Just rejected my new (used) car
Discussion
I never thought I would be creating a thread like this but it seems I bought a lemon a few weeks ago.
My wife and I decided to sell both our cars and become a 1 car family so started searching for a suitable car that ticks most of our boxes and finally settled on a C Class estate.
On the 25th April we bought a 2018 220d AMG line for £19,000 from a large national dealership group (the dealer we bought from was a main dealer for another brand). It was immediately obvious that the car had issues that I didn’t pick up on in the test drive. The main ones being the start/stop didn’t work, the parking sensors didn’t work, the power steering was noisy and the adblue warning came on on the drive home. Other things were also noted like the rear drivers side door was sticky and a seat repair was done to a poor standard. The engine management light also came on a few days later.
We informed the dealer who took the car in to repair these faults. They had the car for 16 days before returning it to us and, upon collection the parking sensors still didn’t work and the rear door was still sticky. Within a couple of days I was greeted with a message saying the active break assist wasn’t functioning. The distance warning indicator also stopped working and the engine warning light came back on.
Today I have emailed the dealer putting everything in writing and stating that I am rejecting the car and expecting a full refund.
I am over the 30 day automatic right to reject the vehicle but as they have been given an opportunity to rectify the faults and have failed to do so I believe I still have the right to reject.
I will update the thread when I hear back from the dealer. Anyone want to speculate what will happen next? Will this be a straight forward process or do you think the dealer will be difficult?
My wife and I decided to sell both our cars and become a 1 car family so started searching for a suitable car that ticks most of our boxes and finally settled on a C Class estate.
On the 25th April we bought a 2018 220d AMG line for £19,000 from a large national dealership group (the dealer we bought from was a main dealer for another brand). It was immediately obvious that the car had issues that I didn’t pick up on in the test drive. The main ones being the start/stop didn’t work, the parking sensors didn’t work, the power steering was noisy and the adblue warning came on on the drive home. Other things were also noted like the rear drivers side door was sticky and a seat repair was done to a poor standard. The engine management light also came on a few days later.
We informed the dealer who took the car in to repair these faults. They had the car for 16 days before returning it to us and, upon collection the parking sensors still didn’t work and the rear door was still sticky. Within a couple of days I was greeted with a message saying the active break assist wasn’t functioning. The distance warning indicator also stopped working and the engine warning light came back on.
Today I have emailed the dealer putting everything in writing and stating that I am rejecting the car and expecting a full refund.
I am over the 30 day automatic right to reject the vehicle but as they have been given an opportunity to rectify the faults and have failed to do so I believe I still have the right to reject.
I will update the thread when I hear back from the dealer. Anyone want to speculate what will happen next? Will this be a straight forward process or do you think the dealer will be difficult?
We’ve just taken in a one series with a front door that requires some effort to open
On closer inspection, the whole of the OS and both bumpers have been painted and to a very poor standard
Salesperson didn’t spot any of it, they need a white stick
From what you’ve detailed I’d put money on your car having been in a crash and poorly repaired. Parking sensors not working and door sticking, I see that a lot. Have you had a really good look at the paint and panel gaps?
I’d reject the car, sounds like it has a hidden past
Hard to comment on the place you’ve bought from but we get a number of attempts to put a car right and then if we haven’t we have to give a full refund
On closer inspection, the whole of the OS and both bumpers have been painted and to a very poor standard
Salesperson didn’t spot any of it, they need a white stick
From what you’ve detailed I’d put money on your car having been in a crash and poorly repaired. Parking sensors not working and door sticking, I see that a lot. Have you had a really good look at the paint and panel gaps?
I’d reject the car, sounds like it has a hidden past
Hard to comment on the place you’ve bought from but we get a number of attempts to put a car right and then if we haven’t we have to give a full refund
Edited by LudaMusser on Monday 29th May 10:52
I always think you don’t really get to know your car until the first time you give it a wash and during its first wash I did indeed notice that all the panel gaps around the front bumper, wings and bonnet were all over the place.
It has 100% been in a pretty heavy front collision and I would bet my life on the poor repairs being the cause of these issues. Also when I got the car back after the repair attempt I was told that the bonnet latch had to be replaced.
It has 100% been in a pretty heavy front collision and I would bet my life on the poor repairs being the cause of these issues. Also when I got the car back after the repair attempt I was told that the bonnet latch had to be replaced.
Blue_star said:
You know you add the 16 days work on top of the 30 day period, right?
This.. The 16 days that your car was back at the dealership adds to your 30 days.
Sounds like the dealership might be someone like Heavans alshaw???
Sorry to say, after many inspections, I've seen some right poorly repaired/prepped cars in their stock.
As above, from what you say it sounds quite clear cut. The issues aren't subjective (the engine warning light being on, safety warnings), and the same issues have recurred after their attempted fix.
Be polite but firm. If (only if) they don't play ball, I'd then start questioning the safety and roadworthiness of the car.
sandman77 said:
the dealer we bought from was a main dealer for another brand
This was the beginning of your problems - personally I would NEVER buy a car from a dealer of a different brand, e.g. I wouldn't buy a used Skoda from a Citroen dealer. They don't know the cars. Stuff often goes wrong doing this. georgeyboy12345 said:
sandman77 said:
the dealer we bought from was a main dealer for another brand
This was the beginning of your problems - personally I would NEVER buy a car from a dealer of a different brand, e.g. I wouldn't buy a used Skoda from a Citroen dealer. They don't know the cars. Stuff often goes wrong doing this. You can have just as many issues with buying from a Mercedes dealer.
georgeyboy12345 said:
sandman77 said:
the dealer we bought from was a main dealer for another brand
This was the beginning of your problems - personally I would NEVER buy a car from a dealer of a different brand, e.g. I wouldn't buy a used Skoda from a Citroen dealer. They don't know the cars. Stuff often goes wrong doing this. And I've often got a cheap car too, priced a little above trade value just to get it gone.
georgeyboy12345 said:
This was the beginning of your problems - personally I would NEVER buy a car from a dealer of a different brand, e.g. I wouldn't buy a used Skoda from a Citroen dealer. They don't know the cars. Stuff often goes wrong doing this.
These issues are not Mercedes specific so should have been picked up by any dealer during an inspection. No marque specific knowledge is needed to spot sensors not working or a sticky door.We bought a Qashqai for the wife from a Toyota dealer. I couldn't fault the prep or the car. They sorted out some minor issues prior to delivery. Maybe their standards were just higher than OP's dealer?
AlfaManc said:
These issues are not Mercedes specific so should have been picked up by any dealer during an inspection. No marque specific knowledge is needed to spot sensors not working or a sticky door.
We bought a Qashqai for the wife from a Toyota dealer. I couldn't fault the prep or the car. They sorted out some minor issues prior to delivery. Maybe their standards were just higher than OP's dealer?
That last sentence says it all if it's the dealer I'm thinking of, would rather cycle than buy from them again!We bought a Qashqai for the wife from a Toyota dealer. I couldn't fault the prep or the car. They sorted out some minor issues prior to delivery. Maybe their standards were just higher than OP's dealer?
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