Should we keep it...

[CoupeWannabeS2]

Hello all,

Just looking for an opinions / thoughts on a situation I find myself in. To keep peoples interest - it does involve a car, and it is an Audi.

Basically I bought a car for the wife - and we have discovered something that is causing a bit of concern.

The car in question is a 2014 Audi A3, 2 litre TDI. We got it from a second hand car dealer, and they advertised the car with a full service history. When collecting the car, the salesman stated that all the service history is held with Audi, and you do not get a stamped service book these days.

In hindsight I should have paid more attention to this, however we did end up buying the car.

Anyway, I thought I best contact Audi over the service history of the car to discover they had no record of ever servicing this car.

As the car has 40k miles on the clock - the car should have had some oil changes, but there is no record of this. The servicing (according to Audi) on a longlife - or flexible service is for a maximum of 19,000 miles or two years.

The car has just turned two years old, and the place where we bought it said they serviced it when the got it - so at 40k miles.

Having had a chat with Audi over the remainder of the manufacturer warranty, which is 1 year, they understandably advise they couldn't honor the warranty in the event of a problem due to the lack of evidenced servicing at the correct intervals. They also say you have to use genuine Audi parts when servicing aswell to preserve their warranty.

So in summary the car doesn't have an evidenced full service history as advertised, and therefore the Audi warranty is compromised. The second hand dealer say they dont offer any warranty - as a buyer you get the remainder of the manufacturer warranty.

We did get the car at a very good price - but now I see there is a good reason for that!

So - I think I have to assume the car may have done a full 40k miles on the same oil.

I was hoping to get some thoughts on how serious that could be to an engine?

Does anyone have experience of what damage an engine can suffer in this scenario?

Anyone know much about these new Audi 2 litre TDI engines?

Over to you guys...

[Ian_C]

Opps.

I guess the first two questions to ask:

How long have you had it?
And do you have a copy of the second hand car traders' original advert claiming 'full service history' ?

If the answers are 'not long' and 'yes' I'd take it back for a refund under trade descriptions act.

Who was the first owner? 40k is a lot of miles on a 2014. Unlikely to be a car leasing company though, otherwise it would have been serviced....

[CoupeWannabeS2]

Opps.

I guess the first two questions to ask:

How long have you had it?
And do you have a copy of the second hand car traders' original advert claiming 'full service history' ?

If the answers are 'not long' and 'yes' I'd take it back for a refund under trade descriptions act.

Who was the first owner? 40k is a lot of miles on a 2014. Unlikely to be a car leasing company though, otherwise it would have been serviced....

We have only had it for 10 days, and I have got a copy of their advert - so I think we are in a good position for returning the car. I have no idea of who the first owner was, but can see your thinking - seems unlikely a lease company wouldn be so reckless with servicing.

[newsh]

The name of the previous owner should be in the V5

[CoupeWannabeS2]

The name of the previous owner should be in the V5

Sorry - should have mentioned I didn't see the V5 when we bought the car. We do not yet have a new one in the wifes name.

Having said that, I could try and get the details off of the dealer, and attempt to contact the last owner about servicing.

[andy10v]

How long have you had it?

Consumer Rights Act 2015 largely replaces the Sale of Goods Act 1979

The car should be "as described"

You can reject it within 30 days if not as described, the dealer gets 1 shot at repair or replace 30-60 days then refund (minus use you have had), 60+days you have to prove the fault was there at time of purchase.

Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008

Dealers are prohibited from giving false information/misrepresenting.

As I presume you have paid a significant amount of money for the car I would be keen to keep the Audi warranty going as long as possible.

[mackenzie50]

Good advice from Andy... my fear would be that it missed its oil changes- the change intervals if done on time/ mileage are ridiculous anyway (- oil is cheap, new engines expensive) so 40,000 mls is frightening...that said my company car regularly misses oil changes as the boss doesn't let the cars get to the servicing garage- and still thrives...but I wouldn't want to own it. Wishing you luck with returning the car if you choose that route.

[david1980]

I'd be sending it back asap

[mike74]

Unless the dealer can provide you with the service history, I'd be returning it to him ASAP. The vehicle otherwise hasn't been sold "as described"

[SteveH]

Take it back. If they mention full service history and implied it was main dealer, and that's obviously not the case if Audi haven't serviced it, you have your right to return it.

[jimmcf]

If you bought it on finance then also contact the finance company as they have an interest in the car as well, but keep making any payments under the agreement.

[Rikki Kitto]

We have only had it for 10 days, and I have got a copy of their advert - so I think we are in a good position for returning the car. I have no idea of who the first owner was, but can see your thinking - seems unlikely a lease company wouldn be so reckless with servicing.

Most definitely take it back and start again buying from someone else, sounds like a dodgy dealer with the service book nonsense he came out with, if you are selling a car documented proof of servicing is a real good selling tool why would he not have it

[Colesy]

Take it back and teach them a lesson. Piss-takers like this need to be stopped else they'll just keep doing it again and again.

Can't really comment on how the engine would have fared with no oil change but it can't have been good for it.

[CoupeWannabeS2]

Cheers for the input everyone - thankfully there has been a happy ending.

The dealer we bought from have now produced a printout of the servicing.

As there wasn't a receipt as such, I did phone the garage that performed the first service. Their records confirmed the car was serviced as per the printout, so everything is inorder.

I will sleep a lot easier tonight. Thanks again everyone.

[Rikki Kitto]

Don't want to sound negative but it's amazing what people can come up with when the think they have to refund thousands of pounds, I would triple check everything😣