Potential Rust Issue - Could I return the car / ask for a repair to be covered by seller.

[PIXeL_92]

Hi all, 

 

I bought an 2018 e-golf just over two months ago. 

 

Being a black car and it showing every defect in the paint I chose to have someone detail it to protect the paint and avoid swirls using a drive through one. 

 

When he was finished he asked me to have a look at the bottom of the rear door and sill as he thinks there has been repair work as he noticed a fair amount of surface rust that is now bubbling through the paint on the underside of the sill and edge of the door. 

 

On a closer look the wheel arch is also not as defined as it is on the drivers side so it has definitely had some form of work. 

 

When I did a HPI it did pass with no red flags and I didn't notice it at the dealership but it didn't get under the car either. 

 

Do I have any right to ask them to either take the vehicle back or have the rust defect sorted at their cost? 

 

Thanks 

[Badtimes123]

Hi Pixel, just my opinion, more knowledgeable people will be along shortly.

 

Rust can happen at any time and given it isn't a major defect that affects reliability, I wouldn't have thought you can get them to take the car back, no harm is asking them to assist with the repair, but if it's just cosmetic then I doubt you'll be entertained as you should have noticed it.

 

2 hours ago, PIXeL_92 said:

but it didn't get under the car either.

You should always do this...

 

2 hours ago, PIXeL_92 said:

wheel arch is also not as defined as it is on the drivers side

 

All items that should have been noticed by you before purchasing.. sills, lower doors and wheel arches are common areas for light repair work (if my wife drives it anyway )

 

Have it checked by a professional to ensure it isn't a major repair with potential structural damage that hasn't been registered.

[PIXeL_92]

Thanks for the info.

 

The problem is potentially the sill, I also wouldn't have expected a 4 year old car to start rusting.

 

The detailer said it looks to have recently come to the surface as the paint is still ontop of the build up underneath.

 

I have messaged them to see if they are willing to help, it isn't the first issue I have had with the car unfortuantly this isn't the first issue with the car I have had.

[Badtimes123]

1 minute ago, PIXeL_92 said:

it isn't the first issue I have had with the car unfortuantly

Ok, tell us the whole story!

[PIXeL_92]

It isn't anything related to the rust issue, but on the same side at the rear the car was making a horrible creaking noise like an old wooden ship creaking type sound when driving at slow speeds over small bumps or going up a curb.

 

Dealer said take it to VW so I did and they said that the repair was covered in the £60 inspection fee, they said there was an issue with the brake potentiometer, I am guessing it may have been dry.

 

I can't say it was related to the dealer but a 20a fuse blade had wire wrapped around it as it was blown and jammed into the fuse box and then what I would consider a fire hazard of a wire had been jammed into the fuse location, it was a scrap bit of thin metal cut to fit in a chocolate block connector and then into a thin guage wire into another bit of chocolate block then into a thicker gauge wire, it had then been chopped off behind the glove box, it was into a 12v feed so I am guessing it was used for a dash cam.

Edited June 2, 2022 by PIXeL_92

[Badtimes123]

Hmm ok, that issue at the rear, same side could definitely be related to the damage.. anyhow, I would definitely recommend a full inspection of the vehicle, think AA offer this service, others may well too

 

Read this it may help and then I'm sure someone will be along soon to advice how you best approach this.

What is the Consumer Rights Act, and how does it affect my vehicle purchase? - The Motor Ombudsman

WWW.THEMOTOROMBUDSMAN.ORG

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If you bought your car after 01 October 2015, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies. This means that, when you buy the vehicle, it has to be of...

 

[90CXS]

hi, for the rust, VW has a 12 year guarantee. take it to a dealer to review it. if it is caused by a repair, then it is void.

 

Quote

All current Volkswagen vehicles are fully protected during manufacture against through corrosion for 12 years from the date of first registration.

 

If you bought the car click and collect then you have a bit more protection on it but ultimately of you can prove the vehicle is not of fit purpose for the year and price you can have up to 6 moths to reject it.

Garage gets one chance to rectify the issue.

 

It is defiantly worth reading the consumer rights and also have a google for AA/which car rejections, it is all pretty straight forward.

 

I am currently taking Cinch for a retro 10% refund on a vehicle that i bought from them as it had undisclosed issues on arrival.

[PIXeL_92]

1 hour ago, 90CXS said:

hi, for the rust, VW has a 12 year guarantee. take it to a dealer to review it. if it is caused by a repair, then it is void.

Done a bit more investigation and it seems to be failed crash damage repair, knocking on the panels the one effected makes a duller noise. 

 

This may also explained the initial complaint I had of a huge creaking noise. 

 

1 hour ago, 90CXS said:

 

 

If you bought the car click and collect then you have a bit more protection on it but ultimately of you can prove the vehicle is not of fit purpose for the year and price you can have up to 6 moths to reject it.

