| Used car problems 10:46 - Jun 3 with 1574 views | Bent_double |
A question for the great hive-mind of TWTD. Sorry, it's a bit long.
I posted a few months ago about my sons car - a 5yr old BMW he bought in Ipswich last October - the issue then was with the warranty when the passenger side door stopped working.
Well, he fixed that, at a cost of about £500 to himself as the warranty only paid out a pittance. Now, however, he has a much bigger problem.
The car engine has been making a bit of a noise (sounds like squeaking), I said it might just be a loose belt, nothing too serious, but hey, I'm not a mechanic, and its a BMW...
So, he's up in Scotland, taken it too a garage, and they've advised him to get rid immediately, not to drive it anymore, and were amazed it was still working.
Took it to another expert, who pretty much said the same thing.
So, he's looking at a potential £10k+ loss after 9 months, probably needs to get the car transported down here (as he leaves Scotland in a few weeks)
He's very stressed about it, which has made me very stressed, I've told him not to do anything rash, but to look at all the options.
It would be nice to think that the dealership in Ipswich are liable, as there's no way this just happened in the last 9 months - I think he's only driven 3-4k miles in that time - but don't know how easy it is to prove these things and take legal action.
Anyone got any advice? |  |
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| Used car problems on 10:53 - Jun 3 with 1522 views | homer_123 |
Don't buy a BMW?
Sorry - flippant reply.
It's a tough situation - worth speaking with the dealer in the first instance surely, if you haven't done so already? |  |
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| Used car problems on 10:53 - Jun 3 with 1516 views | boysof1981 |
What was the reason the two garages gave for him to get rid of the car immediately? They must have given you a reason as to what’s wrong with it? It’s also a tad c*****h to get rid of knowing the cars screwed. |  | | |
| Used car problems on 11:17 - Jun 3 with 1425 views | Bent_double |
| Used car problems on 10:53 - Jun 3 by homer_123 |
Don't buy a BMW?
Sorry - flippant reply.
It's a tough situation - worth speaking with the dealer in the first instance surely, if you haven't done so already? |
Yeah, he's doing that now. The garage yesterday commented on the state of the oil (after he asked for it to be changed) and suggested there may be adhesive in it??? | |
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| Used car problems on 11:20 - Jun 3 with 1410 views | Zx1988 |
Speak with one of or both of the garages you've already consulted, and ask them whether the issue is likely to be one that the dealership should have reasonably known about or suspected at the point of sale.
If yes, then it might be worth paying them (if necessary) to put it in writing. | |
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| Used car problems on 11:22 - Jun 3 with 1400 views | bsw72 |
I have gone through a similar set of problems with my car, and have documented everything and taken it to the motor ombudsman. Was the car purchased from a garage, if so check whether it is signed up to the ombudsman.
When purchasing a used car, you have several statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015:
Right to Reject: If the car has a fault within 30 days of purchase, you can reject it and get a full refund.
Right to Repair or Replacement: If the car has a fault within 30 to 6 months, you can request repairs or a replacement.
Right to Refund: After six months, you can still seek a refund, but you must prove that the fault was present at the time of sale.
Burden of Proof: The seller must prove that the car was fit for purpose and as described at the time of sale. |  | | |
| Used car problems on 11:22 - Jun 3 with 1393 views | Bent_double |
| Used car problems on 10:53 - Jun 3 by boysof1981 |
What was the reason the two garages gave for him to get rid of the car immediately? They must have given you a reason as to what’s wrong with it? It’s also a tad c*****h to get rid of knowing the cars screwed. |
Because of the cost of repairs. They seem to think oil is not reaching the top end of the engine for some reason. Sounds odd to me.
To me (and I'm no expert) it sounds like noisy tappets - a problem I had on a car 20-30 years ago, but if it is that, I don't think it's a catastrophic engine failure type problem, but what do I know.
I think they suggested 'webuyanycar'.....not sure how closely they would look into potential engine problems - although the noise is louder now than before the oil change! | |
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| Used car problems on 11:26 - Jun 3 with 1365 views | Vaughan8 |
I had problems with an engine after a few months of buying a car last year.
The garage obviously tried to fob me off first but I just played their game bringing the car in and testing it for a month etc etc.
I did contact citizen's advice at one point and they pretty much said as long as they're being reasonable in trying to fix it, there isn't much you can do (my garage were just painfully slow. I was without a car for 2 months!)
I'm guessing once/if they refuse to acknowledge the fault or refuse to fix it, that's when you take further action.
