Evans Halshaw Runabouts Scheme

donnyrovers91

Hi there I was just wanting some advice that is all regarding the Evans Halshaw runabouts scheme as mentioned in the subject title.










I purchased a vehicle from them which was a BMW 1 Series vehicle 2009 plate car. It was during October last year.


After putting a hefty deposit down I took out approximately £3000 on finance with the intention of paying it off at some point this year to try and cut down the interest and this was through Barclays Partner Finance.


This is the start of the problems and the lack of customer service or my terms as in their ethos which doesn't match too competitors especially my partner who works for Mercedes.


When I took my car home the parking sensors didn't work on my car whatsoever despite being described on their advert as coming with parking sensors. I contacted their dealer and asked them would this be able to be fixed and they said no it wouldn't as I had now taken this off the forecourt.


My partner who works as a Warranty Administrator contacted them and asked them the same question and they said no but as my wife works in warranty she is more privy to what rights we have and she said that she would be wanting a refund for the car when you would actually think they would explain our rights to us.


This is when they decided to actually do it as a "goodwill gesture" and they would fix this. However as I don't live in Leeds and in another town they wanted to fix this themselves which was a bit of an inconvenience however they did provide me with a courtesy car which was the outcome we was wanting nevertheless it was still a bit gruelling and time consuming sorting this.


During close to Christmas this is when the problems started, my red oil pressure light came on my dash and then I was also having issues with my car starting as well and when I was going to work this was problematic.


I took my car to an independent car repair service which specifically is tailored for German Cars and they said this would require an oil pressure valve replacement which would come to a total cost of almost £300. With this is mind I decided not to contact the dealer as I thought the issue had been rectified in which I was wrong.


The oil pressure light kept coming on and then I had to take it back and it was found that the timing chain guides had broken up in the sump and would require a timing chain replacement at a total cost of almost £900.


Duly I contacted Evans Halshaw and complained and they explained this was a serviceable item this wouldn't be covered even with the extended warranty they was offering me to a total cost of £1500. They mentioned also because I had it repaired at another company this wouldn't be covered and that because I had done 7000 miles on my car in which I was working on another position however this problem came up before I went on this role and hadn't even done 500 miles on my car and also I had first taken my car to the repair company in the middle of January.


The response below I only actually got when I contacted the dealership and overall in terms of caring for the customer and contacting me back has been really poor in all honesty (it is the Evans Halshaw Roseville Road now relocated to Gelderd Road for anyone who wants to purchase through the runabouts scheme avoid at all costs).


I then contacted consumer advice and attempted to make a claim through Barclays Partner Finance from their advice and duly did this. However they stated as there was no evidence it was there regarding the issue with my car at the point of sale and I wouldn't be entitled to any monies back.


Additionally I contacted BMW and asked if there had been a recall for the timing chain guides however the same reply was even if there was I wouldn't be entitled to anything as I had it repaired through a third party garage.


My last port of call is to go through the Financial Ombudsman even though I don't expect to get anything I haven't anything to lose.


Would appreciated anyone else's thoughts on what I've just spoke about and my chances of getting something through the financial ombudsman service.


Thank you for reading.

angrycrow

Guess this is the infamous n47 BMW diesel engine. Well known for timing chain failure. The problem is not that the chain fails but more that because the chain is at the rear of the engine the whole lump has to come out to replace the chain turning a £300 job into a £1000 plus job.

Given it is a known fault and occurred within 700 miles I would be exercising my consumer rights against the dealer but your issue is that because it is more than 6 months since sale you would need to obtain evidence the timing chain was faulty at point of sale.

AdrianC

You bought a 9yo car from a retailer's "cheap and cheerful" corner, then had a strop about trivialities like parking sensors. Yes, the cam chain issues are well-known, but they would also be reasonably expected to be covered under consumer rights legislation.

However, that legislation explicitly gives the retailer the right to repair - you can't just take it anywhere and expect them to pick the bill up. That's not being reasonable on your part. As for the distance between your home and the retailer, you knew that when you chose to buy.

donnyrovers91

AdrianC wrote: »

You bought a 9yo car from a retailer's "cheap and cheerful" corner, then had a strop about trivialities like parking sensors. Yes, the cam chain issues are well-known, but they would also be reasonably expected to be covered under consumer rights legislation.

