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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Desperately need your help

54 replies

TwittyMcTwitterson · 04/03/2014 08:40

So i'm cursed...

I part ex'd my old shit Picasso for an old BMW that drove fine on the test drive. I was assured it was an amazing at and really would lay me well. As I drove away from him it bunny hopped so I out petrol in and hoped for the best. Next day it happened again. And every day since. It simply can't get power and this has twice led me to enter motorways at a dangerously slow speed. I want to take it back.

I'm about to make the call... How the hell do I word it???

OP posts:

HauntedNoddyCar · 04/03/2014 12:17

And it was this one where no lights came on in limp home.

Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 04/03/2014 12:26

The citroen was a tank. It drove like shit and felt completely unsafe. It seemed a reasonable upgrade. My daughter loved it and cried when it went.

He said he'll look at it and give me my old car back while he does. Not sure how that'll work though as tax ran out and it won't be insured.

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Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 04/03/2014 12:29

Haunted you're not from Milton Keynes are you???

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HauntedNoddyCar · 04/03/2014 12:36

Nowhere near MK!
It was a silver auto.

BuzzardBird · 04/03/2014 12:44

It doesn't happen until the car is warmed up Evees so it's not your fault you didn't spot it on the test drive. The price mrssmith sounds around right (I don't have to pay as married my mechanic ;) ) TBH I bought an old BMW too and it has been extremely reliable with this being the only problem in 10 years of high mileage motorway driving. Mine is now 13 years old and still going strong. I would take it back for repair or marry a mechanic, whichever is easier

Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 04/03/2014 12:46

This is grey and manual.

The logbook says last owner was mk.

The guy just rang, he wants the car all day Friday and if it's disastrous he'll give Picasso and money back and if not he'll fix it yay!!!!!

OP posts:

HauntedNoddyCar · 04/03/2014 12:50

Well that sounds reasonable. Hope it's fix worthy.

FaintlyHopeful · 04/03/2014 12:55

You could try pressing and holding the dtc button for about 10 seconds. This turns off the dynamic traction control but you shouldn't do it for any length of time because it is meant to help in icy road conditions. This happened to my 3 series- I was quoted £1500 to fix it, but I got a guy who did it for £20 with a bit of cardboard. I got rid quickly after at an auction!

Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 04/03/2014 12:58

No at first it did it only when running from cold. Now it does it at all temps. Was heated up at test drive already. Thanks tho. I do feel I'm cursed but I don't think I bought it when someone else wouldn't.

It's a horrible feeling.

How does Dtc change it?

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FaintlyHopeful · 04/03/2014 22:16

I think it's because the dtc is cutting in at low speed- it's meant to cut power to the wheels if you go into a skid. The problem with mine was that the sensor on the wheel rim that detects a skid wasn't working properly so any movement was interpreted as a skid. It got gradually worse in that it started only at high speed then eventually at about 10 mph.

Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 04/03/2014 22:34

Oooh very interesting. I'd say it's not that because I first noticed it at slow speeds and it seems to have progressed to high speeds

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HauntedNoddyCar · 04/03/2014 23:36

DH has rolled in. He thinks it was a crankshaft position sensor that went on ours. And he can't remember a warning light being on when it was in limp home either.

Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 05/03/2014 05:39

I'm shocked there's no light!

Eeeek, that doesn't sound good. Does he remember the cost?

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Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 05/03/2014 05:40

A guy/dickhead at my work said 'you do realise that car of that age is twice as much as any other BMW'

Is he right???

This guy was nice n has turned into a prick who clearly is annoyed by my very existence

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HauntedNoddyCar · 05/03/2014 10:51

We can't remember but it can't have been huge if we can't remember it.

Don't quite understand what your man at work is on about. They're good cars. The engines are simple solid blocks and they are well built. What did you pay and what model is it?

Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 05/03/2014 12:33

In his defence he just scrapped an a reg 3 series and has always had BMWs but still we don't get along right now so he must be full if shit

I bought a 318i SE s reg 1999 e46.

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Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 05/03/2014 12:34

It was £750 with no tax but full mot. 125k but clearly well looked after. Bodywork perfect alloys not kernes. Clean inside

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Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 05/03/2014 12:34

Kerbed...

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HauntedNoddyCar · 05/03/2014 13:28

That's less than we sold the 323 for! Significantly less. And sounds reasonable.

He's just bitter.

Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 05/03/2014 14:06

I think I got a bargain. He advertised it on autotrafer for 800 but when I went to him to look at a mondeo I fell in love with the 318 and asked how much. Others have some tax and some test and were between 800 - 1k

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AddToBasket · 05/03/2014 14:12

Take it back. Get it fully functioning or get your money back.

I know it is a PITA but do not let days pass when you aren't in touch with them. You can reject goods after use (as here) but you mustn't be deemed to have 'accepted' them. In practical terms, just keep complaining and asking them to sort it out. The law is on your side, this is a consumer contract and you are well protected but you must not appear to be acquiescing to any defects.

Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 05/03/2014 15:28

I'm dropping the car off to him Thursday night and almost definitely he is giving me a temp car for Friday. He'll at least give me a lift home.

He rang me again last night simply to tell me I didn't need to worry. I will call him again tomorrow to confirm.

I'm certain I've made myself clear that I don't want it if not fixed. And he suggested that first anyway. Just please keep your fingers crossed for me

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Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 12/03/2014 20:53

Sorry for suuuper late reply guys. This is what happened for those who asked.

Mass air flow and coil pack changed. Apparently it drove well.

Mass air flow bypassed (not sure why) and it drove better. He gave it me back on Saturday but said he needed to take it to a BMW specialist to plug it in and just bypassing mass air flow wasn't a proper fix so he wanted to do it properly. On Saturday, it did drive beautifully. I drove 90 miles and not one issue.

BMW specialist changed lambda sensor and something was said about a flap on the manifold.

No change.

He's taking it back Friday...

OP posts:

HauntedNoddyCar · 13/03/2014 12:28

If the lamda sensor goes it can destroy the cat. I would want the emissions checked otherwise it's an expensive consequence.

Original poster

TwittyMcTwitterson · 13/03/2014 17:43

Is it something you could look for yourself or has to be tested? Obviously I know you get a figure when tested but are there other symptoms? On mot advisory it said minor leak from exhaust and the exhaust does sound a little throaty.

I've told him that if it's not fixed on Friday I definitely want my Picasso back. I just pulled out at a roundabout. Was plenty of space but car stopped half way out. A guy from my right could have gone into me. Guy behind nearly did as he had space to go too.

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