by Trevor555 on Sunday 22 February 14:56

Edited by Trevor555 on Sunday 22 February 15:00

[Prawo Jazdy]

Thanks for the reply, that’s a useful suggestion. The breakdown company suggested I call back tomorrow (when garages are open) as it gives me more options if the car needs to be taken somewhere. Obviously not back to the selling dealer, as it’s too far away (and that’s not breakdown co.s problem!), but it enables me to contact the dealer and see what they’re willing to do.

I’d much rather have a BMW independent work on it, so I don’t really want the dealer to take it back for any work (not to mention the faff), but I don’t know if this will be an option.

It seems quite a big call to reject it based on this, but I was thinking the same as you Trevor about what led to it being traded in, given the immediacy of this issue appearing.

I think you mentioned (in other threads I looked at) about rejecting being drawn out, legal arguments etc. is that more for rejecting a car when you’ve owned it for a longer time, or does it always apply?

[Trevor555]

Prawo Jazdy said:

I think you mentioned (in other threads I looked at) about rejecting being drawn out, legal arguments etc. is that more for rejecting a car when you ve owned it for a longer time, or does it always apply?

It can be if the dealer doesn't play ball, and pushes back against a rejection.

And once you've rejected a car you can't keep on using it.

Bear in mind, any time that your car is back at the dealership for repair, or at another garage with their authorisation, your 30 day period extends by that time you're not in posession of it.

If the supplying dealer doesn't authorise a local repair, then don't go against their instructions. Too easy for the dealer to blame another garage for any further problems.

If I'm ever buying a car that's had a recent coolant leak I try to find some buildings to drive between, put a load onto the engine between the buildings and you may hear a very subtle rattle on the power. Saved myself with a mini recently doing this.

But I'd be very, very, wary. Many drivers would have no idea of a coolant leak until a red high temp warning light comes on.

Hope all goes ok, please keep us updated. Chances are, main dealer will deal with it properly.

Edited by Trevor555 on Sunday 22 February 16:20

[KungFuPanda]

I think you’re in the hands of the dealer. They have the right to attempt to fix it themselves. Maybe they will agree to a BMW specialist local to you to have a look at the problem but they’re not obliged to.

[BertBert]

Trevor555 said:

One of the best ways to sit at the side of the road for 5 hours (confirm a fault) is to go out for a drive, call the AA/RAC if you have cover, and they'll confirm a coolant leak.

FTFY

Edited by BertBert on Sunday 22 February 17:32

[vaud]

KungFuPanda said:

I think you re in the hands of the dealer. They have the right to attempt to fix it themselves. Maybe they will agree to a BMW specialist local to you to have a look at the problem but they re not obliged to.

No they don’t have the right to repair. They have the right to inspect it but the OP can reject it.

[Prawo Jazdy]

Thanks again for the advice. Having had another look, and got my hands dirty, it seems to be oil and is present on both sides of the engine. The engines have a common issue with valve cover gaskets leaking, so it may be this. Presumably my assessment of engine smells needs some calibration.

vaud said:

No they don t have the right to repair. They have the right to inspect it but the OP can reject it.

When you say “the OP can reject it”, do you mean reject the car, or reject the findings of their inspection?

[vaud]

Reject the car

[Buffalo]

Trevor555 said:

If I'm ever buying a car that's had a recent coolant leak I try to find some buildings to drive between, put a load onto the engine between the buildings and you may hear a very subtle rattle on the power. Saved myself with a mini recently doing this.

What is the background to this, please?

[Trevor555]

Buffalo said:

Trevor555 said:

If I'm ever buying a car that's had a recent coolant leak I try to find some buildings to drive between, put a load onto the engine between the buildings and you may hear a very subtle rattle on the power. Saved myself with a mini recently doing this.

What is the background to this, please?

Hi, I was sent to buy a mini. Upon inspection the coolant was low, and some signs of dampness in the undertray. Reving the engine at standstill it sounded ok, but on road test I heard a slight rattle about half way up the rev range when on the power. Slight, but it was there.

Driving between buildings, the noise echoed off them, and was audilbe.

Conclusion, owner had cooked it.

I felt lucky that day, over 30 years of buying cars I've missed a few things, learnt from mistakes, and got lucky some of the time like this one.