Husband has just bough a heap of crap and I'm raging

[swinglycat]

DH bought a 15 year old car on Wednesday. He did all the relevant checks and apparently the car has had all the proper BMW servicing done and just passed the MOT last month. The very night he drove home ( 20 mins) the lights at the back had gone off . Woke up the next morning and there is an oil leak now too.

I could cry. We don't have the money to be faffing around with cars.

I'm just so upset that we have been potentially sold a car that's gonna cost money to fix before it's even made it into our driveway.

First time I have heard a BMW referred to as a 'wanky label'. I thought that was Audi's domain these days....

Honestly I wouldn’t worry - while I’m a bit more ‘hands on’ than most, both issues don’t sound like a huge issue to sort.

Unless the leak is the rear main seal. ££££

Take it back. To be fair though, my second hand car, a hybrid, is 15 years old and is brilliant, most reliable car I’ve ever had. Just one battery change, some new tyres and recently a leaky radiator in 13 years

Both our family cars for regular domestic use are 15 years old. We do have one for irregular domestic use, but that will be 70 next year.

Buying a used car is a gamble, no matter what 'brand' it is. If you're not a mechanic and are going on paperwork, then you just have to take a punt. (Aimed at PPs not OP!)

I haven't got a clue when it comes to cars, never spend more than £1k and rely on the MOT and service history. I test drive, look out for obvious things then hand over my cash. Always private purchases with no warranty.

I've bought three cars like this in the past 20yrs. Run them into the ground and start again. My current car cost £900, 39k on the clock and hasn't failed an MOT since I bought it 3yrs ago. It's 15yrs old.

I know friends and family who have bought brand new and have had nothing but expensive problems, problems that cost four times what my car cost to buy!

You can buy warranties for private purchases
https://www.motoreasy.com/quotes/step/1?utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=carwarrantycompetitors&utm_source=Warranty&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADQne1Bw_Qi272c-lgelF7wxx0tLl&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrPq5jrXGhAMVqZlQBh09JwelEAAYASAAEgJxVPD_BwE

https://www.rac.co.uk/car-care/car-warranty

https://www.warrantydirect.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrPq5jrXGhAMVqZlQBh09JwelEAAYAyAAEgJjwPD_BwE

I know three people who can do their own car maintenance. Saves them a packet. One of them is female and I am really in awe!

Mine too!

Any need FFS? 🙄

It's both.

HelpMeGetThrough · Today 12:22

LeSoleil · Today 11:25

First time I have heard a BMW referred to as a 'wanky label'. I thought that was Audi's domain these days...”
.
It's both

Well that’s a new one on me. When we replace our two old cars for a new electric it will be an Audi because they’re comfortable, reliable, safe and have o e of the better battery ranges. Husband is 65 soon and I’m 59. I’ll be driving it most often. Does that make me wanky? 😳if so, how?

It's pot luck with an old car. Hubby bought one at the beginning of last year it was 8 years old and within a month we scrapped it went from one major thing after another.Then he bought another last Feb and it's just passed it's MOT again flying colours only thing we've had to change is a light bulb and it's 12 year old and saying that my mum has a new car and for the last 2 months that's also been back and forth to the garage she got it from with big issues so I guess it's pot luck all around

Just make sure you tick the box for indicators. They appear to be an optional extra on BMWs and Audis these days 😉

Oh op, the stress of second hand buying is awful and the reason my current family car is so old - better the devil you know.

Find out how much to fix it up as it might not be a big thing, then make a plan.

It's only wanky if you are talking, and describe the car as 'the Audi' rather than 'the car'. Unless your other car is a Porsche of course, in which case it's wanky anway!

Some people don't have the option you do

OP we got stung last year, bought a car with an MOT off a private buyer, threw another £1000 at it, only for it to bed another £2000 of work

I had to take a loan from my job to buy another car, which is much better!

LeSoleil I sense you haven't ever been skint.

He did what he thought was best. Many people don't realise that you have extremely limited consumer rights if buying a car from a private seller.
I guess, OP, how would you feel if you bought something that had a fault and your husband was "raging" at you? It feels like a very unfair reaction - sometimes bad luck just happens, so he could probably do with a bit of sympathy!

Dh went through an older BMW phase too. 🤦🏻‍♀️

They still have the myth of being reliable in very old age and therefore cheaper overall. They are well built and more reliable than some other makes at that age but are still an old car and money pits.

they are a pain in the arse when they do go wrong, expensive to fix, insure and invariably a larger gas guzzling engine expensive to tax.

I think he just held this boy dream off owning a BMW and an old one was all he’d ever be able to afford. Thankfully he is over them now!

Oh how the other half live

Ridiculous comment. What do you drive?

Yes pretty tone deaf isn't it? Probably all on finance anyway.

Fuck me. People are pricks on here. Must be very nice for you all on your high horses.

A 15 yr old bmw is still a good and reliable car. DP has a 2011 bmw and until 2 years ago a 2005 bmw. Both were solid as a rock. Neither had full service history and he never services. They're also not the family car. Mine is.

Your DH did everything right. These AA/RAC checks are bollocks. I've had the AA tell me my car with a fucked turbo was fine. I've had them tell me the shitroen I'm looking at is the cleanest they've ever seen and the next week it cost me £300. They can also only check so much.

If you don't want a Hyundai a couple of years newer to appease some cunts on Mumsnet, you don't need to. Just top up the oil and go to a mechanic and get it fixed, it will probably be solid after that.

Yes as a child we had no money. Parents died in rented accommodation. Zero privileges whatsoever.

Why do you need a BMW for a family car? Surely instead of a 15-year-old status car you need a reliable workhorse — a 5-year-old Skoda or Seat or similar for the same money.