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Used car dealer – SOGA Issues
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Can you help.
I purchased a vehicle via Autotrader from a dealer in North London on the 1st April. (Finchley Lane Car Sales Ltd / Trading as East Barnet Motor Company) I paid over £6k including a warranty, covered only 5 miles and had big issues with the engine where the car was unusable and needed RAC assistance. I stopped on the North Circular and took about 6 hours to get home waiting for the various tow trucks and transporters etc.
Oil was everywhere, smoke was coming from the engine, the steering failed. This all started from quite a bad oil leak which gets worse when the turbo pushes pressure through the engine. I pulled over straight away and contacted the dealer. I advised the RAC was to inspect and would bring the vehicle back for a refund or repair. I was then advised not to bring the car back but to take the car to my local independent garage for their review. Not being in this situation before and having my young son with me I was not sure what to do, therefore took the car to my local repair garage.
I rang the dealer and kept them informed of the situation via telephone and emails, finally having the car back repaired on the 25th April. The warranty did not cover any of the repairs and the total cost to me was over £1,600.00. This included a battery and Cam belt change which I do not expect reimbursement from the dealer. The issue started with the modified rocker gasket and the inlet manifold gasket that failed pushing oil out of the weakest point of the engine. This led to cap on the side of the engine pouring oil and causing the driving belt and steering pump to fail (see comments on invoices).
Please also note the car engine was steam cleaned so no evidence of oil problems existed when the car was purchased.
The vehicle is a 2005 Renault and the price paid was pretty much book value.
I am trying to claim £1k from the dealer as the vehicle was not of satisfactory quality and would not expect this failure at only 5 miles. This would cover those main repairs which I believe is reasonable to expect.
In addition I have correspondence from the original owner that stated they traded it in to a Ford Garage with an oil leak. It was then sent to auction and then sold to me via East Barnet.
My local garage could not believe these issues were with the vehicle of this age and advised a dealer should have noticed these issues within their pre-sale checks. In addition completed a check before issue of the warranty.
The dealer has been contacted and has not responded in any way
They appear to sell many cars which the majority appear to be of a high standard, some of which are over £25k.
I sent my request for reimbursement of repair costs on the 25th April, as I needed to wait before the car was repaired before I had final costs. As they have not returned my calls or replied to any emails I do not believe they will reply. The 25th April letter was send via email and also 1st Class Royal Mail Recorded. I telephoned them today and they advised that they will not do anything and have deleted all emails. They have not received my letter yet.
I presume my next action should be a final letter before action and then wither a MCOL or Small Claims Court.
Would appreciate any assistance or comments. Am I missing anything or doing the correct procedures.
It would also be interesting to hear if there had been any other issues with this company in the past.
I purchased a vehicle via Autotrader from a dealer in North London on the 1st April. (Finchley Lane Car Sales Ltd / Trading as East Barnet Motor Company) I paid over £6k including a warranty, covered only 5 miles and had big issues with the engine where the car was unusable and needed RAC assistance. I stopped on the North Circular and took about 6 hours to get home waiting for the various tow trucks and transporters etc.
Oil was everywhere, smoke was coming from the engine, the steering failed. This all started from quite a bad oil leak which gets worse when the turbo pushes pressure through the engine. I pulled over straight away and contacted the dealer. I advised the RAC was to inspect and would bring the vehicle back for a refund or repair. I was then advised not to bring the car back but to take the car to my local independent garage for their review. Not being in this situation before and having my young son with me I was not sure what to do, therefore took the car to my local repair garage.
I rang the dealer and kept them informed of the situation via telephone and emails, finally having the car back repaired on the 25th April. The warranty did not cover any of the repairs and the total cost to me was over £1,600.00. This included a battery and Cam belt change which I do not expect reimbursement from the dealer. The issue started with the modified rocker gasket and the inlet manifold gasket that failed pushing oil out of the weakest point of the engine. This led to cap on the side of the engine pouring oil and causing the driving belt and steering pump to fail (see comments on invoices).
Please also note the car engine was steam cleaned so no evidence of oil problems existed when the car was purchased.
The vehicle is a 2005 Renault and the price paid was pretty much book value.
I am trying to claim £1k from the dealer as the vehicle was not of satisfactory quality and would not expect this failure at only 5 miles. This would cover those main repairs which I believe is reasonable to expect.
In addition I have correspondence from the original owner that stated they traded it in to a Ford Garage with an oil leak. It was then sent to auction and then sold to me via East Barnet.
My local garage could not believe these issues were with the vehicle of this age and advised a dealer should have noticed these issues within their pre-sale checks. In addition completed a check before issue of the warranty.
The dealer has been contacted and has not responded in any way
They appear to sell many cars which the majority appear to be of a high standard, some of which are over £25k.
I sent my request for reimbursement of repair costs on the 25th April, as I needed to wait before the car was repaired before I had final costs. As they have not returned my calls or replied to any emails I do not believe they will reply. The 25th April letter was send via email and also 1st Class Royal Mail Recorded. I telephoned them today and they advised that they will not do anything and have deleted all emails. They have not received my letter yet.
I presume my next action should be a final letter before action and then wither a MCOL or Small Claims Court.
Would appreciate any assistance or comments. Am I missing anything or doing the correct procedures.
It would also be interesting to hear if there had been any other issues with this company in the past.
0
Comments
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For clarification, who did the repairs, the dealer you bought the car off or your local garage?0
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Paul,
The dealer asked me to take the car to my local garage for the repairs as they were not set up for repairs. The dealer is in North London and we are South London.
I was also a little worried about taking it back to the dealer as they would have been locked up by the time the RAC had arrived to transport the car. Would it have been safe in the road etc.0 -
Why aren't you asking for the full amount?0
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Paul,
The dealer asked me to take the car to my local garage for the repairs as they were not set up for repairs. The dealer is in North London and we are South London.
I was also a little worried about taking it back to the dealer as they would have been locked up by the time the RAC had arrived to transport the car. Would it have been safe in the road etc.
I would book an appointment with your solicitor and get him to take this formal for you.
I'd be claiming the full amount btw.0 -
The full amount included a car battery and changing of the Cam belts. I felt that when I bought the car at 75k miles I knew the cam belts should be changed.
With the battery, is this a consumable.
I tried to be fair with the dealer and felt that my claim for £1k was reasonable.0 -
Why did you pay for the repair? Why not just let the dealer sort it out?0
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The dealer is in North London and I am South London. We broke down at about 5.00pm just after leaving the dealership. We needed to wait for the RAC and then the RAC low loader. We would not have got there until about 10pm.
I didnt want to leave the car outside the dealership as would they have done anything or just left it there. If it was a main dealer then they would have been another story.
I did phone the dealer when the problems started, even before I rang the RAC and they suggested taking it back local.
It was one of those decisions, what do you do !!
Anyway we took it back to my garage that I have used for years.0
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