Car repaired but failed after 7 months....

[matt_tee]

**** UPDATE ****

 

I have just heard back from the Garage that made the initial repair, and they have told me that they cannot do anything (though they are going to get back to me, I do not know when or why??)

 

Because the car was taken to a different garage, and this garage carried out the repair (although we did not realise that it was the original part, that was at fault), then we have broken our guarantee rules...

 

The only reason that we took the car to the garage, was because we feared for our own safety and the well being of the car, and did not think that it was anything to do with the original repair.

 

To make matters worse, the mechanic found a spanner wedged under the engine mount, that was left there when the part was installed, and he believes that this may have contributed to the fault. Also, the engine mount, upon inspection, was found to be loose.

 

Now we can not prove this, as no photographs were taken unfortunately.

 

I feel really annoyed, that the Official BMW Mini garage are wiping there hands clean of this matter! They haven't even asked for the parts to investigate! (although I have offered twice and they have declined..)

 

What can I do???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Evening,

 

I am new to this forum, and I am hoping that someone will be able to help me.

 

In May this year, we took our Mini Cooper S to a Registered Dealer to replace an Engine Mount that had started to leak oil. This was replaced and we paid for parts and labour, this came with a 12 month guarantee on parts and labour.

 

Last week, whilst driving the Mini, there was a terrible grinding noise eminating from the front of the car, and it was getting progressively worse. Not knowing what it was, and becoming considerably worried, I stopped driving the car and asked my local garage to have a look at it and repair it if it was not too an expensive job. (I know the mechanic, and have used him many times, he is a family friend, so trusted him to do the right thing!).

 

Anyway, the car was returned to me today, and I was told that the problem was a sheared bolt on the front O/S engine mount, which had now become damaged because of this.

 

I was shocked, as I realised that this was the same engine mount that had recently been replaced.

 

Unfortunately, the mechanic had carried out the repair, because it was a not too an expensive job.

 

When I told him that this repair had already been carried out, in May, he said that we should contact the garage and attempt to recover the cost of the repair.

 

My Question is:

 

Because I never knew what the problem was, and that it has now been repaired, can I claim the cost of the repair from the garage that originally carried out the initial repair?

 

I have all of the original parts, I have the receipt from the garage that carried out the second repair, and the mechanic will also give me a statement to prove what he has done.

 

Thank you for your help in advance, it is appreciated.

 

Matt

Edited December 11, 2013 by matt_tee
* UPDATE *

[citizenkain]

engine mounts don't leak oil,I don't understand this

[matt_tee]

Sorry,

 

The engine mount on the mini has an hydraulic oil filled bush...

 

engine mounts don't leak oil,I don't understand this

 

 

Common fault...

[heliosuk]

engine mounts don't leak oil,I don't understand this

 

They actually leak Glycol. The vast majority of engine mounts fitted in a modern car are Hydro mounts and have a fluid fill in them to dampen out input forces that traditional solid rubber based elastomers cannot.

[heliosuk]

The issue here is that under the terms of the warranty given there are two stages.

 

When you buy the part and it's fitted by an approved dealership then you get a 12 month warranty on the part alone. Now if the part fails and you go to a dealership for replacement then the manufacturer will normally cover the labour as well. If for example you had the part fitted by a non franchised dealer then you get the part only unless a franchised dealer replaces it. This is normal parts warranty procedure.

 

In this case, you have had the part fitted at a dealership and all appeared well. The dealer gives the 12months warranty on parts and labour as this is recoverable from the manufacturer if it fails. Alongside this the dealer gives an assurance that the labour is good for 6 months. So you have a part fitted and go to another non franchised mechanic. Had the part failed then you could take it back and they would give you another one. As this is not the case what you are complaining about is the labour and the dealer is only invoking the terms of the warranty given, i.e. had you taken the car back to any authorised dealer then it might be covered if the part had failed. What would normally happen then is that there would be an inter dealer charge for the work.

 

However as this has happened outside of the dealer network and outside of the warranty period the original fitting dealer gives then you are going to be hard pressed in pursuing this one.

