Rejecting a new car for pulling to the left?
In March 2013 I purchased a new BMW 5 Series from a local BMW dealer. The car was delivered to the correct specification and all was well until I had travelled about 1200 miles (mostly on motorways) when I noticed a strong tendency to veer to the left.
I reported this to the garage and they took the car in to check tyre pressures and anything else obvious that may be causing it to pull to the left. I drove it home and it was even worse.
I reported this to the garage and they asked me to return the vehicle to them the following week for wheel alignment etc - which I did - the result was no different - in fact it was worse, the steering was "dead" and lacked any castering effect, other than to continue to drift to the left.
Driving long distances on motorways made my arms ache with having to constantly correct the steering.
I complained to the BMW Manager who was sympathetic and stated that all BMW's pull to the left - I suggested this was not so and that I should take his Workshop Supervisor on a test run to demonstrate - if after this it was still considered normal I would take out another 5 Series and see if the same thing happened .
On the test drive the Workshop Supervisor acknowledged that BMW had a probnlem with this, as they had developed a test module to try and rectify it.
Having driven on right and left cambered roads the Workshop Supervisor agreed that there was something wrong. The garage then took my car back and gave me a new 3 series to use while they tried to resolve the matter.
That was over two weeks ago and despite numerous "Puma" communications with BMW they have been unable to resolve the problem .
Long winded way to get to my point - how much longer do I have to give the garage to fix the problem before I reject the car as being unfit for purpose ? (assuming I can - as I have read another case whereby the purchaser couldn't reject it as the courts decided that "pulling to the left" wasn't a significant matter ?)
I reported this to the garage and they took the car in to check tyre pressures and anything else obvious that may be causing it to pull to the left. I drove it home and it was even worse.
I reported this to the garage and they asked me to return the vehicle to them the following week for wheel alignment etc - which I did - the result was no different - in fact it was worse, the steering was "dead" and lacked any castering effect, other than to continue to drift to the left.
Driving long distances on motorways made my arms ache with having to constantly correct the steering.
I complained to the BMW Manager who was sympathetic and stated that all BMW's pull to the left - I suggested this was not so and that I should take his Workshop Supervisor on a test run to demonstrate - if after this it was still considered normal I would take out another 5 Series and see if the same thing happened .
On the test drive the Workshop Supervisor acknowledged that BMW had a probnlem with this, as they had developed a test module to try and rectify it.
Having driven on right and left cambered roads the Workshop Supervisor agreed that there was something wrong. The garage then took my car back and gave me a new 3 series to use while they tried to resolve the matter.
That was over two weeks ago and despite numerous "Puma" communications with BMW they have been unable to resolve the problem .
Long winded way to get to my point - how much longer do I have to give the garage to fix the problem before I reject the car as being unfit for purpose ? (assuming I can - as I have read another case whereby the purchaser couldn't reject it as the courts decided that "pulling to the left" wasn't a significant matter ?)
Asked on 9 May 2013 by Wombat
Answered by
Honest John
This might simply be solved by switching the tyres front to back (assuming it isn't on different size tyres front to back, which it might be). If it can't be cured then of course, in theory you are entitled to your money back because the car was delivered with a fault. The ruling is Clegg v Olle Andersson 2003 (House of Lords). www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/
From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.
Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....Similar questions
My Honda CR-V has an intermittent fault, when in first gear - it jumps out of gear. I've taken it to the dealership, who've said they have put it on their machine and can't find anything. They say nothing...
Is there any legal requirement to have new cars serviced and maintained by the main dealer? We have new cars which don't even appear to have service books for stamps.
At the end of March we purchased a Honda Civic 2003 S Type car with 58850 miles on the clock, as part of the deal we had the car serviced and MOT'd at the same time. We recently noticed squeaking from...
Related models
Brilliant ride and handling, powerful and efficient diesel engines, upmarket interior, very safe, lots on the used market.
Elsewhere on 
.jpg)
