As some of you may know, I have been looking at purchasing a used ML350 (W166) for SWMBO. After several searches, I located one which fit the bill as closely as possible (all seem to be standard and very little in the way of optional extras). This was at MB Brent Park, in Neasden, NW London. Spoke to a chap on the telephone, who was absolutely spot on, answered all my questions, as I explained to him I was approximately 250 miles away, so would like every single detail of the car, marks, scratches, scuffs etc, no matter how minor he may think they are. I even got the VIN number and posted it on here to get the datacard, from fellow forum members. Having liked what I heard, I paid my deposit and made my way down with my good lady wife.
Arrived there approximately 10:30 to find the car parked outside the showroom, appeared to have been cleaned, tyres dress etc. A warm introduction followed by a cup of coffee I felt very positive. The owner of the garage showed me to the car and we walked around it, well the bit we could as it was parked quite close to a kerb side with a hedge, making it awkward to walk round let alone open the NS doors!
I asked to be left alone to look around the vehicle. It was about this time, it started to go down hill!
The drivers side running board at the front, looked like someone had taken an orbital grinder/sander to it, placed it face down and left it there to work its magic. It was extremely heavily swirl marked, to the point it would have needed replacing, or living with the marks (which I wouldn't).
There appeared to be a dried water mark on the alcantara, of the drivers seat base.
Heated seats had been retro fitted and the install was not good, the operating switch was on the side of the seat base, NOT on the dash as to make it look OEM (as some companies offer using OEM switches wiring looms etc). The switch looked like something out of Maplins!
There was a hairline scratch on the rear drivers door continuing onto the rear quarter panel (admittedly not deep and may have polished out). Also when opening this door, several 'scuff' marks in the wheel arch (again these may have polished out).
The same door area when closed, inline with the door handle, there was approx a 5 mm deep blemish/gouge/scratch, call it what you may, which had become rusty in colour!!
Front passenger door card housing near the speaker was heavily scuffed/gouged, had chunks missing out if the card!
The seat panel where the operating switches were, was not fixed (admittedly this could have been secured by pushing it back into place possibly).
Front N/S alloy had chunks of metal missing, gouges out of it, oppose to it just being scratched!
Car hadn't been cleaned properly, tar spots all over the wheel arches, hadn't been hoovered beneath mats, dash not cleaned etc, (bearing in mind I was a cash paying customer who was coming to finalise things and drive the car away),
At this point, I had seen enough and decided to leave the car alone, didn't bother driving it forward to inspect the passenger side properly let alone take it for a test drive! Went inside and was asked for my thoughts. Tried to be diplomatic by telling the owner he had done himself a massive disservice. When I began to list things, he insisted I show him around the car and point them out, which I did so. TBH he made me feel like I was being over critical and the marks were just 'wear & tear' as the car was used!
(Worth pointing out, this is a 1 owner vehicle, 21.5K miles, priced at £32.5K with absolutely NO movement on the price whatsoever!)
All the marks I pointed out were met by 'that will polish out', 'that can be touched up' and that the car is in excellent condition.
I explained to the chap that, although it may not be a significant amount of money to him (judging by the massive amount of MBs parked there), it was to us and the car had to be right. He made no attempt to try and come to any sort of deal but instead just kept defending his viewpoint. Feeling very disappointed and somewhat angry at the fact I was in constant contact for over a week via phone & email reiterating my point of the cars condition, he failed to mention all but one of the aforementioned points.
I was told one of the wheels had light curb marks approx 1/2" in length (this turned out to be inaccurate aswell!)
Having my deposit returned my wife and I left, without even an offer to the local tube station! So when I asked 'is there any chance of a lift?', 'we literally have another appointment coming in' was the reply we were met with.
So off to kings cross we went to buy train tickets for the journey home, the train instead of the ML we had hoped for!
Actually sat on the train as I type this!
It does beg the questions, am I being unreasonable?
Expectations to high?
