HELP DISASTER ADVICE NEEDED!!!!

[318isPMK]

I seen it twice lol

[German-Whips]

don't be thick it was aimed at you, no one else.

lool thats classic!

[Topblag]

Without wanting to go off the topic, I have an M42 engine here which I'm yet to advertise as I was gonna wait until my conversion was finished to clear the garage out of any morsels. Please PM if interested.

Give this man a shout and get your hands on a lump. It'll be cheaper than a head rebuild and you can always get the head rebuilt (if that's the only damage you've sustained) in your own time.

They are not that easy to find these days.

[deanocool]

This is so unlucky. everything went wrong on my E30 but luckily i was replacing just about everything on it anyway so that worked out alright lol

if this guys being unreasonable then i would opt to get a new lump. it wont cost the earth, you just need fitting rather than messing around with a buggered engine. other than that there isnt much worse that could go wrong with it and itd be a shame to ask for a refund on such a clean example. where are you based dude?

[318isPMK]

Glasgow my friend

[HairyScreech]

Constable item that is not a major part? My fucking arse.

I hope the next email you get says they are bending over backwards to help, if not the take them to the cleaners.

both belts and chains are constable parts but they have strict service intervals that mean they should not fail in service as this one has. (seems pretty open and shut that this is the issue as i can't think o many other ways to lose compression on 3 pots).

A vehicle that fails after 4 days is not 'as new' and certainly dosent drive like new if it dosent drive at all.

the way the guy has replied makes me think he knew there was some kind of issue waiting to surface.

[capri_rob]

Looking at the ad and the replys from the seller I don't think the seller was trying to hide anything - its just bad luck. However I think the seller is testing the buyer to see whether he will go away quietly or not.

As a trader he knows that an engine failure on a £4k car after 4 days is unacceptable - IMO he's just seeing whether the buyer is prepared to push it or not as rectifying the problem will cost him his profit and probably more.

[Grrrmachine]

I'm not sure why you've mentioned putting up any money at all; the seller should be stumping up every single repair cost. The only sign of "generosity" you should be giving is perhaps offering to deliver the car back to him free of charge, but suggest you'll pay partly for repairs is daft; you owe him nothing.

He took your money and gave you a duff product. Fault is entirely with him, so keep whatever remaining cash you have firmly in your pocket.

[Loony]

There are a few things here that concern me.

1) You have offered to pay towards the repair.Why confuse the matter?
2) You have now gone ahead with a repair and not allowed the dealer to fix it.
3) All letters have been via text or email.

I know you have emailed him but in my eyes you should have sent first a recorded letter and given him time to respond such as 7 or 14 days.Even if you sent the same by email.
Then you start a claim etc.

[sweep]

Well obviously this chap loves the car and wants it back on the road as soon as possible^^^^^^

[Tom_Maverick]

Well obviously this chap loves the car and wants it back on the road as soon as possible^^^^^^

exactly..

and not everyone is confident enough to roll back in and prepare for a fight over getting the thing fixed.. I can imagine it's a pretty gutting experience, especially if you aren't massively technically minded... it's ok for us lot to stand over here and go "wow, why didn't you do this? or that? you idiot" but in reality a lot of people aren't sure what to look at on a car or what their rights are..

it's a sad thing but people can learn from these mistakes.. we should maybe have a sticky in the cars for sale or somewhere, like a little buyers guide!

[Loony]

Well obviously this chap loves the car and wants it back on the road as soon as possible^^^^^^

So has he given up on the dealer fixing it and paying for it?

[sweep]

I dont no about that but i would sooner repair the car myself anyway to make sure there are no corners cut.

[318isPMK]

No not giving up. I am awaiting a response from them and Sweep and Tom your exactly right I dont care if I'm right or wrong or what 'rights' I have I want it fixed.

There's many people out there with a judgement on their side but IF the trader is a cowboy well who says a judgement is going to spur him on to reach a reasonable conclusion in a reasonable time.

