Boom!! How unlucky can you get?

[Moylesey]

Bought a 63k, fsh W168 A170cdi this morning in Yorkshire and drove it back to Carlisle. About 50 miles left and the oil warning light came on with the letters HI. Around 30 miles later the revs started limiting I think but I was only 20 miles from home. Called in at Mb Carlisle for some technical advice but everyone with any knowledge had gone home until Tuesday. 150 yards from home an the car is fine then boom the revs go through the roof and I get a huge amount of smoke from the engine before I switch it off and cry into my steering wheel.

I've just left it and walked home. Can't find a mechanic for love nor money and the trader though sypathetic is 110 miles away and has his money.

Anyone got any idea what's occured - I'm assuming the head gasket has blown but I'm no expert - and what's it likely to cost to repair...



********

 

[BaldGuy]

Dealer by law has to replace/repair what ever is wrong.... Had a similar experience with my CLK and its gearbox... I did get all of the money back from the dealer for the repair... So make sure you keep every receipt...

Good Luck

 

[Dieselman]

As said. Dealers problem.

 

[Moylesey]

Can you clarify?

My receipt says bought as seen - what exactly is the law?

And I should have said trader - not dealer.

 

[Dieselman]

Doesn't matter. A trader/dealer cant sell a vehicle to a member of the public as 'sold as seen'.
Did you make a special arrangement where you knew you were getting the car cheaper and waiving your rights in law.?

 

[The G.F.P]

as everyone says dealers problem i take it its new then

the joy of a new car

when my head gasket went it cost me best part of £2k

as for bad luck, the co-creator of my daughter has a p redg renault megan 1.6 rxe and its only done 40,000 miles and the auto box has just died and its been serviced regularly

 

[Dieselman]

What's happened is the engine oil has migrated into the intake and the engine has started running on oil as well as diesel. As you were able to switch it off it's probably ok.
Just needs some oil draining and the intake cleaning out.

Disconnect the air intake pipe from the manifold, clean the oil out and fire it up but be prepared to kill the engine either with the key, stalling it or choking the air intake with a piece of board or similar.

It is the traders problem though really.

 

[Moylesey]

No I didn't.

What is the law though - I'd be grateful for some pointers in terms of what my rights are and what I need to do from anyone who can help.

Feeling pretty low at the moment and could do with a thread of comfort.

 

[Dieselman]

as everyone says dealers problem i take it its new then

You must have missed the opening line.

Bought a 63k, fsh W168 A170cdi this morning in Yorkshire and drove it back to Carlisle.

 

[para alpha]

Get the car recovered to a safe location. Wait until Tuesday, Call the Trader first thing. Ask them to get it to a place of repair and have it repaired. The old ploy of Sold as seen doesn't cut it when sold to a private individual (as previously mentioned). If they won't play, Take it to Trading Standards, Have the vehicle repaired by an Indi (bit cheaper) and the look at recovering costs through legal channels. But only do this if they won't play. Keep all written estimates and receipts for recovery & Repair.

 

[BaldGuy]

Again, I had exactly the same with my CLK... I bought this from a Classic car specialist who dealt in vintage lagondas and Rolls... My recipt reads....

No warranty, condition, representation or guarantee as to qualify or fitness for any purpose is given by us, nor is any such warranty, condition or representation to be implied by statue or common law or otherwise...

And lots of other drivvle.......

I had the gearbox repaired at a cost of nearly 800 quid and after 2 tough phone calls where he didnt have a leg to stand on i got a cheque for the full amount.. I had only had the car a month...

You are basicalkly covered by law with a 3 month warranty (from a dealer) A private sale is very much sold as seen and driven....

Dont be put offf by the rubbish on their printed invoice that you would have signed (as did i)... Fight for it.... if he goes down the route of he will repair it, its his problem to get the vehicle back to him on a trailor....

 

[jaymanek]

It is the dealers responsibility but be fair with him... If its had a recent service they probably just put too much oil in.

No such thing as sold as seen when a trader sells to public. A dealer can only sell sold as seen to another trader.

Chances are it will be perfectly fine when a bit has been drained out.

Have you restarted the car yet?

 

[Corrado]

That's really bad luck, and I hope its a simple fix. I'm on your side here, but putting myself in the trader's position I would ask whether you travelled any distance after any warnings came on (I haven't checked your OP to see whether this is mentioned ). If you had, I might try to limit my liability - especially if it does turn out to be an expensive recovery/repair.

 

[Vlad]

Trader has the obligation to get the car fixed and if you don't feel happy about that then ask that he buys the car back for the purchase price.

I do have some slight sympathy for the Trader as you did get a warning message and the car was starting to act oddly, which was ignored, so the unfortunate ending could have been avoided.

 

[The G.F.P]

You must have missed the opening line.

certainly did

all i looked for was the year

d'oh!

 

[Meldrew2]

I had an A160 till recently, and the oil "Hi" message kept coming on - checked handbook - oil level high (not oil temperature) and the car was fine for several months. Now PX to a MB dealer so it's not my worry anymore.

Maybe the 2 events were not connected ?

 

[Seamster15]

"Around 30 miles later"

Not really fair on the trader to ignore a warning message, keep driving then expect him to fit the bill....

 

[W210 Fan]

"Around 30 miles later"

Not really fair on the trader to ignore a warning message, keep driving then expect him to fit the bill....

so dont tell him

 

[Seamster15]

so dont tell him

Morally wrong, but we all know it's going to happen. Still you have to question the logic of continuing to drive the car once you have been alerted to the fact that there is a fault!

Simon

 

[SilverSaloon]

Morally wrong, but we all know it's going to happen. Still you have to question the lodgic of continuing to drive the car once you have been alerted to the fact that there is a fault!

Simon

Yep, although full sympathy for the OP - i would have atleast pulled over and checked the oil at 1st opportunity. Especially on a car that was a stranger to me.

Although, i agree, go back to the trader.

Lets hope it wasnt a private sale though as OP doesnt actually state this.....