Apologies if it feels like a rant, just wanted to share my experience. Shame really, as they seemed really nice guys with a decent set up and a very high turn over of stock, so they must be doing something right! I am genuinely gutted it wasn't what I expected, apart from my time wasted and extortionate travel costs, it had strengthened my distrust of car sales people! Would I recommend them...... with caution!
Arrived there approximately 10:30 to find the car parked outside the showroom, appeared to have been cleaned, tyres dress etc. A warm introduction followed by a cup of coffee I felt very positive. The owner of the garage showed me to the car and we walked around it, well the bit we could as it was parked quite close to a kerb side with a hedge, making it awkward to walk round let alone open the NS doors!
I asked to be left alone to look around the vehicle. It was about this time, it started to go down hill!
The drivers side running board at the front, looked like someone had taken an orbital grinder/sander to it, placed it face down and left it there to work its magic. It was extremely heavily swirl marked, to the point it would have needed replacing, or living with the marks (which I wouldn't).
There appeared to be a dried water mark on the alcantara, of the drivers seat base.
Heated seats had been retro fitted and the install was not good, the operating switch was on the side of the seat base, NOT on the dash as to make it look OEM (as some companies offer using OEM switches wiring looms etc). The switch looked like something out of Maplins!
There was a hairline scratch on the rear drivers door continuing onto the rear quarter panel (admittedly not deep and may have polished out). Also when opening this door, several 'scuff' marks in the wheel arch (again these may have polished out).
The same door area when closed, inline with the door handle, there was approx a 5 mm deep blemish/gouge/scratch, call it what you may, which had become rusty in colour!!
Front passenger door card housing near the speaker was heavily scuffed/gouged, had chunks missing out if the card!
The seat panel where the operating switches were, was not fixed (admittedly this could have been secured by pushing it back into place possibly).
Front N/S alloy had chunks of metal missing, gouges out of it, oppose to it just being scratched!
Car hadn't been cleaned properly, tar spots all over the wheel arches, hadn't been hoovered beneath mats, dash not cleaned etc, (bearing in mind I was a cash paying customer who was coming to finalise things and drive the car away),
At this point, I had seen enough and decided to leave the car alone, didn't bother driving it forward to inspect the passenger side properly let alone take it for a test drive! Went inside and was asked for my thoughts. Tried to be diplomatic by telling the owner he had done himself a massive disservice. When I began to list things, he insisted I show him around the car and point them out, which I did so. TBH he made me feel like I was being over critical and the marks were just 'wear & tear' as the car was used!
(Worth pointing out, this is a 1 owner vehicle, 21.5K miles, priced at £32.5K with absolutely NO movement on the price whatsoever!)
All the marks I pointed out were met by 'that will polish out', 'that can be touched up' and that the car is in excellent condition.
I explained to the chap that, although it may not be a significant amount of money to him (judging by the massive amount of MBs parked there), it was to us and the car had to be right. He made no attempt to try and come to any sort of deal but instead just kept defending his viewpoint. Feeling very disappointed and somewhat angry at the fact I was in constant contact for over a week via phone & email reiterating my point of the cars condition, he failed to mention all but one of the aforementioned points.
I was told one of the wheels had light curb marks approx 1/2" in length (this turned out to be inaccurate aswell!)
Having my deposit returned my wife and I left, without even an offer to the local tube station! So when I asked 'is there any chance of a lift?', 'we literally have another appointment coming in' was the reply we were met with.
So off to kings cross we went to buy train tickets for the journey home, the train instead of the ML we had hoped for!
Actually sat on the train as I type this!
It does beg the questions, am I being unreasonable?
Expectations to high?
Apologies if it feels like a rant, just wanted to share my experience. Shame really, as they seemed really nice guys with a decent set up and a very high turn over of stock, so they must be doing something right! I am genuinely gutted it wasn't what I expected, apart from my time wasted and extortionate travel costs, it had strengthened my distrust of car sales people! Would I recommend them...... with caution!
