compensation

ziggyboy4435

Hi everyone ,  Looking for some advice ,   A friend of mine has bought a approved used Mercedes ,   He bought the car online without seeing it and was assured the car was perfect ,  When the car was delivered it sure did look amazing ,   A friend of his has since said the paint thickness using a machine suggests the car has been repaired on 2 panels ,   Should Mercedes of checked this and would they be liable for paying towards the lost money  in resale value with painted panels ,   Thanks 

Car_54

Why would the resale value be affected? Your pal thought the car was perfect, so why wouldn't any future buyer? How many potential buyers bring along "friends" with amazing paint measuring machines?

There's nothing wrong with selling a car that's been repaired. Probably not many haven't.

ziggyboy4435

Car_54 said:

Why would the resale value be affected? Your pal thought the car was perfect, so why wouldn't any future buyer? How many potential buyers bring along "friends" with amazing paint measuring machines?

There's nothing wrong with selling a car that's been repaired. Probably not many haven't.

surely when you buy a approved used car from a main dealer for 30k it should be perfect and fully checked by dealer ,  And you will be surprised what repaired paint will look like after a few years if not done properly ,   Might not show any issues at they time but in 3 years could look terrible 

elsien

“Used car” and “perfect” don’t generally go together in the same sentence. 

MX5huggy

Even a brand new car often has paint repaired from transportation damage. 

The_Fat_Controller

Compo culture again !

Did anyone ask the question about repairs or repainting ?

The paint test "suggests" repainting, any proof ?

If the car was as described you your friend has no comeback at all.

With secondhand prices at ridiculous levels, you your friend could yet lose an arm and a leg when they sell it once the market returns to normal.

Stubod

.as above, a lot of "brand new" cars may well have had the odd panel re-sprayed due to minor damage / problems  during manufacturing / transport, and highly unlikely they can get any "compensation"....just enjoy the car!

peter_the_piper

Why do people buy a used car without actually seeing it?

Ebe_Scrooge

I can scarcely believe you're even asking the question, to be honest.  If the repaint job had been a botched DIY attempt then yes, you'd have grounds to reject the car.  But a professional respray will be as good as new.  And, to reiterate what's already been said, it's not at all uncommon for a brand-new car to get dinged during transport, and to be repaired before it even reaches the showroom.

jimjames

ziggyboy4435 said:

Hi everyone ,  Looking for some advice ,   A friend of mine has bought a approved used Mercedes ,   He bought the car online without seeing it and was assured the car was perfect ,  When the car was delivered it sure did look amazing ,   A friend of his has since said the paint thickness using a machine suggests the car has been repaired on 2 panels ,   Should Mercedes of checked this and would they be liable for paying towards the lost money  in resale value with painted panels ,   Thanks 

So the car looks perfect and you 'd have no knowledge of any paint work being done unless you use a machine? What's the issue if you can't even see it? It would be different if the structural integrity was a problem but you don't seem to be suggesting that is - though if you're worried that would be a better thing to check I would have thought.

facade

I suppose it comes down to the difference in the meaning of "perfect" between the customer (mine would be "completely without imperfection or flaws"- and a repainted panel would be both)  and the dealer (probably "satisfying all requirements")*

I'd suggest taking it to a different dealer for a valuation as a trade-in or for them to purchase, and see how much they knock off because of the repainted panels- which might suddenly become an issue when you try to sell it, even though it apparently wasn't worth mentioning when you bought it. If they don't notice, then it isn't an issue.

And no, it isn't true that most new cars have fallen off the loading ramp, had crates dropped on them or been played bumping cars with at the port or the dealer, so they've "had bodywork done"

*same as if you buy a second hand part from a breaker. Their idea of "as new" "unmarked" "perfect" differs somewhat from mine