They have offered for them to source the part and carry out the work but I have insisted on getting it done by basically, someone who knows what they are doing.

Your first mistake. You must give them the option of carrying out the repair. Failure to do so - especially as they have offered to do so - could leave you in a rather sticky position as regards claiming the costs of the work done.

I've always got a rather jaundiced view of online reviews, especially of car sales. Sell enough used cars, and some of the cars (or some of the customers!) will be problematic. However, the 99% of entirely satisfied customers don't say anything online at all.

Would I have any argument to say I have lost any confidence in them due to misinformation and incompetent work.?

Only if you think you could back that up in a courtroom, if asked to do so by a magistrate. That means having records of the misinformation and incompetence.

Also do remember that diagnosing and fixing faults is not quite as easy as plugging the car into a computer, and it tells you what part to change. VW dealers (and the same can be said for most 'main agents') like to change parts, fitting new ones, usually at extortionate prices.

Someone a few weeks ago was talking about diagnostics on here, and went with the example of a banana up the tailpipe, and the faults that would show up in the engine management. Some garages would get under the bonnet, putting new parts on until eventually they gave up, or fitted a new exhaust.

It's entirely possible that the garage did fit a new EGR valve, especially if, as you point out, a hard-to-get-to bolt wasn't put back in. However, it's also possible that an underlying fault elsewhere (overfueling, airflow issue, for example) has caused the new EGR valve to soot up quickly. In which case swapping the EGR valve again is only going to fix the fault for a few weeks.

I said that if the OP was to make a claim ... that would, I assume, be done in the Small Claims Court, which is (I believe) presided over by magistrates.

I'm entirely happy to be corrected if otherwise

I stand corrected, and (hopefully) wiser for it !

Many thanks for that, FP, much appreciated.

Thanks to everyone for your reply.

I need to add something to my original post, at the time of purchase I signed a sort of dpf waiver that basically said they do not cover dpf failures / problems. I don't have a copy but will get one.

So it seems that after further diagnosis the inlet manifold wasn't faulty and the random piece of metal is most likely the remnants of a previous manifold failure and debree not located at the time, it was stuck in the egr valve and preventing it from closing and speeding up the dpf demise. it is indeed the dpf that is causing the issues.

I wanted to take it back to them, accepting that I did sign this waiver but considering it was just over a month since purchase I thought they would have a duty of care to me to help fix it.

They have refused to take it back stating they don't cover dpfs.

Whatever happens I will have to get it fixed but where do I stand legally considering the short time I have owned it? And the above catalogue of events stated above.

Edited by hyb on 22/08/2015 at 09:54

You'll need proper legal advice on this, try the Citizen's Advice Bureau if you don't want a solicitor involved yet.

Personally, I don't think your signing the 'DPF waiver' will affect your consumer statutory rights under the Sale of Goods Act, so you are entitled to have the supplying garage fix the fault(s) at their expense.

But as they are being less than helpful and playing hardball, time to get proper legal advice. Good luck and please do keep us informed of progress.