Repair garage has damaged my car..

Monkey22

Hope someone can offer some advice on right and possibly mechanical knowledge. I’ll start by adding I’m not experienced with cars I’m relatively new to it all.

I have a 2018 3008 with the 1.5 blueHDI. I’d heard about issues with the 7mm chain. Cars in with a well established local garage, for cambelt+pump, upgrade kit to the 8mm chain for peace of mind and service.They tried to tell me they can just put the 8mm chain on and I told them I’d researched it and showed them the kit I’d seen is needed (new cams, the new housing etc).

after being messed around all week with excuses of why it’s delayed. they’ve admitted they thought it was fine to basically ignore me, and they’ve put the 8mm chain on and started it and the engines knackered.

They’ve admitted it’s their fault and to rectify at their expensive but I have absolutely no faith in them whatsoever at this point. They’ve told me they intend to skim them head as it’s “bad practice not too”, replace all of the valves, rebuild the engine and obviously fit the full kit like I actually paid for…

does this sound right and likely to have the engine put back right properly? I’ve read mixed things about skimming, is there anything I should look out for or expect them to do? I bought the car a matter of weeks ago with full history And very very well looked after, had a lot of faith it’d be a reliable motor and now it feels like it’s all been knackered up… could really do with some advice from someone more knowledgeable as I don’t know what to do or think and I’m worried I won’t get the car back right/the same as it was

eskbanker

You've posted on the consumer rights board, but the motoring one is a more obvious location if you're looking for technical rather than legal input?

Monkey22

It’s more what my rightss are too legal wise 

SiliconChip

Monkey22 said:

It’s more what my rightss are too legal wise 

But that's not what you've asked for, you want to know if the repair that's been suggested is the correct action, and that is best answered on the Motoring board. You haven't asked a consumer rights question, although I think what the garage is doing will probably meet your consumer rights as long as it's the correct thing to do, so we're back to getting the thread moved to the right board.

Monkey22

SiliconChip said:

Monkey22 said:

It’s more what my rightss are too legal wise 

But that's not what you've asked for, you want to know if the repair that's been suggested is the correct action, and that is best answered on the Motoring board. You haven't asked a consumer rights question, although I think what the garage is doing will probably meet your consumer rights as long as it's the correct thing to do, so we're back to getting the thread moved to the right board.

“could really do with some advice from someone more knowledgeable as I don’t know what to do or think and I’m worried I won’t get the car back right/the same as it was“

asking for advise on what to do, highlighting concern I won’t get the car back as it should be in which case I’d need to know what to do, rights, course of action… 

Monkey22

Hope someone can offer some advice on rights and possibly mechanical knowledge. I’ll start by adding I’m not experienced with cars I’m relatively new to it all.

I have a 2018 3008 with the 1.5 blueHDI. I’d heard about issues with the 7mm chain. Cars in with a well established local garage, for cambelt+pump, upgrade kit to the 8mm chain for peace of mind and service.They tried to tell me they can just put the 8mm chain on and I told them I’d researched it and showed them the kit I’d seen is needed (new cams, the new housing etc).

after being messed around all week with excuses of why it’s delayed. they’ve admitted they thought it was fine to basically ignore me, and they’ve put the 8mm chain on and started it and the engines knackered.

They’ve admitted it’s their fault and to rectify at their expensive but I have absolutely no faith in them whatsoever at this point. They’ve told me they intend to skim them head as it’s “bad practice not too”, replace all of the valves, rebuild the engine and obviously fit the full kit like I actually paid for…

does this sound right and likely to have the engine put back right properly? I’ve read mixed things about skimming, is there anything I should look out for or expect them to do? I bought the car a matter of weeks ago with full history And very very well looked after, had a lot of faith it’d be a reliable motor and now it feels like it’s all been knackered up… could really do with some advice from someone more knowledgeable as I don’t know what to do or think and I’m worried I won’t get the car back right/the same as it was

Ibrahim5

It probably COULD be put right with someone who cares, knows what they are doing and takes the time needed. Sounds like you have some incompetent baffoons so that is probably unlikely.

Monkey22

Ibrahim5 said:

It probably COULD be put right with someone who cares, knows what they are doing and takes the time needed. Sounds like you have some incompetent baffoons so that is probably unlikely.

They’re a pretty big garage that have been around a long time and seem to have good reviews etc, I had them recommended by my usual place cos they were too busy for the job.

what would you do in these circumstance? They admitted what they’d done and that it was their fault straight away so on that front all good. I plan on asking them to write down what damage they did and everything they’ve checked, replaced, any work they’ve done in writing before I leave with the car. Is there anything else to do?

Mildly_Miffed

Yes, the head will need skimming when it comes off - not to take any real material off, but to provide a good clean mating surface for the new head gasket.

It sounds like they're owning up to their mistake, and doing a proper job to rectify the situation. Micro-managing that as you propose is just going to put their backs up. Was there even an issue with the camchain in your car, or had you just scared yourself with too much doom-googling? There are millions of those engines in service happily. Yours had reached 7yo without issue and, I presume, was still quiet?

So what do you want them to do?

They clearly can't turn the clock back. They probably wish they could.

Do you want them to buy the car off you? Ask them. They can, of course, then repair it at leisure and resell it.

Do you want them to put in a complete new engine? Not going to happen.

Would you accept a complete used engine? With known history vs unknown, you're better off getting yours repaired.

sheslookinhot

What do you think you need to do ? What do you want to be the outcome ?

I would let the well established garage carry out the repair as they have advised, seeking a guarantee on the repair they have carried out. They may also add a goodwill service.

QrizB

Mildly_Miffed said:

Would you accept a complete used engine? With known history vs unknown, you're better off getting yours repaired.

This.

I'd rather have a professionally rebuilt engine than a used one of unknown provenance.