Brand new car, new engine!!

MKBEANZ

Hi all,

I purchased a new car from Mercedes 7 months ago and had nothing but problems for the last 4 weeks.

I had to take the vehicle in 4 weeks ago to have a new fan belt fitted, and on Wednesday I broke down on the way to work.. I don't know much about cars at all but the AA chap who Mercedes sent out told me that the belt around the alternator had snapped. So this got recovered back to the garage. I received a call from Mercedes yesterday to say that a new belt was fitted, but they have now found an issue with the head gasket and their warranty department authorised them to fit it with a new engine. (They won't even provide me with a courtesy car because they don't have any available!!)

Friends and family have told me that I shouldn't be accepting the vehicle back, that if these problems are happening so early.. The car is practically doomed for a lifetime of problems.

I've contacted Mercedes this morning, and asked for someone to call me back to discuss my concerns. They're due to call back soon and I'm just after some advice really? What should I be saying? What are my rights?

Thanks in advance for any help

neilmcl

Legally they can repair should they so wish. However, they should not cause you a significant inconvenience. Do not accept the fact they have no courtesy vehicle available, insist they supply a hire car instead. If you get nowhere fast with the dealer call Mercedes customer services a call.

Quentin

By telling you not to accept the vehicle back your friends and family look to be advising you to "reject" the car.

You have no right to this. (You needed to do this within 6 months of taking delivery), so if you want to follow their advice try requesting this and take it from their reply.

MKBEANZ

Thank you both for your replies

Netwizard

Let them fix it and meanwhile, as another poster said, ask them to hire you a car at their expense

WTFH

If it was the cambelt (not the fanbelt) that snapped, then that would explain the problem with the head gasket as well, and getting a new engine is the best long-term solution.

worried_jim

A no quibble engine swap? Bite their hand off!

Building_Surveyor

What makes you think the car is doomed for life? They're fixing it aren't they?

StrugglingApprentice

It is rare for a main dealer to hold their hands up and admit something like this. Where i worked before, technicians werent allowed to mention anything that might cause someone to claim on warranty.

arcon5

Quentin wrote: »

By telling you not to accept the vehicle back your friends and family look to be advising you to "reject" the car.

You have no right to this. (You needed to do this within 6 months of taking delivery), so if you want to follow their advice try requesting this and take it from their reply.

That's not right. You can reject within 'reasonable' time. The 6 month rule is completely different

neilmcl

arcon5 wrote: »

That's not right. You can reject within 'reasonable' time. The 6 month rule is completely different

Actually you're both right. 6 months is classed as a reasonable period within which you can a reject a new car. However you still need to allow the dealer 3 attempts to rectify any fault.