Problems with selling an old Mercedes
Discussion
Hi, I've been a PH member for as long as I can remember but very rarely post. I'm more of a lurker 😁.
I sold my 1971 Mercedes E220 a couple of months back. After about 4-5 weeks the guy got in touch and said he had found some rot on the car and wanted me to pay to get it sorted. His reasoning for this is that he said I misled him, as I said there was no rot on the car.
In my advert I stated that the car needed cosmetic work and that " I was not aware of any rot" but " that is up to you".
When he messaged me I said there was no rot, because as far as I was aware there wasn't. On the MOT and previous MOT's there has been no mention of any rot what so ever, and the car had only done 4 miles since it was mot'd. Apparently there is rot/corrosion underneath in a couple of places and this is only visible with the car on a ramp. Also he has apparently been pulling the interior out and found a couple more places and some on the bottom of the bulkhead. These again are only visible with the carpets etc removed and on a ramp. I have never had the car on a ramp or stripped the interior as it is all original.
Now he says he has been quoted £1800+ to have this rectified and expects me to foot the bill.
He now is saying he wants it done at a classic car restore garage @ £100 ph labour. I have asked him for photos and the quotes he has received. He sent some photos and has admitted to poking a screwdriver through the bulkhead causing damage and from the photos it looks as though he has been doing it to the inner sills as well, causing more damage. I don't think he should be doing this or tearing the interior to pieces.
When he came to buy the car, he came with an alleged Mercedes expert and would expect more money off if he found anything untoward. They spent 2 hours inspecting and driving the car, they even bought a trolley jack with them to look under the car. After this he said it was a bargain and paid for it and drove off.
Before he came to view the car after leaving a bank transfer deposit, he asked if I could get it serviced for him. I did this and also had a ball joint replaced @ a cost of £310 in total. When he picked the car up he said he would transfer the £310 the next day as he was at his limit, I genuinely expected him to but he never did.
He is also saying he wants me to pay for new door skin and front and rear valances, all of which he saw at the time and was happy as he said this car was going to be his on going project.
He has also messaged me and admitted that he knows I am a genuine person/seller and that I would not purposefully mislead him about the rot/corrosion. He is saying that what I said is misleading and therefore I basically have to bend to his will or he will take it further.
Yesterday he again messaged me and said he believes the cost is going to be more now than he thought. I asked him for the garage quotes 2 weeks ago but still have not had them, I really think this guy is trying to pull my pants down, especially as he has said he knows I would not purposefully mislead him, which is the truth. I stated in the advert that I was not aware of any rot, but that is up to you.
I have asked citizens advice about this, but to be honest they were not sure how to handle it.
I'd really appreciate some help on this guys as he is starting to get threatening now as well.
I sold my 1971 Mercedes E220 a couple of months back. After about 4-5 weeks the guy got in touch and said he had found some rot on the car and wanted me to pay to get it sorted. His reasoning for this is that he said I misled him, as I said there was no rot on the car.
In my advert I stated that the car needed cosmetic work and that " I was not aware of any rot" but " that is up to you".
When he messaged me I said there was no rot, because as far as I was aware there wasn't. On the MOT and previous MOT's there has been no mention of any rot what so ever, and the car had only done 4 miles since it was mot'd. Apparently there is rot/corrosion underneath in a couple of places and this is only visible with the car on a ramp. Also he has apparently been pulling the interior out and found a couple more places and some on the bottom of the bulkhead. These again are only visible with the carpets etc removed and on a ramp. I have never had the car on a ramp or stripped the interior as it is all original.
Now he says he has been quoted £1800+ to have this rectified and expects me to foot the bill.
He now is saying he wants it done at a classic car restore garage @ £100 ph labour. I have asked him for photos and the quotes he has received. He sent some photos and has admitted to poking a screwdriver through the bulkhead causing damage and from the photos it looks as though he has been doing it to the inner sills as well, causing more damage. I don't think he should be doing this or tearing the interior to pieces.
When he came to buy the car, he came with an alleged Mercedes expert and would expect more money off if he found anything untoward. They spent 2 hours inspecting and driving the car, they even bought a trolley jack with them to look under the car. After this he said it was a bargain and paid for it and drove off.
Before he came to view the car after leaving a bank transfer deposit, he asked if I could get it serviced for him. I did this and also had a ball joint replaced @ a cost of £310 in total. When he picked the car up he said he would transfer the £310 the next day as he was at his limit, I genuinely expected him to but he never did.
He is also saying he wants me to pay for new door skin and front and rear valances, all of which he saw at the time and was happy as he said this car was going to be his on going project.
