Getting dealership to pay for repairs done elsewhere?

toasterman

I feel like I may have made yet another really bad decision today. Sorry for the long post in advance.

I've recently had to move house, and where I'm now living has nowhere for me to charge my electric car (nor at my work). So just under 3 weeks ago, I collected and paid the balance of a used car (by bank transfer, if that's important - I'd paid the deposit by credit card 5 days previous). I'd had a short test drive, but I'm not a mechanic. I bought a car with a full service history, a 3-month warranty, and an MOT til Dec 2025, from an AA Approved dealership.
This is a pretty basic petrol car, replacing a pretty old electric car. Not in any way an upgrade. Lower spec in every measurable way. My plan was to buy the petrol, sell the electric for approx the same amount.

Within 24 hours of picking the petrol car up from the dealership, it started making screeching noises from brakes when stopping at junctions, so I returned it to query this. They had it back, said they'd "adjusted" them, and I collected it again the following morning. The brakes were now not screeching, but also barely working. Took me a very long time to stop. After nearly being in a serious accident, I went to a brake/tyre place I've used before, they took a quick look at it, told me the brakes were covered in grease, not safe, and advised I return it.
I went back to the dealership and asked for my money back - rejecting the car. The garage made it quite clear they wouldn't be refunding the full amount as it would have another owner on the v5 and would be worth less. They argued that the car had nothing wrong with it, that they had fixed the brakes as to do me a favour even though they "aren't covered by the warranty" as it was a wear and tear item (after 4 days ownership!). I've since discovered the warranty is only on the engine and gearbox, but this isn't mentioned anywhere before you buy. They argued that the grease was necessary for the brakes to function, the car was now fine, and basically acted like I was crazy and/or had just changed my mind.  

I know the consumer rights thing says you can reject a car that isn't safe, but I've got one quick look brake place telling me unofficially they think it isn't safe, and the dealership telling me it is, and I can't prove one way or other.
So I paid £100 for an independent garage I trust to give it a going over and give me a report of whether it's safe or not. Unfortunately they were busy, as were the other places I tried, so in the mean time, it's basically sat on the road for 1.5 weeks because I was too scared to drive it. I've had to have insurance on multiple cars which has cost me another £45 so far, and I haven't been able to start trying to sell my old car either.

Today, independent garage report shows the following:

- Front Brakes - Discs lipped , pads new. Looks like someone has just sprayed grease onto the pads , contaminating discs - Quoted to replace front brake discs & pads.
- Rear Brakes - Discs lipped and corroded, pads new. Looks like someone has sprayed grease onto pads, contaminating discs Slight bind/rough spot when spun, on both reaheel - Quoted to replace rear brake discs + pads (need to investigate bind at the same time)

- Front Suspension - Both front lower arm rear bushes worn. (OSF worse)
- Rear Suspension - Both springs starting to corrode Both shock lower bushes worn
- Steering - Both inner tie rods have slight play
- Air Conditioning - AC not getting cold
- Exhaust - Back box join corroded heavily Centre heat shield slightly loose
- Battery - Battery failed test - Cost to replace

Now I trust them that the battery might be reading low, but of all the car's faults, it's started every time so far, even at very low temperatures, so while I'll accept it needs replacing at some point soon, I'm not as bothered about that right now. Air Con has been broken on probably 75% of cars I've ever bought, and I can't remember now whether the dealer even said it had it. 
They colour coded everything as serious issues, medium issues, no issue. The brakes and battery were serious. Others above all medium. There were obviously some things they checked with no issue. 

This garage asked if I wanted the car back to try arguing with the dealership to fix it again, but in a moment of madness, I just asked if they could fix the brakes (as I don't trust the dealership to fix it or anything else, so what would be the point in asking them). So the garage doing the assessment quoted me £600 for the brakes (I looked up the parts online and the parts alone are nearly £400), I agreed, because I need a car, I need to get rid of my old one, I'm struggling with the time going back and forth trying to sort this out as all these places are near where I used to live, some 20 miles away from where I now live. When they started fixing this, another £200 of parts became apparent due to calipers (the binding), other corrosion, a fixing kit, etc., which I also agreed. I do trust them/they have a good reputation. 

So at this point the consumer rights act would be no use as if the original garage offered me a refund now, I've spent another £900 on repairs/tests I won't get back. Is there any point in me asking the garage to cover some of the cost of the repairs they couldn't manage to do? Any way to make them?
I'm regretting saying yes to the repair now (which they've started already, so too late to back out of), but even if I took the dealership to court, it could drag on for weeks/months and I still need a car - would have the cost of the petrol one tied up, I need to get rid of my current car.

I'm going to report them to the AA Approved scheme thing, and probably VOSA - as the MOT which was carried out just 70 miles ago at the end of December (tested by a garage owned by the dealership), only picked up "Brake discs worn, but not excessively" and no other issues. Surely the suspension bushes, springs and exhaust corrosion would all be advisories?

Any other advice?
I've learnt one thing. The garage I trust do pre-purchase inspections for £100. Could have saved myself a lot of hassle if I'd known that before I bought this.

TELLIT01

As it's an AA approved garage I would contact the AA and get them to make a full inspection of the car.  Obviously not at that garage.  Don't use the car until is has been checked as from the description of what has been done to it, it is dangerous.