OMG - Discovered Water damage after purchase! Help
Discussion
My exwife has just rang up in tears today. Two weeks ago she purchase an 05 118SE from an independent BMW dealer in south west. For the moment I'm going to kept the identity private because I want to giving the dealer an opportunity to refund the money.
On a suggestion from the salesman, she wanted to put the car through a main dealer to pick up any outstanding warranty issues and the piece of mind of having it given a clear bill of health.
What transpired after main dealer had conducted its service and inspection was that the console was telling the diagnostics it was from a different car! On further investigation there was signs of water damage under the seat and in the boot. The bolts attaching the seats where rusty. The car is an ex-lease.
Why didn't we pick up the damage?
1. The salesman informed her that the car had a RAC inspection and HPI cleared. There's a big RAC sticker in the window with a engineers signature.
2. The previous owner was a smoker looking at the ash tray and mild sunvisor stain and there was a strong air freshener to counter this.
3. Carpets and half leather seats looked ok and there wasn't any external signs.
At no point during the sales cycle did anyone mention that the car had suffered from water damage or she would have walked away. Just like everyone else.
She has notified the dealer she wants a refund for the car + BMW service and that they are to collect the car.
The dealer has required her inform there in writting the request for a refund and to include the bmw report before they process.
My question to you all is what rights does she have? and can she expect a satifactory outcome.
On a suggestion from the salesman, she wanted to put the car through a main dealer to pick up any outstanding warranty issues and the piece of mind of having it given a clear bill of health.
What transpired after main dealer had conducted its service and inspection was that the console was telling the diagnostics it was from a different car! On further investigation there was signs of water damage under the seat and in the boot. The bolts attaching the seats where rusty. The car is an ex-lease.
Why didn't we pick up the damage?
1. The salesman informed her that the car had a RAC inspection and HPI cleared. There's a big RAC sticker in the window with a engineers signature.
2. The previous owner was a smoker looking at the ash tray and mild sunvisor stain and there was a strong air freshener to counter this.
3. Carpets and half leather seats looked ok and there wasn't any external signs.
At no point during the sales cycle did anyone mention that the car had suffered from water damage or she would have walked away. Just like everyone else.
She has notified the dealer she wants a refund for the car + BMW service and that they are to collect the car.
The dealer has required her inform there in writting the request for a refund and to include the bmw report before they process.
My question to you all is what rights does she have? and can she expect a satifactory outcome.
Get down there and get a refund I'm sure if they value custom they will uphold your request. i'm sure you have the right to return the product if it is not satisfactory.
If you paid with a credit card you may have legal cover I know mastercard provide this threaten the dealer with this.
~You might get a better response from General gassing... best of luck.
If you paid with a credit card you may have legal cover I know mastercard provide this threaten the dealer with this.
~You might get a better response from General gassing... best of luck.
Involve the local trading standards people. They helped me with a issue with a Merc that I bought and were instrumental in me getting a brand new car as a replacement.
Put everything in writing and confirm all phone calls again, in writing
Put everything in writing and confirm all phone calls again, in writing
Edited by Roger645 on Friday 28th September 22:21
Thanks for the quick response. As you an image I feel a right lemon. My first pass at this is the dealer didn't notify her at the point of sales of the problem. And first impressions of this situation is the dealership wasn't aware for the problem at the point of sale. The same as many a dealer they just hold the car until sale. hence the writting confirmation.
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