Mileage verification for engine replacement

Johnthemanager

Hi folks

Looking for some advice, long story short, bought an 5 year old i40 estate from a dealer, found out after buying that engine manifold was melted by previous owner and radiator roasted. Car was described by the main dealer that serviced it then as beyond economical repair.

Garage I bought it from agreed to replace the engine with a like for like second hand engine, which I agreed with.

I asked for a 6 month warranty and the reg of the donor car that the engine came out of so that I could verify it was the same model and same mileage they put on warranty.

They replaced the engine, I got my 6 month warranty but they are refusing to give me the reg of the car it came out of quoting GDPR!

The engine lasted a month before going into limp mode and the engine management light flashing off the dash!

What do any mechanics here do when they replace an engine, to certify mileage etc for customers?

Toyotafanboi

Generally, they don't. The seller of the engine might quote the mileage of the car it was removed from but that'd be the extent of it, in a lot of cases the mileage mightn't be retrievable from the donor car. It's really the mileage on your own dash that counts towards your own car anyway.

Those i40 engines are very very hard to source second hand, maybe it's a recon'd engine or actually your old engine refurbished and they've told you a bit of a porkie? Might explain why they can't provide a reg. A lot of places do sensibly priced recon base engines for them.

Is there two issues at play though? The intake manifolds do melt on them but it wouldn't usually write off an engine.

Johnthemanager

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Generally, they don't. The seller of the engine might quote the mileage of the car it was removed from but that'd be the extent of it, in a lot of cases the mileage mightn't be retrievable from the donor car. It's really the mileage on your own dash that counts towards your own car anyway.

Those i40 engines are very very hard to source second hand, maybe it's a recon'd engine or actually your old engine refurbished and they've told you a bit of a porkie? Might explain why they can't provide a reg. A lot of places do sensibly priced recon base engines for them.

Is there two issues at play though? The intake manifolds do melt on them but it wouldn't usually write off an engine.

I got the report from a main hyandai dealer that had been servicing it for the previous owner, prior to the garage I bought it from buying it at auction.

Maybe it was my engine refurbished, but why not just tell me that?

These guys have accused me of damaging the car while in my possession, even though I have photos of the car on there forecourt with the damage prior to me buying it.

I smell a rat with this, the engine only lasted a month, before it went into limp mode, and apparantely the garage can't find any fault logged in the memory. Would that make sense?

bazz26

Sounds like you bought it from cowboys. I'd say you have a battle on your hands now to get any satisfaction from them.

colm_mcm

It’s gone into limp mode, it hasn’t exploded.
I wouldn’t panic massively at this stage.


The GDPR thing is amusing though.

Johnthemanager

colm_mcm wrote: »

It’s gone into limp mode, it hasn’t exploded.
I wouldn’t panic massively at this stage.


The GDPR thing is amusing though.

That was after it took them 6 weeks to finally diagnose the head gasket was gone, after initially saying the reason it was fropoung coolant was a dodgy radiator cap after they had the car into there own garage on 3 occasions, and only then because I requested they take it to a main dealer after it over heated.

5 weeks to replace the engine

Went to collect the car and discovered the back bumper was driven in, they had reversed into a wall and hoped I wouldn't spot it.

Had to go back 2 or 3 times after replacement to get hoses tightened as coolant kept dropping. While waiting for the mechanic to take another car off the lift and put up mine, he dropped the lift, hopped in the other customers car and almost reversed through the back wall of the garage, made clean **** of the back of the car. He never took it out of reverse.

I asked for a 6 month warranty and the reg of the donor car so I could verify mileage. The car lasted a month before it went into limp mode on a dual carriage way. They towed it away and done a diagnostic test on it said they couldn't find any fault, then asked me had it actually broke down at all, tried to say it never happened.

Couldn't put my kids in it again after that, couldn't trust the car or them. That was 12 months ago, just waiting for a court date now.

Johnthemanager

bazz26 wrote: »

Sounds like you bought it from cowboys. I'd say you have a battle on your hands now to get any satisfaction from them.

You don't know the half of it mate, once the matter is sorted they'll be a nice write up here, dont you worry.

You wouldn't believe half the **** they tried to pull.

TrailerBob

I hope you have your paperwork in order going to court. Had a friend in a similar position, not an engine change, but a car with a litany of problems from and independent dealer. They discovered it had been clocked and had waaayyy more mileage on it. Ended up in court and the dealer had documents supposedly signed by the purchaser acknowledging the mileage discrepancy and waiving responsibility for issues. Almost got away with it until my friend insisted on a handwriting comparison from an expert to prove a forged signature.

Not trying to put you off, but make sure your side is airtight

Johnthemanager

TrailerBob wrote: »

I hope you have your paperwork in order going to court. Had a friend in a similar position, not an engine change, but a car with a litany of problems from and independent dealer. They discovered it had been clocked and had waaayyy more mileage on it. Ended up in court and the dealer had documents supposedly signed by the purchaser acknowledging the mileage discrepancy and waiving responsibility for issues. Almost got away with it until my friend insisted on a handwriting comparison from an expert to prove a forged signature.

Not trying to put you off, but make sure your side is airtight

I have all my ducks lined up alright. This isn't there first rodeo by all accounts.