BMW Oil leak - what could it be/query on rights with garage

emmavic

Hi all,

Bought a BMW 316 2004 back in April from a reputable SIMI dealer in my home town. The dealer guaranteed the NCT which was due and said that he would service the car.

Took the car for a couple of weeks before they put it through the NCT. Drove it on a good few long journeys and on one the orange oil light came on mid-drive. Pulled over, checked the oil and there was practically nothing in there when dipped. Thought it was strange as the dealer had just done a service, but topped up and continued, resolving to mention it to him before the NCT.

Anyway, brought car back to the dealership for them to put it through the NCT. Mentioned the issue with the oil and also that I had noticed some oil spotting under the car (very slight). Dealer assured me that he would get his mechanics to take a look and resolve.

So, car passed NCT, but the dealer said the mechanics couldn't find a leak.

Anyway, here we are 6 weeks later and the car is still leaking oil. Spotting on ground after long journeys, but, knowing nothing whatsoever about cars other than how to drive them, I haven't a clue where it's coming from. Have called the dealer and he has said he will have another look at it next week, but that he guaranteed the NCT and it passed that...

So, I suppose I would like some opinions, firstly on what could be causing the leak but also around my consumer rights on buying from a SIMI dealer in the above situation if this turns out to be something massive and expensive?

All advice most welcome, if only to reassure me that the car isn't about to blow up any second! To add another twist to the tale, the dealer is located down the country and I am in Dublin so every time I need to correspond it's on the phone, which isn't helping and also means that I have to make a significant journey to bring back the car...

Thanks for reading

burke027

My guess working with these cars is its the vacuum pump on the back of the head leaking. Very common on that engine failing that it's the valve cover gasket it. But my money is on the vacuum pump.
I work for a bmw specialist and we have seem plenty of these d own the years. Also it's very hard to spot the leak unless u kniw exactly where to look and the trays need to be taking down from under the car to see this it also needs to be up on a lift to see the leak

Alanstrainor

My valve cover/rocker cover gasket failing also caused a very noticeable smell of oil in the cabin. It also doesn't tend to leak that fast, it will generally just drip slightly and hit the exhaust manifold and cause the smell in the cabin. I would reckon it's not this, but it's hard to tell.

emmavic

Thanks for the replies.

My husband has noticed a smell of oil "through the air vents" as he says, I can't say I have noticed it myself but he would drive it more frequently.

If it was either of these things, and we end up having to pay for it ourselves - are they easily fixable and/or expensive.

Really appreciate the help.

emmavic

emmavic wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

My husband has noticed a smell of oil "through the air vents" as he says, I can't say I have noticed it myself but he would drive it more frequently.

If it was either of these things, and we end up having to pay for it ourselves - are they easily fixable and/or expensive.

Really appreciate the help.

Also, is it safe to continue driving it if it's the vacuum pump?

burke027

emmavic wrote: »

Also, is it safe to continue driving it if it's the vacuum pump?

Yes it's safe to drive it's just loosing oil around the seal the valve cover gasket is cheap enough to change the vacuum pump o's a little more expensive if I remember correctly. Either problems can or can not cause the smell in the cabin depending where there leaking of course

emmavic

burke027 wrote: »

Yes it's safe to drive it's just loosing oil around the seal the valve cover gasket is cheap enough to change the vacuum pump o's a little more expensive if I remember correctly. Either problems can or can not cause the smell in the cabin depending where there leaking of course

Thanks so much - just having an idea of what's wrong helps.

burke027

emmavic wrote: »

Thanks so much - just having an idea of what's wrong helps.

One question is it a bmw garage u bought it from. The only reason I ask is that if it is they should know exactly where to look on this engine

emmavic

burke027 wrote: »

One question is it a bmw garage u bought it from. The only reason I ask is that if it is they should know exactly where to look on this engine

No it's not a BMW dealership, I think it's either renault or nissan...

I thought of going to another garage to get the problem assessed and then returning to the dealer I bought it from but not sure of what benefit that would be.

I am hoping that the dealer I bought it from and I can come to a reasonable arrangement regarding the repair but it's in the back of my mind that the car can't have been sitting in their dealership leaking oil without them noticing and not bringing it to my attention on buying, particularly when they say they serviced it before I collected.

I am now thinking, having googled the vacuum pump fix (what did I ever do without google?!) that they may have realised what the problem was when I went back for the NCT and thought the better of putting in so much effort when they knew it would pass the NCT without that fix...maybe that's just my cynical side though...

DublinDilbert

The smell is probably the oil falling onto the hot exhaust, if the vacuum pump is leaking.

The vacuum pump can be fixed by replacing the o-ring, with one off an oil filter. Only problem is that it's a pain to take it in/out, but you'd have to do that with a new one anyway...

toyotaavensis

Just so you know OP the garage might try and tell you where to go but they are obliged to repair any issues which arise in a reasonable period of time.

