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Used car has developed a fault after 4 months - should the dealer fix it?
I bought a four year old BMW 3 Series from a car supermarket in February. After a few weeks of ownership the car developed a funny vibration at speeds of 70mph. The vibration feels like my driver side wheel is going over a rumble strip.
The dealer initially just performed a wheel balance, but the problem kept coming back. After six visits to the dealer, they agreed to diagnose further and said there is a 60% to 70% probability it might be the dual mass flywheel or it could be the prop shaft. They are shirking off their responsibility to fix it.
They say that a car of this age and mileage is bound to have certain wear and tear and they are not liable to fix it. They said I should expect some wear and tear on a used car.
I am considering complaining to trading standards. Do I stand a chance? BMW will charge me a few hundred pounds just to run diagnosis on it. Is it worth paying for that inspection so I can use that in my complaint to trading standards?
The dealer initially just performed a wheel balance, but the problem kept coming back. After six visits to the dealer, they agreed to diagnose further and said there is a 60% to 70% probability it might be the dual mass flywheel or it could be the prop shaft. They are shirking off their responsibility to fix it.
They say that a car of this age and mileage is bound to have certain wear and tear and they are not liable to fix it. They said I should expect some wear and tear on a used car.
I am considering complaining to trading standards. Do I stand a chance? BMW will charge me a few hundred pounds just to run diagnosis on it. Is it worth paying for that inspection so I can use that in my complaint to trading standards?
Asked on 23 July 2014 by mad_about_wheels
Answered by
Honest John
Trading Standards doesn't do much these days. If you want to take action you will need to use the small claims track of the county court. But, as it is, there is only a vibration. There is no mechanical breakdown. And anyway, dealer liability for a fault present on date of sale only lasts 6 months. And it's been 6 months: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/
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