HELP DISASTER ADVICE NEEDED!!!!

[Jimbob]

The timing chain isn't a scheduled service part though is it? Keep an eye for the chain tensioner in your receipts.

[Tom_Maverick]

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

trading standards??

wait a sec.. this thing may well have a full bmw service history.. that has nothing to do with the timing chain plus the fact this is not a good argument!

I get the feeling you're missing the point of this advice..

talk to the garage first.. don't mention bloody trading standards as they have nothing to do with an old car, bought from a small trader, with no warranty implied or given, that has failed on a non-service item buried deep within the engine!

you want them to do the work Before you have to threaten them with solicitors etc..

and read up on timing chains etc AND consumer rights where used cars are concerned.. if you start quoting stuff which is wrong or arguing something which isn't a fact you'll get nothing!

[richard300]

If you play the game you are now in with the dealer with patience and do everything the right way, I genuinely think you could get your money back or have your engine repaired to what would have to be an acceptable standard leaving you with the piece of mind that you know the engine and it correlates to all your service history or you at least have the money in your pocket (if they take the car back) to search for an other 318is.... The trouble is i think that patience is the thing you are lacking in this matter.

When I bought my current Jag, i knew that the model i was after had numerous problems associated with them, The sealed Mercedes Gearboxes can go pop if not serviced (the servicing of the box is not cheap) they can suffer head gasket failure, and the original 4.0litre V8's timing tensioners can just let go..... The only way to not play the game of engine failure rush and roulette is to change the chain and the tensioners to a 3rd generation upgrade from the later 4.2 V8's.....

So after a lengthy search i found my car.... Full service history, invoices to show the gearbox had been serviced by a specialist indy and as the advert made note that my car had 'correct timing chain upgrade' and there was a stamp and a receipt for the work carried out. I bought the car.

5 days later whilst putting all the history in order, I realized my car had the timing chain tensioners and chain changed with only the original design tensioners...... It still ran fine, but I managed to get an £1800.oo chain and tensioner (3rd generation) change done free of charge. And all it took were the right words and some patience.

[Kos]

i may have missed this

but was the vehicle "sold as seen" is this anywhere on the bill of sale ?

[Tom_Maverick]

i may have missed this

but was the vehicle "sold as seen" is this anywhere on the bill of sale ?

"When you buy goods from a trader, you enter into a legally binding contract governed by the Sale of Goods Act 1979, as amended by the Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994 and the Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002.
If you buy a used car from a trader it must be of satisfactory quality, fit for the purpose, and as described. Obviously a very old car with a high mileage will not be as good as a newer car with a low mileage, but it should still be fit for use on the road, in a condition which reflects its age and price, and reliability.

Traders cannot take away consumer's rights by using terms such as ”˜sold as seen’.

Your legal rights are reduced if you buy a car from a private seller or an auction. If you buy a used car via the internet, you may have additional rights under the Distance Selling Regulations."

from the trading standards website..

I'm not saying he is entitled to anything.. I'm just clarifying this point..

[Kos]

iirc even as a trader, you can sell a car as "sold as seen" to protect your self from any come backs

saying that, the advert for the car makes it out to be good one.

be interesting to see who this pans out

[Cloggy Saint]

If you buy a used car from a trader it must be of satisfactory quality, fit for the purpose, and as described.

I suppose the trader could fight back and say it was fit for purpose at the time of purchase in that it drove off the forecourt with no problems.

[318isPMK]

I havent mentioned trading standards I have asked them to repair or to contribute towards the repair they have basically said no.

I have used mechanics report to aid my point. used their advert to prove it was not as described.

I am waiting their decision I told them I would like a decision by Friday as he mentions leaving the country in his last email.

I have emailed again given them 3 days to respond then at that point I am going to send a template letter advised by consumer direct.

Trading standards can then get involved after 14 days with a copy of registered delivery THAT WILL BE ONLY AFTER I HAVE GIVEN UP REALLY GETTING ANYTHING.

IF IM OUT OF POCKET ID RATHER KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO ACCOUNT.

But thats all if I have been patient professional and reasonable with them I am just expecting them to be the same in return.

[Tedswagon]

I guess none of you remember this!!

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ananmotors

[Kos]

I guess none of you remember this!!

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ananmotors

the plot thickens

[Tedswagon]

Ah. He^^^^^ is a big loss. RIP.

[318isPMK]

I dont want to swear but FFS!! right Trading standards it is! I'll pay the repair myself. Good-lad Ted

[Curr946]

I know a man that viewed one of there cars and got asked to leave as he started poking big holes in it... it was advertised as a mint example!!!!

[318isPMK]

They have 100% feedback on ebay!

Bottomfeeders!

[pacerpete]

I dont want to swear but FFS!! right Trading standards it is! I'll pay the repair myself. Good-lad Ted

Have you contacted the guy with the ex Buchannan shiny red 325 sport that had a bent MOT and needs 20+ hours of welding. mentioned earlier in the thread ? I am sure he would like to share his experiences with you and help if your situation goes legal .

