Hi all,

I apologise if i'm posting in the wrong place, but I urgently need some practical advice. I have always wanted a new Mini and i'd thought my dream had come true. Six weeks ago I bought an 06 Mini Cooper S with 40k miles, what could go wrong eh? Nearly everything it would seem!

A week ago I had it overheat on the motorway, got towed to garage, thermostat gone £140, he explained that it may have blown the head gasket and that there was exhaust gas in the coolant. I don't think he was after more work for himself, he said I could try a Chemical Sealant but advised that I get it replaced and the heads skimmed.

Which I would do, but I rather stretched myself in the acquisition of the car, I could save up the £650 required over the next two months, but not if I had to use public transport for work.

Could I use a sealant as a quick fix until I can afford the head gasket replacement? Will it work and will there be any lasting damage?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

Did you buy from a garage/trade:confused:

You could have grounds to claim under warranty or defects - see link below

Cars and other vehicles (http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/consumer_e/consumer_cars_and_other_vehicles_e.htm)

I bought it from a garage, however when I contacted them they didn't want to know and referred me to the 3 month warranty pack, I contacted the warranty people who said take it to a garage and have it diagnosed. Well I had a fine old time finding a garage that would even agree to undertake warranty work. When I did and he diagnosed the problem of the thermostat they said that wasn't covered. The garage said that these sort of off the shelf warranties aren't worth the paper they are written on and informed me that the head gasket had gone as well and they would not cover that.

You should pursue selling garage -

"it must be of satisfactory quality. If the car turns out to be faulty, you may be able to get a full refund, insist that it is repaired or ask for a replacement"....

....."You discover the fault within six months of you buying the car, it is presumed that the fault was present when you bought it.

If the dealer disputes this, it is up to them to prove the fault was not present. A pre-sale ‘tick box’ check of the car’s mechanical condition when it was sold is not sufficient. Neither is a paper you have signed which says something like "examined and found satisfactory in all respects." They need to provide reasonable evidence, such as an independent report into the car’s condition."....

Use the website I showed you above or Contact Citizens Advice Bureau

Thanks Muddywheels, I will.

No problem - glad I could help and hope you get sorted:)

Been down this road myself - got sorted after I took complaint to Dealer Principal and threatened to bring in Trading Standards:rolleyes:

a lot depends on what the conditions of sale were.

you mention the 3 month warranty pack which does not cover this problem ? sounds like a useless warranty.

did you buy the car from a backstreet garage ?

after only 6 weeks I would have thought the garage would have some responsibility under the sale of goods act, etc ?

I would tend to take Muddywheels advice and pursue the selling garage and see if they will come good.

Iain

Iain,

Yes it would seem the warranty is pretty much useless.

I wouldn't go as far as backstreet garage, but certainly a small independent used car dealer. Seemed like a no brainer at the time, 40K on an 06 plate with full mini service history and a years MOT. It wasn't the cheapest, but it was in the best nick with the lowest mileage.

There were no additional conditions on the sale that I am aware of.

there will not be a "dealer principal" as such, but speak to the owner and explain that the "warranty" has not been much help.

say that you feel that after only 6 weeks they have a responsibility under the sale of goods act to repair your car.

try and keep things on a calm basis and see what their response is before taking the matter further.

Iain

These things best done in writing as conversations can be denied later - use the template letter on the site I sent you:)

Letter complaining about faulty goods (http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/consumer_e/consumer_common_problems_with_products_e/consumer_what_you_can_do_about_faulty_goods_e/complaint_about_faulty_goods.htm?button-to-stage=write)

Thanks Iain

I'll try.

Thanks again muddy wheels

I'm really sorry but I need as much advice as possible..

On a short note..im too buy a mini one on Saturday coming...ok so this local garage has it on the forecourt for £3995 with 10 months mot.9 months tax.

Service history,tinted rear windows,standard interior..57,000 miles on the clock..ok the main bit.it has a white roof and white wheels.which look like the standard one model alloys painted white..now I know the cooper s come with the etcs chilli pack,pepper etc and the 1.6 non s do too.but it doesn't have the other interior package..he's saying its a good spec and won't take no less then 3895 for it..it is a 1.6 but not the cooper s type...so my question is..id this good value for money,what should I look out for when i drive it etc..because I've worked so hard for this money to be saved its unreal..just don't want to be stinged...i just thought the mini ones dont come with white alloys,white roof unless it has the optional pack,chilli,pepper,salt etc...

All the advice I can get would be much appreciated and thankyoy for your time :)

I'm really sorry but I need as much advice as possible..

On a short note..im too buy a mini one on Saturday coming...ok so this local garage has it on the forecourt for £3995 with 10 months mot.9 months tax.

Service history,tinted rear windows,standard interior..57,000 miles on the clock..ok the main bit.it has a white roof and white wheels.which look like the standard one model alloys painted white..now I know the cooper s come with the etcs chilli pack,pepper etc and the 1.6 non s do too.but it doesn't have the other interior package..he's saying its a good spec and won't take no less then 3895 for it..it is a 1.6 but not the cooper s type...so my question is..id this good value for money,what should I look out for when i drive it etc..because I've worked so hard for this money to be saved its unreal..just don't want to be stinged...i just thought the mini ones dont come with white alloys,white roof unless it has the optional pack,chilli,pepper,salt etc...

All the advice I can get would be much appreciated and thankyoy for your time :)

I would say you need to look at the age of the car and how many owners it has had. ( a lot of owners is not good )

also is it original spec ? ie has it been owned and thrashed by a boy racer who has painted the roof and wheels to "make it go faster"

look at the overall condition of the car, interior, wheels, tyres, engine bay, etc and make sure everything is tight and taught when driving it.

main thing is you get a good warranty as if you buy a lemon it can cost a lot of cash to sort out.

also good to take someone with you who can look at the car with different eyes.

good luck

Iain


ps don't rush into it, if you've got the cash and no trade in you are in the driving seat !! and there are hundreds of minis out there for sale.

Thankyou so much for the reply and sorry about the high jack post..but il find out tomo I know the minis have a whine originally on start up abit like my golf turbo...just bloody trying to find a decent clip of the power steering wear sound...i know the pre facelifts have a rover gearbox is this correct..because from a few reviews on searching google these seem to be a problem..as in the clutch bearings or something..correct me if im wrog though..new to the mini world and looking forward to the mini adventure haha :D