S/H BMW bought from a dealer: Problems! Where do I stand?

Major_Sarcasm

Thank you for all the constructive comments so far.

I will write a 'letter before action' this evening, detailing the faults and asking for a refund or for the faults to be rectified and get it in the post tomorrow morning. The quotes for repairs will have to follow later. There's only one BMW garage on the Island and I would prefer them to quote for the work. There is also an independent BMW 'specialist' that I'll also approach.

AdrianC

Major_Sarcasm wrote: »

I will write a 'letter before action' this evening, detailing the faults and asking for a refund or for the faults to be rectified and get it in the post tomorrow morning.

Go back a step...

I thought you wanted a refund? Now you want a refund or it fixing? Two separate things. Ask for a refund. Do not mention fixing.

The quotes for repairs will have to follow later. There's only one BMW garage on the Island and I would prefer them to quote for the work. There is also an independent BMW 'specialist' that I'll also approach.

If you want it sorted, as you have every right to do if they won't accept your right to refund, then they get to choose who fixes it. And if that means taking it back to them, it means taking it back to them. You chose to buy it from them, knowing full well where they were. And, no, expecting a non-franchise seller to pay franchise dealer rates for an 8yo car is not realistic.

Major_Sarcasm

OK, I'll revise my planned letter to ask for refund only. Voice of reason. thanks.

Iceweasel

gilberto wrote: »

Don't know why you're surprised, it's a BMW. They are inherent to faults as reliability isn't exactly their strong suit. And when it goes wrong it's usually ££££££ to fix properly.

Yes - they are all rubbish except BMW M3s.

Especially the DARK coloured ones.

But I don't think that really MATTERs.

daveyjp

When you travel so far it is very difficult to turn on your heals and walk away. I suspect in your head you had bought this car as soon as you left home.

Buyers remorse sets in very quickly once you start driving a lemon.

My other thought is a modern diesel the wisest choice for the Isle of Wight?

Major_Sarcasm

Why wouldn't it be?

On my daily commute I see lots of diesels. I'd bet that out of the 120,000 or so residents on the Island, the national average of diesel owners is similar

AdrianC

Major_Sarcasm wrote: »

Why wouldn't it be?

Three letters.
D. P. F.

marty2be2000

With regards to the A/C not working, on most cars today the A/C is disabled at temperatures below 4c in order to protect the condenser from freezing up, the A/C on both my Audi and Volvo are currently non working because of the low temperatures in the morning.

Stop Start will also be disabled, this is again due to the cold, if it's cold outside then until a certain engine temperature is reached and the interior has warmed up the system will remain inactive. This is to allow the engine and interior to warm up and keep the occupants warm, otherwise we would be reading stories of the car interior being cold.

angrycrow

I can see problems ahead with a refund on this car. If I am reading the timeline correctly after the initial request for a refund the OP then took the car for a professional valet including machine polishing of the paint. OP has informed the seller of this fact. My understanding of the consumer rights is that when rejecting a vehicle you must stop using it immediately and not do any work om the car which would imply acceptance of the vehicle.Would the valet and machine polish not be deemed as acceptance of the vehicle.

The dealer may also raise issues over the machine polish, whilst fantastic results can be achieved by skilled professions it is very easy to ruin the paint on a car with a poor machine polish. If the dealer does agree to take the car back he would be entitled to make a deduction if the machine polishing has caused any damage to the paint.

Fat_Walt

gilberto wrote: »

Don't know why you're surprised, it's a BMW. They are inherent to faults as reliability isn't exactly their strong suit. And when it goes wrong it's usually ££££££ to fix properly.

Good to see our resident BMW expert is onto this.