As a mechanic and somebody who sells the odd car, there is a very good reason why I very seldom get involved in 'retailing' E30s.
That reason being that most of them are fooked and need so much work done to get them into retail condition that there is no profit to be had.
Buchannan motors know this as well but figure if they polish it enough and ask a high enough price people will assume the car must be right.

On the other hand , no matter how much time and money one spends refurbishing an old car, there are still plenty of untouched bits that can go wrong.

As a seller you have to allow for this and be prepared to at least show that you are willing to help.

These clowns obviously have made a career out of toncing up old snotters and serving them for inflated prices and scarpering when the P40 hits the fan

[Tom_Maverick]

Who cares.. Interesting story but it's got jack sh*t all to do with a duff timing chain.. The car is a beautiful example with a bag of history.. Might be a bit steep but someone paid the cash!

[richard300]

Its a shame that with this site you have to be a member to browse through the forum pages....

I was going to put a link in the 'General Gassing' forum on pistonheads to this thread.

Entitled something like "You have to feel for this guy"

Then write something like "But he doesn’t seem to be the only guy sold a lemon by this establishment, If you read through the entire thread"

Then the link.

Figured it would get the masses to know that at the very least you cant count on this garage for any after sale customer care whilst not 318isPMK not being responsible for any negativity the company feel through pistonheads.

Everything on here has been factual from 318isPMK and the other poor customers that have dealt with the establishment?

[Speedtouch]

Hello I bought a lovely 318iS on Wednesday of last week from a trader in Gartocharn (outside Glasgow)

Looks wonderful sounded good (i thought)

Driving it for 2 days and all power stopped and steering went heavy 3 redlights came on and had no response from the throttle.

Were you caning it, Sir, were you, were you?

[318isPMK]

I would love it to have been my fault i was in traffic slowing to take a slip road had been doing 45 maybe tops...... and chatting to a passanger about how much I was enjoying the car... I was telling him its not a fast car but its great I have no interest in driving it fast, that led on to me mentioning taking some of the sportier bits off and looking for BBS alloys then..... at that point the engine went lol

Best laid plans!

[318isPMK]

The plot thickens

Boyd (Mechanic) just called zero compression but chain is intact... may have slipped he will look at the tensioner tomorrow so decisions are.......

1. Buy old engine loose budles of history and take a gamble that it'll be okay

2. Spend half days labour to strip it down a bit more and see if it can be fixed. Then repair. or replace.

3. Cut my loses and break it (really dont want option 3 nobody vote for that please)

Think I will go with the second option!

Any input here lads?

[sweep]

Strip that motor down is what i would do but i work on my own e30s so the labour cost wouldnt be a problem.

[gooner1]

Option 2.

[Tedswagon]

Boyd will see you right. Option 2

If you could spare some hours and Boyd didn't mind you could chum him, make him tea and hand him spanners etc., and learn a lot from him about e30s.

[318isPMK]

Just got offered a bit of compensation I did not see that coming!

Its not a lot but its a start!!

[318isPMK]

I'd love that but I manage two offices... this debacle and jumping on and off this thread for 2 days hes knocked me miles off track with my work!

I would actually consider helping on a saturday or sunday for nowt just to learn a bit if he'd have me I'll maybe say to him but I dont know if I'd just be in the way

[fuzzy]

at what mileage should the timing chain have been changed?

[318isPMK]

Thats not one for me - dunno

[Kedge]

at what mileage should the timing chain have been changed?

Don't think there are set intervals like the belts, just something you ought to keep an eye on, one I had needed doing at 120k but I think others have been fine at 200k Regular oil changes is the key I think.

[cecotto479]

I would actually consider helping on a saturday or sunday for nowt just to learn a bit if he'd have me I'll maybe say to him but I dont know if I'd just be in the way

Brilliant. Saturday and Sunday it is. What do you play off?

[318isPMK]

I used to play off 12 but I last went round a course in about 90 shots... still hit it a fair distance but cant pitch or put..... what did I say to make you think I played golf?


No.... wait..... I get it now sorry.... thats the only place I'd be of any use to you at the weekend.... slow! but not stupid lol

[318isPMK]

I'm praying my engine can be repaired!!!!

Knowing its all in bits... I feel like I have a kid in hospital! I feel sick!

[Curr946]

as long as the chain isint broken there's a good chance on it being repaired. once the heads off check the gasket for signs of it being blown.

also worth getting the head pressure tested as ive seen a few cracked in my time

the bottom end could be fine but if no problems are found within the head then it turns into a bottom end rebuild

[318isPMK]

RIGHT AFTER SOME OF THE FEEDBACK AND STORIES TODAY I THOUGHT ALL WAS LOST BUT I HAVE JUST RECIEVED AN EMAIL OFFERING £350 TOWARDS MY COSTS I WANTED £500 BUT I AM QUITE HAPPY TO ACCEPT.

I WILL UPDATE WHEN IT ARRIVES!!

CHUFFED TO BITS!

[sweep]

This will all work itself out for you in the end.

[jonny323i]

what ever you do dont consider the 3rd option on your list as you will struggle to get anywhere near what you paid for it