Obviously speak to the garage, see what they say. If it's under warranty, then surely they can assess the fault and claim under that? | | | |
| Used car problems on 11:26 - Jun 3 with 1358 views | Pinewoodblue |
If he belongs to AA ring this number
https://www.theaa.com/breakdow
They will probably suggest he obtain evidence of the fault, either a detailed estimate or that he obtains a detailed engineers report from one of their engineers(at a fee of course)
To make a legal claim he has to prove misrepresentation. Did they, for example, tell him belts had been replaced when they hadn’t.
Are you aware of the reputation of the seller, I assume not a dealer more a used car lot.
Good luck.
There is alternative course of action but that would involve dishonesty.. |  |
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| Used car problems on 12:10 - Jun 3 with 1223 views | Bent_double |
| Used car problems on 11:22 - Jun 3 by bsw72 |
I have gone through a similar set of problems with my car, and have documented everything and taken it to the motor ombudsman. Was the car purchased from a garage, if so check whether it is signed up to the ombudsman.
When purchasing a used car, you have several statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015:
Right to Reject: If the car has a fault within 30 days of purchase, you can reject it and get a full refund.
Right to Repair or Replacement: If the car has a fault within 30 to 6 months, you can request repairs or a replacement.
Right to Refund: After six months, you can still seek a refund, but you must prove that the fault was present at the time of sale.
Burden of Proof: The seller must prove that the car was fit for purpose and as described at the time of sale. |
He bought it last October I think (the night of the Charlton game, eeek), so no doubt they will go down the, "there wasn't a problem when we sold it to you, you haven't maintained it properly" - even though he's only done 2 long trips (Yarmouth to Lossiemouth and back) and a couple of thousand more.
Trying to get him to document everything though. | |
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| Used car problems on 12:54 - Jun 3 with 1113 views | bsw72 |
| Used car problems on 12:10 - Jun 3 by Bent_double |
He bought it last October I think (the night of the Charlton game, eeek), so no doubt they will go down the, "there wasn't a problem when we sold it to you, you haven't maintained it properly" - even though he's only done 2 long trips (Yarmouth to Lossiemouth and back) and a couple of thousand more.
Trying to get him to document everything though. |
If you can prove initial problems with door etc started in the first 6 months, strengthens your case. They don't have to have been reported.
Use something like CLaude or ChatGPT with a prompt "to act as a consumer rights expert in used cars in the UK, and interview you and your son on the issues you have had to better understand the legal position you have". | | | |
| Used car problems on 13:27 - Jun 3 with 1078 views | Ryorry |
When I bought a 2nd hand car from a dealer in Leeds last Nov, they had available to public view, a 2-3 minute video of the inspections they'd done - under the bonnet, chassis, bodywork & inside cab. Showed it to my local garage who I've been with for 20 years, saved an expensive AA or other pre-sale check. Was such a video available for your son's car, if so is it still on file?
Not sure if most dealerships do that now - if they do, and the place your son bought the car from don't, why didn't they?
If all else fails, Which? (car) magazine have consumer legal help available - you or son might have to sign up for the magazine for 3 months though. |  |
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| Used car problems on 13:31 - Jun 3 with 1059 views | NewcyBlue |
| Used car problems on 11:22 - Jun 3 by Bent_double |
Because of the cost of repairs. They seem to think oil is not reaching the top end of the engine for some reason. Sounds odd to me.
To me (and I'm no expert) it sounds like noisy tappets - a problem I had on a car 20-30 years ago, but if it is that, I don't think it's a catastrophic engine failure type problem, but what do I know.
I think they suggested 'webuyanycar'.....not sure how closely they would look into potential engine problems - although the noise is louder now than before the oil change! |
What year is it? What engine is it? And what's the mileage? [Post edited 3 Jun 13:33]
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| Used car problems on 13:43 - Jun 3 with 1009 views | Bent_double |
| Used car problems on 13:27 - Jun 3 by Ryorry |
When I bought a 2nd hand car from a dealer in Leeds last Nov, they had available to public view, a 2-3 minute video of the inspections they'd done - under the bonnet, chassis, bodywork & inside cab. Showed it to my local garage who I've been with for 20 years, saved an expensive AA or other pre-sale check. Was such a video available for your son's car, if so is it still on file?
Not sure if most dealerships do that now - if they do, and the place your son bought the car from don't, why didn't they?
