I've bought a BMW 335i privately which has a faulty turbo - can I claim from my new BMW warranty?
I've just bought a 2007 BMW 335i from a private seller - sold as seen. I took out a full BMW warranty on the car on the same date. I recently noticed a rattling noise coming from under the car. Thinking it was maybe a fan belt problem I took it to a local garage to get checked out, as the BMW warranty doesn't kick in until a month after it has been purchased. The garage has informed me that it's a serious problem with one of the turbos and that I shouldn't drive the car until it's fixed. I'm now in a dilemma. Do I get the local garage to fix it or take it to BMW? Surely a 3-year-old 335i shouldn’t have a problem of this nature?
Asked on 10 June 2010 by BudgySmuggler
Answered by
Honest John
A local garage won't know what to do with this, so unfortunately you have to take it to BMW. And quite right that the warranty does not cover pre-existing faults, otherwise it would be fraud. Unfortunately you don't have any rights against the private vendor over this unless he wasn't private. If he was a trader posing as private, you do have rights, so check him out via Trading Standards that cover his patch.
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