Hi everyone,
I’m in the process of purchasing a used car from a garage and would appreciate some advice.
It’s quite a lot of money for me (£25k+) and I’m paying cash for it.
I went and saw the car two weeks ago on the Friday, an hour and half away from where I am. Test drove it, liked the car but it needed a couple of items attending to and was overdue a service by 25 days on the dash (done 2 years ago at MB main dealer, due now on time not mileage). It’s a very low mileage example of a fairly unusual car and everything stacks up including full main dealer history etc.
I made an offer on the car, £2k or about 7% less than it was advertised for to reflect the fact it was overdue a service, and needed a wheel refurb and a couple of tyres etc. To be honest the car wasn’t clean when I viewed it - they don’t seem to have prepped it very well at all but I knew it was a good car underneath so could see past those issues.
Anyway, my offer wasn’t accepted. They would only drop £500 on the advertised price. I wasn’t expecting to get the full amount off, but you’ve got to start somewhere?
I was away on holiday for a few days over the weekend, and had been mulling the car over during that time. Spoke to the garage again on the Monday and the car was still available but they wouldn’t budge on the price. I gave it some more thought that day and decided to buy it, as the car is quite rare and the mileage was very good.
Left a deposit over the phone and arranged with them to collect the car on the Thursday or Friday as I was away until the Wednesday. Was told this was fine and they were going to get the car valeted and ready for collection for me.
I call on the Thursday morning, speak to the guy who I’d been dealing with to check all was okay for collection and to ask how they want paying (ie Bank Transfer or Debit card from my bank account).
Other than him being surprised that I was coming up to collect the car, which still hadn’t been valeted, all seemed okay and I arranged to be there for midday.
A couple of hours later, on route to collect the car I get a phone call out of the blue. Guy tells me that they’re having an issue with their admin team in regards to sorting the paperwork/invoice or whatever out for me to buy/pay for the car. Sounded a bit strange - I queried it and basically didn’t get anywhere. Asked how long this was likely to take to sort out and he said either later that day or if not by the following day.
So headed back home, I was off work that day and so did some shopping etc with the wife and thought I’d call later after lunch to see if there was any update. Got told basically that it wouldn’t be ready until the morning. Bit disappointed (especially as I was a little suspicious) but at least it would be ready on the Friday..
Called on Friday morning to check all was okay before heading down, guy I’d been dealing with wasn’t in. Get passed through to someone a bit more senior he tells me they were having a problem with the car, the passenger headlight wasn’t working (it had failed the recent MOT on that and then passed later the same day). They were waiting on a part (bulb) to fix it hence they couldn’t let me have the car until it was fixed. Makes sense but a bit annoyed the first guy wasn’t honest about this as clearly this was the issue as to why I couldn’t collect the car the previous day...
Guy said it was definitely the bulb (I expressed doubt as to this, but he assured me their in-house techs had checked it all out etc) and the car would definitely be ready on Monday. I explained this was a bit of an inconvenience to me, as I was back at work that week and also mentioned the previous hassle of me heading up there and getting told the story about the admin problems when I was already half way there.
Monday comes, not heard anything from the garage so call them late morning to see if the car is ready for collection. Guy is not there or was busy with a customer etc, get a phone call back later on that afternoon - they have changed the bulb but the light still isn’t working (!) but they know what the problem is it’s an electrical issue (hmm) and they need to order a part.
These guys are not Mercedes dealers. I don’t think they honestly know what they are doing nor do they have the correct diagnostic equipment (STAR/Xentry) to check and replace control units etc.
Guy said to me did I still want the car and I said yes, I just want it fixed ASAP (it’s been over a week since I paid the deposit now)
So he said they would order the part in and get it sorted out. Now it’s Thursday and I’ve heard nothing. Called in the morning for any update, guy is busy with a customer again. Lady on the phone took my details again and promised a call back - nothing. 5pm comes so I call them back, get passed through to the guy who was supposed to call me back 6 hours ago and he says the car is in the workshop now but not ready and they’ll call me tomorrow with good news.
Starting to get quite annoyed about the situation - today it’s been two weeks since I saw the car, 12 days since leaving a deposit on it and over a week since I was supposed to have been collecting it. Having not heard anything at all today I called them after 2:30pm to speak to their business manager (the guy who told me the truth about the headlight fault). Apparently busy with a customer, promised a call back - it’s now nearly 5pm - nothing.
If it was any other car I’d probably walk but I’m making an exception as I like the car and think I’d struggle to find another like it, certainly with the mileage and spec/colour combo this one has.
But I’m stumped as to what to do now. I’m wondering if they’re trying to back me into a corner so I cancel on the deal - either so they don’t have to sell it to me (either to sell it elsewhere for higher or to offload it to auction so they haven’t got to warrant the car for any further issues etc). I’m not the sort of person to complain or ask for stuff but after almost two weeks and the inconvenience etc it’s starting to bother me - I moved cash into my current account once I knew I was collecting the car which has obviously been sitting there doing nothing since, wasted time/fuel on the day I was supposed to have been collecting it, have had to do all the chasing as they haven’t bothered keeping me informed at all, etc.
I obviously know until the full balance is paid the car isn’t actually mine but how do I stand at this stage? What would you ask for or would you just walk?
I’ve got it booked in for a service on Monday at my local MB main dealer, which I’ll now have to cancel - which I don’t want to do as the car will now be overdue a service by 42 days already at that point, and will then have to wait another few weeks to get it booked in again
I do still like the car and want to buy it, but this is putting a real dampener on things. You know when you start off looking for problems, eg have they fixed this electrical issue properly etc, have they marked/damaged anything changing the bulb and control units. Rather than enjoying the whole build up to collection, bringing it home and getting to enjoy the experience etc.
Sorry for the lengthy post, any advice welcomed, I genuinely don’t know what I should do now
I’ve never had this kind of hassle buying privately!
and likes seeing how far away I can unlock/lock the car from 
The range is incredible though isn’t it! 
