Purchased car from private seller. Seeking damages

Gmrides

"Are you intending to take it all the way to court?"

If tomorrow's diagnosis confirms Mini's Health Check and the repair cost is above say £200 then yes, I'll register a small court claim and pursue damages.

I don't wish to do so but being misled in this way just isn't cricket.

Gmrides

In addition I should mention that the seller informed me that he purchased the car 1 month ago for his wife and that the reason for sale was because she didn't like the low riding position.

He also told me that his friend (apparently a Mini mechanic) did a cash-in-hand service on the vehicle 2 weeks ago.

Now the Health Check not only indicated oil leaks but also that the engine was missing 2 litres of oil.

My suspicion is that he purchased the car, realised it was a dud and tried to pass it on.

Gmrides

I also discovered that he placed a circular piece of black tape over the airbag fault warning light, again revealed by the Health Check. Not sure if this constitutes a fit-for-purpose violation or not.

Mercdriver

Gmrides wrote: »

I also discovered that he placed a circular piece of black tape over the airbag fault warning light, again revealed by the Health Check. Not sure if this constitutes a fit-for-purpose violation or not.

Airbag failure warning light is an MOT failure so...

k3lvc

Gmrides wrote: »

"Are you intending to take it all the way to court?"

If tomorrow's diagnosis confirms Mini's Health Check and the repair cost is above say £200 then yes, I'll register a small court claim and pursue damages.

I don't wish to do so but being misled in this way just isn't cricket.

Gmrides wrote: »

In addition I should mention that the seller informed me that he purchased the car 1 month ago for his wife and that the reason for sale was because she didn't like the low riding position.

He also told me that his friend (apparently a Mini mechanic) did a cash-in-hand service on the vehicle 2 weeks ago.

Now the Health Check not only indicated oil leaks but also that the engine was missing 2 litres of oil.

My suspicion is that he purchased the car, realised it was a dud and tried to pass it on.

Gmrides wrote: »

I also discovered that he placed a circular piece of black tape over the airbag fault warning light, again revealed by the Health Check. Not sure if this constitutes a fit-for-purpose violation or not.

So given your expectations of a 13yo car did you actually do any inspections - i.e.check the oil level/quality/switch ignition on and check warning lights, check log book details etc or are you just looking for blame after the event for your lack of due diligence ?

facade

Gmrides wrote: »

Now the Health Check not only indicated oil leaks but also that the engine was missing 2 litres of oil.

Mini coopers of that era burn oil in huge amounts, 1000 miles per litre would be considered good. I personally know of two that were run dry of oil between services, so it is easily possible to use 2 litres in a fortnight.....

caprikid1

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silver-Mini-Cooper-1-6-2003-LOW-MILEAGE-Cat-D-fully-repaired/132846726494?hash=item1eee482d5e:g:EpwAAOSwtMNbvy4u


The car I believe

lincroft1710

OP paid £750 for the car, does anyone know if it's a fair price for a 2003 Mini Cooper

Scrapit

DoaM wrote: »

So in other words, your post #23 was pointless?

How does that figure? It was an expression of surprise at giving help. It was the post I made in the deleted thread about a motorbike that got the infraction. Not offensive, to the point and factual. You lot would struggle on some of the proper forums I went on, and there certainly wouldn't be a DM problem..

Gmrides

I paid £1400 for it. 107k on the clock.

Yes, I took it for a test drive, checked everything was working. But didn't check the oil level or go beneath it (low clearance would have made that difficult).