Hateful BMW 320d compact

[Youngteam]

As David clearly has no conscience I'll start a thread to chronicle getting this heap back I to a usable state. 

 

For those that didn't see the original thread, I swapped my CAT D Clio 182 for this as it was advertised as having no problems and my clio had a couple of issues that I wasn't in a position to resolve. The post described the car has having no issues and that it had been "meticulously" serviced. David has now deleted all threads related to the car further confirming that he knew the problems it had. 

I realise there's a big dollop of caveat emptor here but I took him at his word, assuming membership of this place meant he was a likeminded trustworthy fellow. Serves me right I guess. Lesson learned. 

The icing on the cake is that the Clio is now listed on ebay with no mention of the CAT marker, the slipping clutch, the tyres worn to the markers. Lies about recent services, if anything it needs new discs, they haven't recently been changed. All the photos are taken to hide the damage just like those of the BMW. It looks like he'll make a tidy profit from this. 

Problems discovered so far:

Car has hardly any power and is getting worse, barely manages to maintain 70 on the motorway. 

Cabin fills with exhaust fumes - I guess exhaust leak related to above. 

Intercooler hose has been patched with gunk and tape. 

Crank pulley wobbles like mad and has shredded the new serpentine belt that David kindly* fitted to get the car ready for collection. I didn't twig when he grabbed the breaker bar out of the boot that he'd brought along in case the new belt went on the way to our meeting point. 

Horn doesn't work - when we met he did offer this information when I asked if there was anything wrong with the car. 

Supposedly came with two keys, turns out one is blank and only the fob works, one is cut for the car and the fob doesn't. So basically one key. 

He specifically stated the car was clean all over with absolutely no rust. Once I got it home and cleaned all the grime off, I found it it has scratches on practically every panel and rust on the arches and door bottoms. 

The rear brakes are sticking. 

All in all, quite a lot wrong to not disclose and he obviously knew this. No doubt more will be forthcoming as its clearly not been serviced as regularly as he claims, the air filter is gopping. 

I guess there's nothing I can do now other than beat myself up a bit and crack on with fixing a car which I neither have the time or spare cash to fix when all I really wanted was to swap to a car that could safely and reliably cart me and the family around. 

Anyway, after all that moaning, anyone have any tips/pointers on getting this heap fixed?

Looks like I need a locking tool to hold the crank pulley, don't suppose anyone in the Derby area has one I could borrow? 

[dieselassist]

...its the danger of swops, I spose; what sort of BMW is it you are now lumbered with, with all the issues?

[Youngteam]

I guess so, I'm not normally so trusting but hey, lesson learned I guess.

E46 320d compact. 

[Wingz123]

Is there anyway you could get the car to Birmingham? I have contacts there that can repair the car at a much reduced price if you were able to.... I imagine with what you mentioned above you would need to leave the car and then return at a later date. 

I'd like to think I am a trusted member on this forum and will always do my best to help others. 

[omegod]

This the one from Chester? looked tidy enough in the ad and I was kind of tempted, sorry about the situation it's pretty unusual on here TBH 

[Youngteam]

Yeah, the one from Chester.

Thanks for the offer Wingz123, as it stands I don't think it'd make it to Birmingham. I'm going to have to tackle it myself I think. 

[Stanky]

At risk of sounding callous, you appear to have a snagging list of issues on a 17 year old, 165k car bought for under £750? 

The horn, key, intercooler hose, and rear brakes and exhaust could be sorted for under £100 could they not? Its all entirely DIY-able, with the possible exception of the exhaust which may be easier to take to  a generic tyres and exhausts place but only because then you aren't picking rust scabs and grit out of your ears for the next week?

I'll freely admit that the crank pulley is potentially concerning, but have you checked its done up tight? Is any part of it visibly broken?

There is plenty of expertise on here to help you tackle it yourself, learn how to fix new things and all for under £100 in parts plus a couple of hours of your time

[Youngteam]

Indeed, as I say caveat emptor and all that. 

