Used Car Issue (BMW 118i)

KatieDee

Herzlos wrote: »

I'd definitely get an independent specialist to have a look at it; it's probably something simple because of the mileage.

If it isn't, then you take the report back to the dealer and have them fix it or reject the car.
Might cost you £200, but you just paid £8000 for the car.

I did call BMW to try and book it in for full diagnostics after discussing the issue with them, but they were fully booked until October. There are probably smaller garages but as somebody else said, it might not carry as much weight in the event it goes to court.

If I was to get an independent assessment done

thescouselander wrote: »

Since the dealer you went to isn't playing ball I think you're going to have to spend a bit more to prove there is a fault. If you don't want to stretch to main dealer prices you could always look for an independant specialist but I would have thought a main dealer diagnosis would carry more weight especially since they'll have the best diagnostic kit and tech support to call on.

This is very true. I was concerned about spending money on the vehicle, especially as I've only just bought it. I was really hoping the dealer would work with me and try and fix the car. The fact he isn't even attempting to fix the issue is what's frustrating.

As I said, they claimed they had done a full service prior to me collecting the car. There's no doubt in my mind that they scrimped with this "service", so it might just be a matter of the air filters or fuel filters need changing. Even if he agreed to do this, it might improve the issue enough for me to manage.

Are BMW likely to be honest with me about the cause of the issue and give me a report detailing this? And in the event that it does go to court, am I able to recover the costs of the assessment back?

Mercdriver

KatieDee wrote: »

I did call BMW to try and book it in for full diagnostics after discussing the issue with them, but they were fully booked until October. There are probably smaller garages but as somebody else said, it might not carry as much weight in the event it goes to court.

If I was to get an independent assessment done



This is very true. I was concerned about spending money on the vehicle, especially as I've only just bought it. I was really hoping the dealer would work with me and try and fix the car. The fact he isn't even attempting to fix the issue is what's frustrating.

As I said, they claimed they had done a full service prior to me collecting the car. There's no doubt in my mind that they scrimped with this "service", so it might just be a matter of the air filters or fuel filters need changing. Even if he agreed to do this, it might improve the issue enough for me to manage.

Are BMW likely to be honest with me about the cause of the issue and give me a report detailing this? And in the event that it does go to court, am I able to recover the costs of the assessment back?

If you let them know that you are considering court action and that their report may be used in evidence in a private prosecution and they may be called as a witness, then they will take it very seriously.

However expert reports can work for and against you. Plus they can get expensive

worried123

I think your 30 days may be from when you `first` complained and i think you still have rights up to 6 months.

neilmcl

worried123 wrote: »

I think your 30 days may be from when you `first` complained and i think you still have rights up to 6 months.

You're wrong. 30 days is from the day the OP took possession of the car. Also, one thing to be aware of, when exercising the short-term right to reject the onus will be on the buyer to prove a fault exists and was present at the time of purchase. The OP "has rights" up to 6 years.

ess0two

Best of luck rejecting a car due to MPG issues.

KatieDee

ess0two wrote: »

Best of luck rejecting a car due to MPG issues.

This is one of the reasons I made the thread - if this MPG is normal for this car, then there wouldn't be any point in me speaking to the dealer about it.

The fact the MPG is so low (plus the other issues I mentioned) suggests there may be an underlying issue with the car. I didn't even want to reject the car, I just wanted the issues improved, but as the dealer is ignoring me I don't have much choice.

If it was a £1000 banger, I'd take the hit, get it serviced and move on. However, it was a rather large purchase and every person I have spoken to about it has said the MPG is worryingly low.

I do understand this is a tenuous reason to reject a car, and this is one of my concerns, but I don't feel comfortable keeping it either. Hopefully when I speak to the dealer about it, he will offer an alternative. If not, I'll have to look at my other options.

Jonesya

ess0two wrote: »

Best of luck rejecting a car due to MPG issues.

If the car is just plain inefficient by design then I'd agree, but the low MPG could be a symptom of another fault - engine problem causing poor efficiency, brake or drive train issue etc.

The Op needs to determine which it is, and if it is a fault identify what.

Jonesya

KatieDee wrote: »

If it was a £1000 banger, I'd take the hit, get it serviced and move on. However, it was a rather large purchase and every person I have spoken to about it has said the MPG is worryingly low.

I think you'd find most £1000 bangers would easily give you more than 20 MPG. Get a diesel banger and you'd get more than twice that

KatieDee

Jonesya wrote: »

I think you'd find most £1000 bangers would easily give you more than 20 MPG. Get a diesel banger and you'd get more than twice that

My point exactly.

While I was car shopping, a lovely shiny Honda Civic Type R caught my eye. 0-60 in 6.8 seconds, very fun to drive and obviously looked after. I know a few people who own Type R's and constantly floor them, and even they are getting late twenties.

However, I chose the BMW because the average mpg figures were better, it was a much more comfortable ride and far more suited to my needs. This was meant to be my "grown up, future proof" car.

Hence the frustration :rotfl:

Unfortunately, despite superior fuel consumption, a diesel isn't really suitable for me because I do relatively low mileage. Bloody tempting at the moment though...

ess0two

Google is littered with similar MPG complaints to yourself.