I do have a little cash left over from the purchase about £200 I just want it fixed!

If I need to pay for it to be fixed I'll complain to the OFT and Consumer Direct does anyone know what bodies are best to complain to in this instance?

[318isPMK]

I dont no about that but i would sooner repair the car myself anyway to make sure there are no corners cut.

+1

Again Sweep - spot on!

[Tom_Maverick]

I have to ask.. did you get the loan out specifically for the purchase of the car?

if so then you may be covered under the consumer credit act.. that might be worth pursuing..

give consumer direct a call on 08454040506 it's a government funded helpline..

[318isPMK]

I did indeed

[Tom_Maverick]

I did indeed

give them a buzz then! make sure you have all the details to hand.. make a brew and just explain your situation.. if they can suggest a way to sort it they will!

[318isPMK]

Spoke to them, advised me to send a template letter giving them 14 days before OFT get involved, waiting till the end of today's mail run before sending thus giving them time to reach a satisfactory conclusion with me before I get litigious

I hate all this shyyt!

Why arent people just decent when it come to buying selling cars? I know its easy to say but I bend over backwards in my line of work to be transparent and honest in all my dealings with people and then get shafted once by Arnold Shark and now this all in the space of 3 years! I think I need a mechanics course.

On a lighter note can anyone suggest what engine I should get fitted within a reasonable budget of course. Another m42? something bigger? does the M44 from the E36 fit?

[Jos]

M44 will go without too much argument but it's not as strong as the M42 (I know yours isn't a prime example of this!). E36 M42 will be a simple swap as you have manifolds/loom/pulleys. Don't get carried away until you know where you stand.

[318isPMK]

I'm not, just wondered if it was worth looking at. I'm of the opinion that faster is funner

[Tom_Maverick]

Why arent people just decent when it come to buying selling cars? I know its easy to say but I bend over backwards in my line of work to be transparent and honest in all my dealings with people and then get shafted once by Arnold Shark and now this all in the space of 3 years! I think I need a mechanics course.

I hate to be the voice of reason.. but with the history etc and the fact you can't see the chain from outside the engine really I doubt the garage you bought it from had any idea it was going to snap either (if that's what happened) it's just an unlucky incident.. that's what happens when you buy old cars! so I wouldn't start suggesting they have shafted you quite yet..

also a mechanics course may have helped you diagnose the problem once it had happened but I don' tthink anyone would have really seen this coming.. esp not with all that service history and a careful previous owner!

[318isPMK]

aye I suppose your right but I think the decent thing is to offer compensation 3 days is 3 days! they bummed up the car that much I think I have a right to feel agrieved at least a little.

[Tom_Maverick]

aye I suppose your right but I think the decent thing is to offer compensation 3 days is 3 days! they bummed up the car that much I think I have a right to feel agrieved at least a little.

sadly I don't agree! the car is beautiful from the outside! but the mechanical problem you're experiencing is very much buried! and would have shown very few symptoms before the chain snapped!

sorry chap, it's bad that it's happened so soon after you bought it, but a lot of this is down to bad luck! it was just as likely to snap while they were moving it around the forcourt!

[richard300]

aye I suppose your right but I think the decent thing is to offer compensation 3 days is 3 days! they bummed up the car that much I think I have a right to feel agrieved at least a little.

sadly I don't agree! the car is beautiful from the outside! but the mechanical problem you're experiencing is very much buried! and would have shown very few symptoms before the chain snapped!

sorry chap, it's bad that it's happened so soon after you bought it, but a lot of this is down to bad luck! it was just as likely to snap while they were moving it around the forcourt!

if they knew the cars had a problem or not, is beside the point. They do (and the law and consumer rights act are on your side) owe you way more than "We are very sorry, but we wash our hands of this when you drive away"
Its the chance they take in the business they are in if they want to be a 'respected' outfit... why should asfter sale customer care be excempt from their business?

[rossmc88]

Worst case, this can't end up costing more than £500 to get sorted you would think?

