Same problem 4 times!
Discussion
Hi, I have a 56 325i SE coupe which I bought from my local BMW dealership and have enjoyed the experience until recently when both my keys refused to open the car using the remote control. I have to use the key itself to unlock the door and when I open it the alarm goes off, which is somewhat embarrassing at 3 or 4am when I'm on call!
First time the service department diagnosed a faulty central locking amplifier which the duly replaced, only for exactly the same problem to manifest itself 2 days later. They then said it was a faulty part which had been fitted and would replace it once again.
This time it lasted about a week until 1 day exactly the same thing happened again! This time they told me it was the key which was faulty, to which I suggested that they order 2 keys as neither of them were working. Their answer to that was that they could only order 1 key until they could confirm the other key was also faulty (which I found a bit suspicious, but stranger things have happened!)This meant another trip to drop off the spare key.
This "repair" has now lasted another week and lo and behold, the same problem has re-appeared and I'm really losing faith and patience with the service department (and the car).
My question is, since I bough the car from a BMW dealership as the second owner after BMW themselves had registered it, what, if any comeback do I have as far as "fit for purpose" is concerned? Can I, for example demand a new car since they have failed to resolve the same problem 4 times?
I've had the car since September last year, and having looked at the trading standards website, it appears this is too long a period for returning the car and demanding a refund. I know it may seem petty to get so angry about such a trivial problem, but being an engineer myself, it really gets to me when things don't get first, or at the most, second time of asking.
Comments and suggestions gratefully received!
Alan
First time the service department diagnosed a faulty central locking amplifier which the duly replaced, only for exactly the same problem to manifest itself 2 days later. They then said it was a faulty part which had been fitted and would replace it once again.
This time it lasted about a week until 1 day exactly the same thing happened again! This time they told me it was the key which was faulty, to which I suggested that they order 2 keys as neither of them were working. Their answer to that was that they could only order 1 key until they could confirm the other key was also faulty (which I found a bit suspicious, but stranger things have happened!)This meant another trip to drop off the spare key.
This "repair" has now lasted another week and lo and behold, the same problem has re-appeared and I'm really losing faith and patience with the service department (and the car).
My question is, since I bough the car from a BMW dealership as the second owner after BMW themselves had registered it, what, if any comeback do I have as far as "fit for purpose" is concerned? Can I, for example demand a new car since they have failed to resolve the same problem 4 times?
I've had the car since September last year, and having looked at the trading standards website, it appears this is too long a period for returning the car and demanding a refund. I know it may seem petty to get so angry about such a trivial problem, but being an engineer myself, it really gets to me when things don't get first, or at the most, second time of asking.
Comments and suggestions gratefully received!
Alan
Yes, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating. That and the inconvenience of doing without the car for the day, or longer. They do courtesy cars, but since my car isn't booked in weeks in advance, they're never available, and until now I've worked around it, but my patience is wearing very thin!
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