second hand car problem

[Skala123]

Four months ago I bought a car from a second hand car dealership. I have been worried about its performance recently so took it to my mechanic who has told me that there is a serious problem with the car, which would have been there for some time, and the engine warning light has been disabled.
I have consulted CAB and it appears that the law is in my favour but I wondered if anyone has any first hand experience with a situation like this?

[Collaborate]

Look at this:

www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/34744/rejecting-a-new-or-used-car-top-tips

Google will give you plenty of other sites with similar advice.

[Skala123]

Yes I do have google thanks.

That link is to out of date legislation - but thanks.

Was looking for someone with first hand experience really.

[Whatthefreakinwhatnow]

What is the fault, how old is the car and what is the mileage?

[Skala123]

The car is 2008 and mileage was 57000 when I bought it four months ago and I have done less than 2000.
The fault is probably the timing chain has stretched. However the engine warning light has been disabled (before I bought it and totally unbeknown to me) so I have been driving around without realising and possibly have done further damage to the engine.

[SimpleSimonThePieMan]

Have you approached the dealer yet? Might be worth trying before you go in all guns blazing. It may not have been them who disabled the EML. I've bodged cars before to get rid which have potentially gone on to be retailed by an unsuspecting trader.

[Skala123]

I have approached the dealer and he has agreed to get the car looked at but is already stating wear and tear, but I guess that's going to be his stance as far as he can get away with.

[SimpleSimonThePieMan]

I think it could probably be argued that a disabled EML is not wear and tear. Plus a cam chain is very unlikely to go from fine to stretched in 2k miles.

[SimpleSimonThePieMan]

It's not a BMW by any chance is it?

[LocalEditorEssex]

BMW's do have chains rather than belts.
If it is a cam belt then they are meant to be changed after a certain amount of miles.

[Skala123]

No it's a VW Tiguan. My mechanic said the same about the cam chain - and as its a 'non serviceable item' it would be very hard to argue wear and tear over 2000 miles. The dealer is obviously disputing the disabled light - he said it's impossible to do (which obviously it's not it's just been made harder to do)

[SimpleSimonThePieMan]

Just wondered as certain BMW engines are notorious for stretched timing chains. He's talking bull about the EML. At the most basic level you remove the instrument panel and then either remove, tape over or paint the warning light that you wish to disable. Easy!

[Skala123]

It is a stretched timing chain. They are fixing the problem, and the disable warning light and are only billing me for the oil

[SimpleSimonThePieMan]

Sounds like a result, hopefully you didn't have to fight them too hard!

[lljkk]

We tried to sue a dealer because of a dangerous fault. We managed to screw ourselves up so got nothing only costs out of pocket, but at least all my mistakes mean I know what I would do if I were OP:

Contact Trading Standards who will probably confirm OP has 6 months to sue
write a formal letter to dealer, explain the fault & tell them what you think they should do to rectify the matter
Send letter recorded delivery, give them 7 days to reply
if Reply is not satisfactory (100% repair at their cost, done very quickly) then look into paying for repairs yourself by someone reliable & using small claims to get dealer to pay

Do not settle for partial compensation (we did without meaning to).

[lljkk]

oops! Ha, I'm an idiot, just read OP's last post properly. Make sure the repair is good, at least.