Garage gets one chance to rectify the issue.

I bought it from a dealership in person but paid a deposit over the phone to hold it, it wasn't there when inspected in person and looking at the pictures of the car the salesperson sent me before I went down it wasn't there either. 

 

It definitely is early onset as its only minnorly broken through a small amount of the paint work but near enough the whole bottom lip of the door has started to bubble along with the back half of the sill. 

1 hour ago, 90CXS said:

 

It is defiantly worth reading the consumer rights and also have a google for AA/which car rejections, it is all pretty straight forward.

 

I am currently taking Cinch for a retro 10% refund on a vehicle that i bought from them as it had undisclosed issues on arrival.

 

I did have a read through and spoken to the salesperson, they haven't outright said yes or no to doing something about it yet, just annoying as it's a 2 and a half hour drive each way and I don't have access to another car. 

[dx100uk]

There is no 6mts limit under cra to reject something after said issue has supposedly been repaired by the retailer .

 

 

[PIXeL_92]

@dx100uk - I have no idea if this was done by them or not. My main concerns are if the sill is damaged it could impact its integrity and also that the rust damage wasn't there when the car was sold or at least not to the point it was impacting the paint. 

[dx100uk]

Doubt They did it no.

 

Dx

[90CXS]

They are dealers and you relied on their skills and expertise when choosing the vehicle. A poor hidden repair should have been noticed by them and if substandard, put right or pointed out. You as a layman would not be expected to have the relevant skills to notice it.

 

a 2018 car should not be rusting, that in itself is proof of a defect.

 

Are we talking main dealer or back street dealer?

[PIXeL_92]

@90CXS- They are an independent dealer. However they specialise in Rolls Royce, Teslas, Lamborghinis and other highend sports / luxury cars.

 

Me and my partner joked that this was the coffee car.

 

In all honesty I think this may have been a friends or families car that they where doing a favour and it didn't get the same attention of the other cars around it, hence them not spotting the horrible creaking sound, dodgy/dangerous wiring in the fuse box and this rust issue. It is always why I think I felt like I could trust them more.

 

I only went for this one as it was the one of the two e-golf with full leather and reverse cam for sale in the UK at the time.

 

One thing I have noticed as well, the HPI check showed 2 registrations but my V5 shows 4 previous keepers, I don't know if this is a legitimate thing as I don't buy and sell cars.

[dx100uk]

so you know the last keeper details?

 

dx

[PIXeL_92]

@dx100uk - No I don't just what it says on the V5/HPI check in terms of numbers. 

[PIXeL_92]

Been speaking back and forth with the dealer. They are asking me to get quotes to put the rust and the possible bad repair right.

 

They seem to think it should cost around £100, my partner has had two panels repaired after a brick was thrown at it at a back alley type place as she wasn't too concerned about the end finish as it was an older car and that was about £550, looked good from a distance but up close you could tell type thing and it was a standard type paint not metallic like my one.

 

I am away for a week so when back will go to a couple places and get some prices but I am right in thinking I should be after a proper job where it is blended seamlessly etc.

[90CXS]

Yes it should be a proper job, however garage Bodyshops can vary greatly from place to place.

if it is too much the dealer may say to bring it to them to fix. Then you are into your big round trip.

 

other thing is that your Hpi should match the V5. If it doesn’t you have recourse through who you got to do the Hpi- am guessing you did the Hpi and not taken it from the garage.

 

RAC and AA Hpi are who I use and if they have an error- or outstanding finance etc then you are insured through them.

 

I would ask the garage for a return if I were you. Few things don’t seem to tie up to me.

[PIXeL_92]

@90CXS - got a rough quote for £600 but they needed to get it on the ramp and check how bad it actually is. Told the dealer, he didn't like that. Said if I get more daft quotes he will sort it.

 

My thinking is if he takes it back does a sub par job I can reject that as his one chance of repairing it? 

[90CXS]

A sub job won’t show for a few months.

I would test the water and suggest it comes back to him as a return as you were not aware of the issue when you bought it. 
guess it’s over to you how much you love the car. Time is of the essence though, longer you have it, harder it is to reject.

[PIXeL_92]

I like the car, not a fan that it's had these problems.

 

Problem is the next cheapest EV they have is a Tesla at £40k so if I take it back to him it will be for the cash value or my part-ex and cash (If I am forced to do it like that as they still have it listed.)

 

Is he responsible for collecting the car if he is offering to repair it and refuses to take it back (having to collect it may change his mind) or do I have to drive it over too him? Just it is about a 2 hour drive on a good day I would prefer him to collect.

 

 

[PIXeL_92]

The owner of the garage was away for a week so should be phoning me today.

 

Had it at another couple body shops and they have noticed that the rear door doesn't line up with the front door or rear arch panel, they have made the comment that the support column between the two doors could potentially be damaged.