Aftersales/handover

[dino1]

Hi there,
Just need some advice if possible.Im not sure what are my rights when buying a used car anyway i bought my 1st MB a160 elegance from a renault dealership .After 1 month of having the car the computer is telling me i requite a service 'b' .I suppose this is to do witrh its age (03 plate) and the amount of milage its done (30000).You can imagine my anger and i would of thought that a proper service should of been done beofre handing over the car to me.I paid £9000 i expect this or should i not???
Im just not sure of my rights!!
Many thanks
Lorenzo

 

[Blobcat]

On the A class the ASSYST service indicator works on time since last service and oil condition. You should have been able to find out from the trip computer when it was next due a service when you bought it.
The onus is really on you to make sure that it was serviced prior to buying it. If you made a deal that it would be serviced then go back and have them service it. If not then unfortunately it is down to you. With all dealers they will only include what they have to and servicing used cars is generally not one of them, unless specified. Even then as they are not an MB dealer they would probably not undertake a full B service.
Find a good independant and have it serviced there. The hourly rate for MB servicing can make the A class a very expensive small car.

 

[davebox]

Hi dino! You can contact trading standards through your local council office to find out for sure the law.
I would think that this is a case of buyer beware, If you asked for the car to be serviced then it should have been, if not... well it's probably a learning curve. Ask the dealer if he'll do it via his mechanic for a nominal charge. Make sure the service book gets stamped by a VAT registered garage.

LOL Oooohhh. Blobcat took the words out of my mouth (did a meatloaf).

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Sounds lile somebody has traded the car in just pror to the major B service. What the dealer should and should not do relative to resale is a very subjective area. Legally the dealer is oblidged to make sure the car is roadworthy and safe and all documentation is correct, beyond this will be provided a warranty period. Dealers are not going to point out that consumables like tyres are nearly ready for replacement and so the same goes for servicing etc.

It's a hard fact of life that dealers rely on buyers to not pick up everything that requires doing to a car prior to purchase and in this case you have my sympathy.

I would certainly try to obtain some concession from the dealer especially if part of a large franchise. I don't think they can plead ignorance to the fact that the service was due, and if you payed the screen price without haggling that strenghens your case of buying in good faith.

Hope you get a satisfactory result.

 

[jberks]

Most dealerships have a set of rules.
E.g. MB dealers will service a car if its within x,000 miles of being due. They will replace tyres with less than 4mm tread depth etc. Beyond that, its down to negotiation. Normally, if you're close to the limits they will negotiate.

I suspect that Renault have a similar set of rules. So, call the sales manager, explain the situation and ask what their rules are. It's quite possible that he will appologise and ask you to bring it back so they can do the work.