Rights for Car Buyers? poorly ML (not mine)

[A210AMG]

Hello,

My father in law bought an ML270Cdi about 2 months ago from a Franchised Nissan Dealer, he has used it for the first two months in which time it had to go back for the radio that wasn't working. However since getting the car back the seatbelts keep beeping, the ABS and Airbag light flicker on and off and the door hinge was lose ooh and the footbrake wasn't holding.

Its been at the garage the Nissan dealer uses for 6 weeks now, they keep changing parts and now apparently the dashboard pod has been sent to Mercedes for parts? The car came with 12 month MOT but surely the above faults would have meant a fail?

What rights does he have? He has used the car 2 weeks out of owning it 8 weeks !!. The garage Nissan garage don't seem very helpful at all and the independant mercedes garage doing the work seem to be chasing their tail.

When he bought the car he was given a months warranty? is this right on a second hand car? does he have any hope of a refund?

Unfortunatly I was on holiday when he bought this car and never checked it out with him. He thought buying it from a proper dealer (even though not Merc) at least is better than private?

I've said he would be better phoing trading standards and see? He's threatened legal action if the car isn't back next week (they are now saying Tueday)

Thanks for reading and any help offered.

 

[nick mercedes]

Hello,

My father in law bought an ML270Cdi about 2 months ago from a Franchised Nissan Dealer, he has used it for the first two months in which time it had to go back for the radio that wasn't working. However since getting the car back the seatbelts keep beeping, the ABS and Airbag light flicker on and off and the door hinge was lose ooh and the footbrake wasn't holding.

Its been at the garage the Nissan dealer uses for 6 weeks now, they keep changing parts and now apparently the dashboard pod has been sent to Mercedes for parts? The car came with 12 month MOT but surely the above faults would have meant a fail?

What rights does he have? He has used the car 2 weeks out of owning it 8 weeks !!. The garage Nissan garage don't seem very helpful at all and the independant mercedes garage doing the work seem to be chasing their tail.

When he bought the car he was given a months warranty? is this right on a second hand car? does he have any hope of a refund?

Unfortunatly I was on holiday when he bought this car and never checked it out with him. He thought buying it from a proper dealer (even though not Merc) at least is better than private?

I've said he would be better phoing trading standards and see? He's threatened legal action if the car isn't back next week (they are now saying Tueday)

Thanks for reading and any help offered.

It sounds like the nissan dealer are on the case and trying to sort it out, 163 ML's aren't the best quality car (built by redneck americans from sprinter van parts), so they do have their troubles.

 

[A210AMG]

Hello,

Ive heared all the story's about bad build and it why I went for the facelifted ones, so far mines been great,

His however is a yr 2000 pre facelifted.

I agree the dealer 'trying' to sort but 6 weeks....?

cheers

 

[pammy]

The faults would have only been picked up on an MoT if they showed up when the test was carried out. From what you say they appeared after your father in law bought the car and after it had been back to the Nissan dealer for some work.

As for the hope of a refund, he should state the facts to the dealer and ask for one, if that's what he wants. The worst they can say is no. It's not unreasonable to expect out of 8 weeks of ownership to have a car that works for most of that time. It's unlikely he'll get a refund, but he could pull in Trading Standards if he wanted. The fact they are trying to fix the car would go in their favour though, it's not as if they are trying to dodge sorting it.

If and when he does get it back in a fit condition then he should be negotiating for a free warranty, minimum 3 months. However, don't confuse a second hand warranty with that of a new car, they are nowhere near as good and a lot of stuff is usually not covered.

 

[glojo]

When your father-in-law bought the car was he happy with a one month warranty? There are numerous companies out there that are in the business of selling longer ones but we usually get what we pay for.

I would suggest that if a main dealer (Nissan) only offered a one month warranty, then there might have been a reason?

Good luck with getting the problems resolved.

Regards
John

 

[pammy]

I would suggest that if a main dealer (Nissan) only offered a one month warranty, then there might have been a reason?

Poss to do with the price and deal negotiated. Warranties are usually added onto the final price which people don't always realise. People often assume a greater warranty with a used car than there actually is.

 

[A210AMG]

Cheers people,

I feel bad as I love my cars and I think he bought an ML as he liked mine. If I had gone with him it could have made all the difference, but too late now.

He was moaning about the 1 month warranty from day one to be fair but the garage didn't offer anything else.

I think at the moment he feels hard done to, 8 weeks owning a car of which 6 weeks its been in a garage. Whats worse they say its ready and then all of a suden it needs another new part.

Its not all bad I bought him a matchbox model of one yesterday so at least he isn't without.

 

[Nibbo]

A one month warranty is pretty standard (unless agreed otherwise) with used cars and I think must be offered by law.
Outside of that you will need to consider trading standards who will probably agree that the car is 'not fit for its intended purpose'.

Having said all of that they do seem to be trying to sort it so maybe patience would be the best course of action.

 

[jaymanek]

It sounds like the nissan dealer are on the case and trying to sort it out, 163 ML's aren't the best quality car (built by redneck americans from sprinter van parts), so they do have their troubles.

errr sorry no not the diesel ones, built in austria..

 

[glojo]

A one month warranty is pretty standard (unless agreed otherwise) with used cars and I think must be offered by law.

I was surprised when I read that and I suppose we can only relate to personal experience. We are talking main dealers here and Mercedes offer signature warranty or similar, I would be very disappointed if a main dealer only offered a one month warranty and I wonder if this is actually the very minimum warranty. There is no way we would describe Jaymanek as a main dealer, but I note that the ML's he has for sale all come with at least a three month warranty. (his wording)

Hind sight is a useless talent but hopefully we can all learn from this?

Good luck getting it sorted.
Regards
John

 

[crockers]

errr sorry no not the diesel ones, built in austria..

By rednecked americans called Adolf with strange haircuts...and facial hair..