£250 for a good engine and £250 for fitting?

I've had good experiences with Boyd, bought an IS engine from him for £250.

You should sign up to retrobmw.co.uk. Full of Scottish owners around the central belt and would be your best chance of finding a good M42 . You want to contact James or Gordon from there, they are great!

P.S. I also have a lovely 318IS, any questions give me a shout, your car is definitely worth keeping and fixing

You also won't get people arguing about random crap on your thread over at retro too

[Tom_Maverick]

aye I suppose your right but I think the decent thing is to offer compensation 3 days is 3 days! they bummed up the car that much I think I have a right to feel agrieved at least a little.

sadly I don't agree! the car is beautiful from the outside! but the mechanical problem you're experiencing is very much buried! and would have shown very few symptoms before the chain snapped!

sorry chap, it's bad that it's happened so soon after you bought it, but a lot of this is down to bad luck! it was just as likely to snap while they were moving it around the forcourt!

if they knew the cars had a problem or not, is beside the point. They do (and the law and consumer rights act are on your side) owe you way more than "We are very sorry, but we wash our hands of this when you drive away"
Its the chance they take in the business they are in if they want to be a 'respected' outfit... why should asfter sale customer care be excempt from their business?

hey, I never said this so calm down.. the law is a slightly grey area in this case.. and unless the new owner signed a credit agreement or a loan agreement with the seller stating that they were protected by the consumer credit act then consumer rights are a bit hazy too.. if the garage can prove that they acted in good faith, and the chain snapping was not a predictable failure then you're going to have a fight on your hands.. and in this case I would say the best you can hope for is a repair, which in the eyes of the law would be more than acceptable.. a lot of people have said a lot of things on this thread which are actually cobblers and in a perfect world the company would take the car back and hand over 3k.. but it reality we all know that isn't going to happen..

I'm not saying they are exempt from providing decent customer service but look at it from their point of view.. and imagine that's your business struggling in the current financial climate..

My point was that even a competent mechanic would not really have seen this coming and it is, for want of a better term, bad luck!

[318isPMK]

I agree with you mate im not peeved at what u said at all

[Tom_Maverick]

I agree with you mate im not peeved at what u said at all

it's a sh*tty situation but with a bit of luck and if everyone keeps their heads you'll get a running car (a really clean running car with a bucket of history and no scabs!) and it'll be smiles all round!

but it isn't fun when you don't know exactly what's wrong and everyone has an opinion! but stick to the facts and keep a cool head and I think the dealer will sort it out.. rather than starting some sort of fight which will just make you look bad if any sort of authorities are involved or any kind of legal argument arises..

I would also refrain from offering money towards the repair.. this could well be seen as a strange act and possibly even an admission of guilt.. but do be firm about the fact you'd like the car repaired etc etc.. make a friendly nuisance of yourself and suggest that you may not know the in's and out's of the law regarding used car sales but there are plenty of solicitors who do should it come to that!

[Brianmoooore]

make a friendly nuisance of yourself and suggest that you may not know the in's and out's of the law regarding used car sales but there are plenty of solicitors who do should it come to that!

Exactly! Offer a carrot, but make it quite plain that you're prepared to use the stick if needed.

[Tom_Maverick]

make a friendly nuisance of yourself and suggest that you may not know the in's and out's of the law regarding used car sales but there are plenty of solicitors who do should it come to that!

Exactly! Offer a carrot, but make it quite plain that you're prepared to use the stick if needed.

Jackpot!

you start off by going in there waving some facts* off the zone about and threatening legal action and my guess is you'll get bugger all.. and they'll immediately be on the defensive! don't get wound up and it'll all be fine..


*opinions

[318isPMK]

I thats the tact im using

[Speedtouch]

So, have you established whether or not the chain has been replaced in the service history of this car?

[318isPMK]

looked at it quickly last night cant see it anywhere

[318isPMK]

I have drafted a Trading Standards letter that refers to ur point on FBMWSH