He has also messaged me and admitted that he knows I am a genuine person/seller and that I would not purposefully mislead him about the rot/corrosion. He is saying that what I said is misleading and therefore I basically have to bend to his will or he will take it further.
Yesterday he again messaged me and said he believes the cost is going to be more now than he thought. I asked him for the garage quotes 2 weeks ago but still have not had them, I really think this guy is trying to pull my pants down, especially as he has said he knows I would not purposefully mislead him, which is the truth. I stated in the advert that I was not aware of any rot, but that is up to you.
I have asked citizens advice about this, but to be honest they were not sure how to handle it.
I'd really appreciate some help on this guys as he is starting to get threatening now as well.
I'm a private seller ( plumber by trade), it was sold for 5750. I knocked 250 off the original 6000 I wanted. I also had the original Bbs wheels refurbished at great cost and put new tyres on all round, also gave him a full set of the original steel wheels and hub caps and various bits and bobs. These cars in top condition seem to be £15000+, and ones needing cosmetic work around £7000+. He even admitted that it was a bargain when he was at my house. He is really starting to irritate me now.
Ok, update. He has contacted me twice since my last post ( he messages through eBay as I can't block him, ( as told to me by eBay) as we have already had messages about the car previously). He has messaged me saying that this will be the last message he sends, and is giving me a week to come up with a solution, before he starts court proceedings under his consumer rights.
I have not replied to him, nor do I intend to. If he does go down the court route(I wouldn't be surprised if he did,as he's a devious little git). If this is the course he takes, what are my best options. I still believe he is a greedy sneaky little git, who has offered me no proof in the form of quotes, garage details or if he is still driving around in the car. Basically he hasn't or won't supply me with anything I previously asked for, before I stopped replying to him.
I can only assume he is going on his own assumptions or doesn't want to supply me with the requested info. I'm not going to give into his outrageous demands, and I imagine I will see him in court. I was going to reply to him and say about him damaging the car himself with his expority poking around. Also he spent two hours with his expert going over the car, and that the alleged areas of rot can only be seen with the car on a ramp.
He admitted he knew I would not knowingly sell him the car with the alleged rot, and that I am a genuine person. Parts of the so called rot he is going on about are body corrosion which is clearly visible when standing in front of the car, and he saw all this with his so called expert.
I want to nip this in the butt now, before he thinks he can take me to court, but I'm unsure of the best way to do it. I have no fear of going to court as I'm 100% know I'm n the right, but I'd rather shut him down before it gets to that.
Cheers again
I have not replied to him, nor do I intend to. If he does go down the court route(I wouldn't be surprised if he did,as he's a devious little git). If this is the course he takes, what are my best options. I still believe he is a greedy sneaky little git, who has offered me no proof in the form of quotes, garage details or if he is still driving around in the car. Basically he hasn't or won't supply me with anything I previously asked for, before I stopped replying to him.
I can only assume he is going on his own assumptions or doesn't want to supply me with the requested info. I'm not going to give into his outrageous demands, and I imagine I will see him in court. I was going to reply to him and say about him damaging the car himself with his expority poking around. Also he spent two hours with his expert going over the car, and that the alleged areas of rot can only be seen with the car on a ramp.
He admitted he knew I would not knowingly sell him the car with the alleged rot, and that I am a genuine person. Parts of the so called rot he is going on about are body corrosion which is clearly visible when standing in front of the car, and he saw all this with his so called expert.
I want to nip this in the butt now, before he thinks he can take me to court, but I'm unsure of the best way to do it. I have no fear of going to court as I'm 100% know I'm n the right, but I'd rather shut him down before it gets to that.
Cheers again
lord trumpton said:
OP - you seem to be getting yourself into a pickle with worry.
Take my advice - wait until he contacts you after the week, listen to what he has to say and reply stating that you have no obligations, you have copies of all correspondence and the original advert and you are happy to see him in court.
State the car was sold in good faith and you feel now his persistent contact constitutes harassment and will be reporting it to the police.
Just call his bluff, stand firm and stop being a drip (plumber - see what I did there?)
The more you entertain him the more he will persist.
Absoloutley superb, thankyouTake my advice - wait until he contacts you after the week, listen to what he has to say and reply stating that you have no obligations, you have copies of all correspondence and the original advert and you are happy to see him in court.
State the car was sold in good faith and you feel now his persistent contact constitutes harassment and will be reporting it to the police.
Just call his bluff, stand firm and stop being a drip (plumber - see what I did there?)
The more you entertain him the more he will persist.
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