Advice regarding problems after purchase

pangster

Hi - just looking for any tips or advice regarding some issues we're having.. I'll run it down in chronological order and hopefully someone can offer advice:

1) Purchased second hand car (Mercedes C-Class C200K) from car broker in August 2011
2) On the first day of driving the car home (after picking it up) - it displayed a fault (revs were hunting at idle) and check engine light on
3) Immediately called the broker who advised us to take the car back into them and they would investigate and resolve
4) Problem was diagnosed as faulty MAF and we were advised that this was replaced (did not see any paperwork or receipt for this as we did no pay for it)
5) Car has driven fine even since (albeit we don't do a large mileage in it) c4k a year - until the last month or so
6) Last month neither key fob would work and we had the car recovered to our dealers who diagnosed the EIS (electronic ignition switch) - so we had this fixed (an eye watering £700 lighter in pocket)
7) We've driven approximately 250 miles since the EIS was replaced and now seem to have another issue - the car takes ages to start/crank. When the car does start there is sometimes what sounds like a slight misfire when revving the car when it's stationary. Whilst driving gently it seems to drive Ok - but when you press the accelerator down harder then the car hesitates and feels generally down on power.
8) I had my car in at my local mechanic (non Mercedes specialist) who couldn't track fault so have now had to book it back in with the dealers on Monday - the concern I have is that as part of his checks, he removed the under trays to the engine and has advised that someone has sealed over the sump plug with some kind of resin/glue - he thinks this is possibly due to someone stripping the threads previously. He confirmed there was no leaks and the next service is due in 7,200 miles according to the dash - he also stated that in all likelihood the car would need a new sump as this resin/glue could not be removed to remove the sump plug for oil changes.

I'm looking for clarification on:

1) We bought the car with 44k on the clock (currently on 48k) with full service history. Mercedes Benz carried out the servicing on the car for the first two services and it has been serviced at the same independent garage ever since.
2) The services by the independent garage have Engine Oil Changed on each entry (last one being 06/04/2011)
3) Do we have any recourse against either the car broker or the garage who has serviced the car and clearly done the bodge work with the sump plug? or do I need to put this one down to a bad experience and stump up for the replacement myself
4) If the dealers come back on Monday and say problem is related to work done last month - should we be expected to pay anything?

Thanks for any help or advice anyone can offer...

Tilt

If you can prove that the sump plug was like it at the time of purchase, then you would have re-course against the seller.

Had you discovered this within 6 months of purchase, the seller would of had to prove that it wasn't like that when he sold it to you. Not sure how the problem with the electronic ignition switch would be related to the sump plug to be honest.

pangster

Tilt wrote: »

If you can prove that the sump plug was like it at the time of purchase, then you would have re-course against the seller.

Had you discovered this within 6 months of purchase, the seller would of had to prove that it wasn't like that when he sold it to you. Not sure how the problem with the electronic ignition switch would be related to the sump plug to be honest.

thanks for the reply!!

it's not related (2 separate issues).. one is with the seller/garage who serviced it and done the bodge - the other issue is around if the EIS is causing the current issues.

Tilt

I would certainly contact the seller about the sump. Not sure about the other issue as you have had it done. The seller perhaps should have had the opportunity to inspect it first. Problem is though that after 6 months, you need to demonstrate that the fault(s) were present at the time of purchase.

pangster

Tilt wrote: »

I would certainly contact the seller about the sump. Not sure about the other issue as you have had it done. The seller perhaps should have had the opportunity to inspect it first. Problem is though that after 6 months, you need to demonstrate that the fault(s) were present at the time of purchase.

thanks again for taking the time to reply!!..

does it matter that i paid for some of the car (deposit) by credit card?.. either way I think proving it might be the hard part now.. not really sure how I could (or would) go about doing it?.. would something like an engine oil analysis be suitable or would it be an engineers report? either way it would probably just be easier to chalk this one to experience??