Cinch car - Needs new engine

Belle1985s

Just looking for some advice…

Purchased a car from cinch. Collected 13th Dec 25. Spotted white smoke and a funny smell. It’s now been confirmed it needs a new engine at £6400. Car was £5400. I’m waiting to hear how this is going to work out but worrying they won’t cover it. The coolant is black and the engine is burning oil. Oil in the exhaust too. It’s had some impact and they’ve put a new bumper on to cover it and the window screen is unbonded too. Can any tell me how this will all turn out? I reported the issues in 4 weeks to the date of collection, albeit it was ongoing from when I collected it but I didn’t know if it was normal and I do minimal mileage. They still won’t provide a courtesy car, I’ve been without a car for over a week now.

LizB62

Reported to get moved to a more appropriate section of the forum

MSE_ForumTeam5

We've moved this to the Motoring board

Mildly_Miffed

What do you mean by "cover it"? They won't put an engine in it and sort the cosmetic issues, if that's what you're meaning.

<£5.5k is very low-end for Cinch - of the over 10,000 cars on their website currently, just 8 are £5.5k or below.

They offer a no-quibble 14-day/250 mile moneyback - but you've now had the car more than two months, and many of the issues you describe would have been immediately obvious on inspection.

If you want to reject it, you need to do so without further delay, in writing. Given you collected it from their premises, you need to physically return the car to their premises, along with all paperwork and keys.

Belle1985s

As in… Will they deal with the issue or will they just say it’s tough and leave me to pay for the car?

It might have been two months now but the issues were reported within three weeks, mechanic came to the house and said likely a head gasket, albeit not head gasket upon further inspection. It’s taken this long for them to deal with getting the car looked at. They made me go to two garages too. Garages they requested. Won’t give me a courtesy car and I’ve got two kids plus work to get to.

I’ve now contacted the lender too as apparently they are also liable.

The cost to repair is more than the car is worth so I’m wondering what they will do next.

What my rights are etc.

Belle1985s

You need to read my initial post. The car has been to two garages. Needs a new engine which is more than the car.

Cinch would be mad to approve the repairs so what happens after that? Selling a car which is in a poor state of repair etc.

Mildly_Miffed

There's a 90 day warranty on all Cinch purchases. You need to follow the procedure for that.

And, yes, that will include taking it to garages they specify.

https://www.cinch.co.uk/car-care/90-day-warranty

It seems fairly clear-cut that there's no inherent expectation to a courtesy car…
"You might even be eligible for a hirecar, depending on the repair needed"

forgotmyname

Your looking at £6k for a new engine but it's a used car so they could in theory put a used engine into it.

They probably won't but legally they could. Puzzled why you think THEY fitted a new bumper and how is the
screen unbonded? I would have thought a screen not glued in would be fairly obvious?

paul_c123

Do you have the technical details of what the mechanic and the two garages have diagnosed?

Make/model/age/engine/spec of car?

I dare say with it being Cinch, they'll refund you (eventually), patch up the car and move it on through the nearest BCA Auction House.

Belle1985s

It’s got a new back bumper, it’s a different white so I asked both garages to check for any damage beneath. The cinch approved garage said no damage, the current garage said broken brackets and damage to the wheel well. The window screen kept freezing on the inside so I asked the garages to look at this, both said unbonded window screen. I’ve been told its dangerous, shouldn’t be driving it. The car was previously inspected by BCA Fleet. Apparently they also did a “part” service too. Not sure that’s the case given what’s currently wrong with it. The coolant was black when I looked under the bonnet too. I’m hoping they refund, it’s currently under a HP agreement.

Belle1985s

It’s 2016. Done 68k. 1.2.