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Second hand car needs a new engine - can I sue the seller?

I bought a car recently for my son. I did a lot of research and decided a reasonable budget for a second hand MINI Cooper. I found the car via an online auction website and exchanged emails with the seller about the condition.

I picked up the car and drove it back to my son (around 200 miles). However, by this time it had developed 'a chugging', and choked in-gear. I booked it into a BMW specialist but the engine management light had come on, and by the time I got to the garage, smoke was coming out of the engine.

Ultimately the BMW specialise tried various repairs, but we ended up having to replace the engine. So I bought the car for £3000, and then paid £2500 on repairs. Do I stand a chance in the small claims court?

Asked on 4 August 2016 by Ruby

Answered by Honest John
All you could sue a private vendor for for would be Breach of Contract, so it depends on the wording of the advertisement and in the emails you exchanged with the vendor. If he wrote that the engine was in perfect condition when it wasn't, you may have grounds.
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