If all else fails, Which? (car) magazine have consumer legal help available - you or son might have to sign up for the magazine for 3 months though. |
I think it did have an AA inspection report.
The garage that changed the oil yesterday are saying it was the wrong oil, but they won't go as far as to say that's what's caused the problem!
I'll get him to check out Which? - cheers | |
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| Used car problems on 13:44 - Jun 3 with 1003 views | Bent_double |
| Used car problems on 13:31 - Jun 3 by NewcyBlue |
What year is it? What engine is it? And what's the mileage? [Post edited 3 Jun 13:33]
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20 reg, so 2019 or 2020, BMW 118i, 1.5l, 40k miles. | |
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| Used car problems on 14:20 - Jun 3 with 873 views | NewcyBlue |
| Used car problems on 13:44 - Jun 3 by Bent_double |
20 reg, so 2019 or 2020, BMW 118i, 1.5l, 40k miles. |
I've sent you a PM.
Those B38 engines are known to have timing chain issues. When they get bad it sounds like a tractor.
Direct injection so they do get carbon build up on the inlet valves, shell blasting using walnut shells is a common preventative maintenance.
Hydraulic tappets can be noisy, so additives to the oil get used by people to quieten them down.
Without hearing it I won't be able to give much more of an assessment. | |
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| Used car problems on 14:50 - Jun 3 with 780 views | MJallday |
| Used car problems on 14:20 - Jun 3 by NewcyBlue |
I've sent you a PM.
Those B38 engines are known to have timing chain issues. When they get bad it sounds like a tractor.
Direct injection so they do get carbon build up on the inlet valves, shell blasting using walnut shells is a common preventative maintenance.
Hydraulic tappets can be noisy, so additives to the oil get used by people to quieten them down.
Without hearing it I won't be able to give much more of an assessment. |
yeah timing chain needs to be changed at 40-60k miles on those
ive just sold my car and bought a BMW :O
mines got the indicators, which i understand are an optional extra. |  |
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| Used car problems on 15:00 - Jun 3 with 754 views | NewcyBlue |
| Used car problems on 14:50 - Jun 3 by MJallday |
yeah timing chain needs to be changed at 40-60k miles on those
ive just sold my car and bought a BMW :O
mines got the indicators, which i understand are an optional extra. |
I need to do a gearbox overhaul on the XK, but it's finding time to do it! | |
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| Used car problems on 15:32 - Jun 3 with 633 views | bluelagos |
| Used car problems on 15:22 - Jun 3 by NewcyBlue |
We got rid of the red Jag. Which is a shame as it was a hell of a beast.
But the need for more room was greater than my need for horsepower. And I've got the V8 anyway.
We have a 2.0 S Max, which is a brilliant family car.
There's a rare and on the road group on Fakebook, somebody took a photo of my XK8 and put it on there, it made me quite happy.
It's car show season and I really need to do some work on it. |
WTF - You got a people carrier!
Mate - that's bad, like you have my genuine sympathy. Your life is now over and you are just a taxi driver for children so guess it makes sense.
I'll keep the Twtd cool car club going, hopefully you can rejoin one day! |  |
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| Used car problems on 15:56 - Jun 3 with 561 views | bluelagos |
| Used car problems on 15:53 - Jun 3 by WicklowBlue |
The Alfa experience is like the best of times and worst of times rolled into one day.  |
I feel like a San Francisco resident. So far I've been lucky to get this far unscathed but the longer you wait, the worse it's going to be when it all goes tits up... | |
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| Used car problems on 17:42 - Jun 3 with 378 views | NewcyBlue |
| Used car problems on 15:32 - Jun 3 by bluelagos |
WTF - You got a people carrier!
Mate - that's bad, like you have my genuine sympathy. Your life is now over and you are just a taxi driver for children so guess it makes sense.
I'll keep the Twtd cool car club going, hopefully you can rejoin one day! |
Well yes, a people carrier was needed.
But I think the fact I still have the XK8, a modern classic, often considered a better version of the DB7, should in fact make me president of TWTD cool car club. | |
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| Used car problems on 18:31 - Jun 3 with 327 views | bluelagos |
| Used car problems on 17:42 - Jun 3 by NewcyBlue |
Well yes, a people carrier was needed.
But I think the fact I still have the XK8, a modern classic, often considered a better version of the DB7, should in fact make me president of TWTD cool car club. |
I've consulted with the founder members and we all agree your membership is suspended. Some urged a life time ban but I argued your case and you maybe readmitted once an appropriate period of reflection has been completed. | |
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