[matt_tee]

The part is actually still covered under the warranty, as so too is the labour, as both were only done 7 months ago, and both parts and labour were covered for 12 months.

 

My problem is, as dedcribed previously, i had no way of knowing of the recurring fault, and if i had, i would have gone straight back to the dealership.

 

Out of common courtesy, you think they may have been interested into why the fault occured in the first place, and why/who left a spanner wedged under the replacement part!!

 

Very annoying...

 

 

 

The issue here is that under the terms of the warranty given there are two stages.

 

When you buy the part and it's fitted by an approved dealership then you get a 12 month warranty on the part alone. Now if the part fails and you go to a dealership for replacement then the manufacturer will normally cover the labour as well. If for example you had the part fitted by a non franchised dealer then you get the part only unless a franchised dealer replaces it. This is normal parts warranty procedure.

 

In this case, you have had the part fitted at a dealership and all appeared well. The dealer gives the 12months warranty on parts and labour as this is recoverable from the manufacturer if it fails. Alongside this the dealer gives an assurance that the labour is good for 6 months. So you have a part fitted and go to another non franchised mechanic. Had the part failed then you could take it back and they would give you another one. As this is not the case what you are complaining about is the labour and the dealer is only invoking the terms of the warranty given, i.e. had you taken the car back to any authorised dealer then it might be covered if the part had failed. What would normally happen then is that there would be an inter dealer charge for the work.

 

However as this has happened outside of the dealer network and outside of the warranty period the original fitting dealer gives then you are going to be hard pressed in pursuing this one.

[matt_tee]

Another update, The garage have called me today, and asked me to bring in the original part that they fitted, plus my car key, so that they can check my milage???

 

Anyway, I will update tomorrow evening....

 

Wish me luck...

 

 

 

**** UPDATE ****

 

I have just heard back from the Garage that made the initial repair, and they have told me that they cannot do anything (though they are going to get back to me, I do not know when or why??)

 

Because the car was taken to a different garage, and this garage carried out the repair (although we did not realise that it was the original part, that was at fault), then we have broken our guarantee rules...

 

The only reason that we took the car to the garage, was because we feared for our own safety and the well being of the car, and did not think that it was anything to do with the original repair.

 

To make matters worse, the mechanic found a spanner wedged under the engine mount, that was left there when the part was installed, and he believes that this may have contributed to the fault. Also, the engine mount, upon inspection, was found to be loose.

 

Now we can not prove this, as no photographs were taken unfortunately.

 

I feel really annoyed, that the Official BMW Mini garage are wiping there hands clean of this matter! They haven't even asked for the parts to investigate! (although I have offered twice and they have declined..)

 

What can I do???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Evening,

 

I am new to this forum, and I am hoping that someone will be able to help me.

 

In May this year, we took our Mini Cooper S to a Registered Dealer to replace an Engine Mount that had started to leak oil. This was replaced and we paid for parts and labour, this came with a 12 month guarantee on parts and labour.

 

Last week, whilst driving the Mini, there was a terrible grinding noise eminating from the front of the car, and it was getting progressively worse. Not knowing what it was, and becoming considerably worried, I stopped driving the car and asked my local garage to have a look at it and repair it if it was not too an expensive job. (I know the mechanic, and have used him many times, he is a family friend, so trusted him to do the right thing!).

 

Anyway, the car was returned to me today, and I was told that the problem was a sheared bolt on the front O/S engine mount, which had now become damaged because of this.

 

I was shocked, as I realised that this was the same engine mount that had recently been replaced.

 

Unfortunately, the mechanic had carried out the repair, because it was a not too an expensive job.

 

When I told him that this repair had already been carried out, in May, he said that we should contact the garage and attempt to recover the cost of the repair.

 

My Question is:

 

Because I never knew what the problem was, and that it has now been repaired, can I claim the cost of the repair from the garage that originally carried out the initial repair?

 

I have all of the original parts, I have the receipt from the garage that carried out the second repair, and the mechanic will also give me a statement to prove what he has done.

 

Thank you for your help in advance, it is appreciated.

 

Matt