It's nothing I can't tackle myself, I'm just not a fan of being lied to and seeing the car I swapped for this being misrepresented in the same manner is an additional kick in the teeth. 

I guess everyone has a different moral compass though, I like to describe every fault with a car so people know what they're getting rather than masking the truth to make a quick buck. 

 

[strangeangel]

35 minutes ago, omegod said:

sorry about the situation it's pretty unusual on here TBH 

 

That's certainly my experience, having bought and sold vehicles on here without drama. Sorry to hear you got the short straw.

[bramz7]

Yikes. I came very close to buying it as well until he started deleting my messages without answering. For the purpose of fairness, I did also send another PM asking why he did that. 

Sorry you are having issues with it.

[The Moog]

That's disappointing - normally things are over described which makes them sound more scary than they are.

[loserone]

Didn't someone go and look at it ages ago, then subsequently a new, less detailed ad appeared?  Maybe I recall that wrongly.

[Wingz123]

It was originally for sale for spares or repairs as going into limp mode wasnt it for absolutely ages then disappeared for a while then reappeared fixed and with a fresh MOT for a much increased price...?

[bramz7]

Wasn't it failing emissions on an MOT test?

It also disappeared without update for a while due to a rear brake pipe bursting, or so I was told.

 

 

[New POD]

7 hours ago, Youngteam said:

 

I guess everyone has a different moral compass though, I like to describe every fault with a car so people know what they're getting rather than masking the truth to make a quick buck. 

 

Indeed. As my nan used to say " nobody sells a car that's got nothing wrong with it" 

I have noticed that some mints have holes in them. 

Trust nobody. 

[Tickman]

Everybody has a different view of what is acceptable in a car and I usually go into great detail if all the faults when I'm selling 

Such a shame to be dealt with in such a manner and I agree it is not the faults the car has but the economic use of truth.

[Neil clark]

I'm in Derby, noticed this car last week one morning at morrisons, looked nice but obviously it's not so good, sorry about that! Need a hand with owt just ask

[twosmoke300]

Am I the only one that is disappointed that there is no David Brown tractor involved in this ? 

[DeeJay]

Has he deleted his account?

[gadgetgricey]

Most cars have issues, but its the normal honesty on this place that has been violated.

If anything most of us undersell the car, and list everything down to the dodgy screw holding the back numberplate in.

How many posts did DavidB have? Has he just joined to flog the BMW then FRO.?

 

[Andyrew]

Thread needs pics. 

 

 

[gadgetgricey]

Also the e-bay link to the Clio.

[Matty]

6 minutes ago, gadgetgricey said:

Most cars have issues, but its the normal honesty on this place that has been violated.

If anything most of us undersell the car, and list everything down to the dodgy screw holding the back numberplate in.

How many posts did DavidB have? Has he just joined to flog the BMW then FRO.?

 

Thats the crack really isnt it. As this is a club you tend to be honest as you dont want holding up as a liar in front of the rest. Hard luck pal, hopefully you get it mended and it turns out to be a good one

[Cavcraft]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Renault-Clio-RS-182-97k-miles/173937698213

 

Guessing it's that one.

[Matty]

1 minute ago, Cavcraft said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Renault-Clio-RS-182-97k-miles/173937698213

 

Guessing it's that one.

Sounds like a good buy that ?

[sutty2006]

Create a few fake eBay accounts and bid it up....... then win it and never follow through. Seams to work for others every time I sell a car on eBay. 

[gadgetgricey]

Or win the auction, and then feedback re Car not as described. Cat D, slipping clutch. 

[scdan4]

I’ll happily win that and never contact him.

has to be confirmed as the correct car though!

[Cavcraft]

@DavidB should be given the chance to reply here before the pitchforks come out though. Not suggestion you're lying or anything, YoungTeam, I hasten to add.

[Tetleysmooth]

Down on power and cabin filling with exhaust fumes, I'm wondering if the exhaust could be blocked somewhere.

Sorry to hear about your dodgy deal. Honesty goes without question on this forum.