However, that legislation explicitly gives the retailer the right to repair - you can't just take it anywhere and expect them to pick the bill up. That's not being reasonable on your part. As for the distance between your home and the retailer, you knew that when you chose to buy.

The parking sensors was advertised as working, they had guaranteed that these was working when we went of a test run with the car. And that the dealer I purchased it from was 1 hour from home and was described with parking sensors and a full check which should be been diagnosed and rectified.


As I mentioned previously the timing chain guides is a serviceable item and they wouldn't have picked up the repair anyway.


The job I took up was actually agreed after I purchased the car and is irrelevant regarding this matter.


I am only asking for a refund as good will gesture.

Arklight

donnyrovers91 wrote: »

The parking sensors was advertised as working, they had guaranteed that these was working when we went of a test run with the car. And that the dealer I purchased it from was 1 hour from home and was described with parking sensors and a full check which should be been diagnosed and rectified.


As I mentioned previously the timing chain guides is a serviceable item and they wouldn't have picked up the repair anyway.


The job I took up was actually agreed after I purchased the car and is irrelevant regarding this matter.


I am only asking for a refund as good will gesture.

If the parking sensors were advertised as working and weren't, on a used vehicle, the retailer either has to fix them or provide you a restitution proportional to their overall value in the car (good luck figuring out what that is). These are your statutory rights and have nothing to do with any kind of warranty real or implied the dealer offered you. Although you may have a case to claim you were missold the warranty.

I'm surprised a big name like Evans Halshaw would bother trying to wriggle out of what to them is probably a very simple repair though, what was it, a loose wire?

As far as the oil warning light, you should have contacted them as soon as this problem arose. You chose instead to effect your own repairs and eventually asked them to pay for them some months later when the cost exceeded what you could bear.

I got a bit lost with the events at the end, you seem to be trying to fight them under being missold the entire car due to them being aware it wasn't fit for purpose. I would suggest you're on a road to nowhere with that.

If you buy a vehicle, used or otherwise, and it breaks down within 6 months, the only place you should look for restitution is the place you bought it from. Unfortunately I think that ship has sailed now.

donnyrovers91

Arklight wrote: »

If the parking sensors were advertised as working and weren't, on a used vehicle, the retailer either has to fix them or provide you a restitution proportional to their overall value in the car (good luck figuring out what that is). These are your statutory rights and have nothing to do with any kind of warranty real or implied the dealer offered you. Although you may have a case to claim you were missold the warranty.

I'm surprised a big name like Evans Halshaw would bother trying to wriggle out of what to them is probably a very simple repair though, what was it, a loose wire?

As far as the oil warning light, you should have contacted them as soon as this problem arose. You chose instead to effect your own repairs and eventually asked them to pay for them some months later when the cost exceeded what you could bear.

I got a bit lost with the events at the end, you seem to be trying to fight them under being missold the entire car due to them being aware it wasn't fit for purpose. I would suggest you're on a road to nowhere with that.

If you buy a vehicle, used or otherwise, and it breaks down within 6 months, the only place you should look for restitution is the place you bought it from. Unfortunately I think that ship has sailed now.

In response to each point:


1) Sorry I mentioned it on my initial post they did rectify this despite trying to wriggle out of it and did actually sort it in the end with time consuming phone calls and resort to having to bring it back for a refund.


2) it was fixed in the end but they did try and wriggle out of it initially.


3) I think it was just lack of experience on my part, it was the first car I had actually purchased and just didn't think that there would be the additional repair after the first one but I will know next time.


4) I am aware that I more than likely won't be compensated but just following all the steps and the final one which is through the financial ombudsman but I am aware that it probably won't go in my favour.


5) I know that now and in future would contact them duly and as I'm after purchasing my other half a car which is something I know now but I appreciate your response.

custardy

I know its not the main point.
However time and time again people mention dealers being X miles from where they live and not being convenient.
Buy closer or expect to have some hassle with potential warranty repairs

revenge2

If the fault was their when u purchased the car then they have to repair it .but heres how they get away with it at the time of sale did u report the fault in writing and did they get one chance to fix it . In truth never by from eh as the warranties are stacked against you and they never reply to you are give u anything in writing .