Post back how you get on the next day you visit but dont accept anything other than getting this fixed or your money back.

emmavic

toyotaavensis wrote: »

Just so you know OP the garage might try and tell you where to go but they are obliged to repair any issues which arise in a reasonable period of time.

Post back how you get on the next day you visit but dont accept anything other than getting this fixed or your money back.

Going back next Monday week...they didn't sound happy to be hearing from us again! Anyway thanks for all the advice and replies, I'll let u know how it goes.

emmavic

Just wanted to update for all those who replied to the thread - the saga of this car is ongoing!

Went back to the car dealer that we purchased from - he was not happy for us to be there - anyway said he would take the car in get the mechanics to look at it. Rings back a few hours later to say they had replaced the O ring and that all seemed to be working fine. Collected the car, told them that we would be getting an independent mechanic to take a look to ensure that all was well. Dealer said - all is fine, working perfect etc.

Anyway, couple of weeks later, car still leaking oil and now Rev's going mental. Child starting school, no way we can't have a working car - you get the idea...stress... So we take it to a local mechanic recommended to us. Says it's throttle body and a list of other things, all definitely there when we bought the car and would have been hard to miss by other mechanics. Also said car hadn't been serviced, eventhough the dealer said it had. So, I ring the National Consumer Agency, they say get the car fixed by the independent mechanic and chase the dealer for the bill.

So, the new mechanic fixed the car, but said there were at least 6 oil leaks and we are still monitoring as he isn't sure he's caught everything...Brought it to the main dealer for a diagnostics and there is another oil leak. At this stage, if someone mentions the word oil to me once more it will send me over the edge!!! Anyway, our very decent and patient mechanic will be taking another look at it tomorrow.

No word yet from the dealer been a couple of weeks since we sent him the bill. Will most likely end up in court....moral of the story is buyer beware!

Once car is fully fixed, we will be selling and buying something else - this whole situation has completely ruined it for us and I feel like we will never have any luck with it.

Thanks for reading and replying. Any suggestions on how to turn back time and ensure I never buy that car are most welcome!!!

toyotaavensis

OP, how much was the car?

emmavic

It was €4,000 - which I now regret very very much....in our defence, it was a high spec model with very low mileage and one previous owner. Plus the dealer was (supposed) to be reputable...

Was initally up for €4,950.

We were done. I know. The dealer is part of SIMI, which the people at the National Consumer Agency tell me to contact as the next step. Anyway, as you can imagine I am beyond annoyed at the whole situation at this stage.

toyotaavensis

emmavic wrote: »

It was €4,000 - which I now regret very very much....in our defence, it was a high spec model with very low mileage and one previous owner. Plus the dealer was (supposed) to be reputable...

Was initally up for €4,950.

We were done. I know. The dealer is part of SIMI, which the people at the National Consumer Agency tell me to contact as the next step. Anyway, as you can imagine I am beyond annoyed at the whole situation at this stage.

This is ****ty OP and I dont want to sound like a bollocks saying you should have ... but here is some tips for you.

1 Go through the SIMI complaing. Also threathen the garage with Joe Duffy.
2 When they reject your complaint have a chat with a solicitor.
3 Have a chat with your mechanic about the car and whether he thinks he can repair it to a good standard or if it is a complete lemon.
4 When you are car shopping next have a mechanic come with you to inspect it.
5 Consider going for a more mainstream car like ford toyota as they are cheaper to fix when things go wrong and things go wrong less often.

emmavic

Yes, it pretty crap alright. We gave up a lovely Saab to buy something else (due to high road tax) and spent a long time procrastinating...in the end it was a slight panic buy because we were in desperate need of a car and this garage and its owner were supposed to be reliable - known by my family for the last 25 years.

Anyway, you live and learn. The mechanic says it's not a complete lemon, but is equally puzzled as to why the original garage we bought it from thought they could sell us it as it was and we wouldn't notice!

Thanks for the advice. Next time (and hopefully that will be sooner rather than later), I will be asking our lovely new mechanic to come with me when buying. The only good thing to come out of this is that we found him. Pretty expensive way to find a good mechanic though!!!

toyotaavensis

When you are shopping next come back here and you will find some good advice.

Best of luck with the fight OP.

Kenny Logins

toyotaavensis wrote: »

..Also threathen the garage with Joe Duffy.

Which one? :pac:

toyotaavensis

the one who sold him the dodgy car.
I hate the man but using his name when someone is acting the micky (airlines garages etc..) often puts the fear of god into them.

dharn

There are 2 joe duffys, 1 sells bmws

Kenny Logins

toyotaavensis wrote: »

the one who sold him* the dodgy car.
I hate the man but using his name when someone is acting the micky (airlines garages etc..) often puts the fear of god into them.

1. *her

2. Which Joe Duffy (:pac:)

toyotaavensis

ah sorry I meant the lad on the radio. Now i see.