I need to sell my car but it has an outstanding recall notice. What do I do?

I recently bought a car from my brother, which means I need to sell my current car. I was about to advertise it but have just had a recall notice in the post from BMW saying my car needs to come in for replacement of parts - which may catch fire (heating and A/C system). However, they don't have enough parts to do the repair straight away. The letter says they will contact me in the next 4 to 8 weeks to arrange to book my car in. In the interim, the letter says I shouldn't use the heater. How can I possibly advertise a convertible for sale with this recall outstanding?

Asked on 23 March 2021 by Chinleyman

Answered by Dan Powell

Sadly your choices are limited to:

1) Advertise the car but tell any potential buyers about the recall (legally you are obliged to do this as it's a serious safety issue).
2) Wait until the recall work is completed and then sell the car.

Obviously, if you choose option 1 you will not get the best price for the car. Personally, I would wait until the car has been fixed. You will be given paperwork to prove the work has been completed to BMW standards and this will inevitably make the car more desirable compared to similar vehicles that do not have this evidence.

Tags: recalls private car sales

Similar questions

I sold my car privately and the new owner now says it is unroadworthy and is taking legal action. What should I do?

I sold a car for £3000 with six months MoT. The buyer test drove it and was happy with it, even saying so in text exchange that evening. Now they have had it inspected and say the chassis and ball joints...

Can I ask for a refund on my camper van I've just bought?

I purchased a 1985 camper van eight days ago. The seller was eager to deliver the motor to me, which they did. Only two miles into my first journey the van started smoking and oil was pouring out of the...

When can private car sales resume under lockdown?

You recommend waiting until the lockdown is over before trying to sell a car privately. At what stage during the Government road map out of lockdown for England do you think private selling may become...