December 2016
I bought a 2012 BMW Z4 from Ridgeways, now Marshalls, in Bournemouth as a birthday present for my wife on 30th June 2016. Within a month I complained of excessive corrosion, non-working air conditioning and incorrect mileage stated on their sales order form. Initially they offered remedial work on the corrosion but insisted that the air conditioning was working on the day of the sale but offered to repair it at internal charge rates at my cost. They refused to do more so I rejected the car under the terms of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
They concentrated their efforts on the air conditioning problem and continued to insist that it was working on the date of sale quoting their engineering report. When I eventually was supplied with a copy of this report it turned out that it was dated March 2016 and therefore was irrelevant at the date of purchase. After consulting their legal department they offered to take the car back and to refund the purchase price less a deduction for use to the date of the offer as allowed for in the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
However, my wife has done less than 50 miles in the car and it has been in Ridgeway/Marshall's car park since the 9th September 2016; they want to make a reduction in the purchase price refund of £3,450, just under £100 a mile. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 only allows a deduction for use so their offer appears grossly unreasonable.
The matter now rests with the Motor Ombudsman
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It seems that only numbers count in this world, so with that in mind, does anyone have any idea about any 'movement' that is challenging the government on the state of our roads, specifically - pot-holes?
The moment you raise the issue of having to pay for something (Road tax), some bright spark always chirps up with "it isn't road tax". Well, I don't really care what the government has rebadged it as, I simply know that to ride an affordable, engine driven conveyance on a road - I have to pay a tax. I call that 'road tax' - you call it whatever you wish.... Read more
Hertfordshire Highways seem to be spending all their road cash on ENDLESS hedge trimming of the county roads/lanes at the moment( in december!!) --then sending road sweeping lorries to clean up the mess
The result is furious motorists held up by tractor cutters then sweepers, but gloriously shiny clean unsafe roads where you easily spot the plethora of potholes, humps and hazzards!...
Hi all. New to this forum and hope someone can help. Apologies if this is posted in the wrong place, moderators please move it if it is. I'll try to keep it as brief as I can!
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A good autoelectrician is likely to be well acquainted with early XF's (they don't have the best reputation) and will probably know a cheap fix if one exists. Local spark I use always finds a way round big bills. Main dealers are a waste of time on cars this age.
I had the "experience" of having one of these at 07:30 this morning. Yes they did check the tyres, screenwash and lights. I was breathalysed as well (I was clear) on the pretext that I had not gone in the direction I was waved (it was dark, it was raining and the policeman was walking diagonally when he waved at me (he was not in the area covered by the headlights). I was asked for driving licence, name dob, address, occupation, place of work.
THe guy doing it might be politely described as brusque.... Read more
Too be honest - I wish we had more police pulling people over. Traffic police becoming a rare sight and some dreadful drivers rely on this
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Looking at transfering my private plate from retntion to new car which i have (and he new V5). It states this can be done immediately on line? Do you get a few days grace to fit the plates?? Impl anning on doing it tonight but cant get the plates fitted until saturday? Any advice on this?
thanks Read more
I tried to find out from DVLA just how long a period of grace is allowed - it does seem not to be defined.
It was much better when DVLA local offices existed - choose the right time of day so as not to queue, about 10 mins to do the admin, call in and buy new plates on the way home then fit them - about 3 hours including the drive there and back....
My partner had an accident in January of this year. Unfortunately the car is still with the garage, who cite a lack of available spare parts for this brand new model. It took until September to get a new dashboard, which had to be shipped from India. Currently waiting on some other part to finish the repair. Thankfully her insurance company are still paying for a courtesy car. This car was financed through Ford Options. Having kept the payments up, should she be able to claw back this money, as she has been paying for a car she has not seen for almost a year now. Both the garage and insurance company put the blame firmly at Fords door for not having the ready availability of spare parts. Read more
The passenger airbag is behind a 'scored' panel in the dash on most cars. So any accident where that airbag fires will result in the entire dash needing replacement.
Hello,
I recently changed the glow plugs on my Megane as I suspected they needed changed and they did however it has not cured my starting time.
The car is parked in the garage at night and when I try to start it in the morning it turns over for nearly 10 seconds after I left the glow plug light go out.
However I have noticed if I let the glow plugs go out and leave the ignition on, I can hear a variety of very light and high pitched noises as though something is building up, and then after around 10 seconds of the glow plugs lights going out, the car starts straight away.
I don't mind this if it's just a technique. But anyone any ideas if there is something causing it, as I said glow plugs are working 100%, the car is regularly serviced.
Any ideas?
Thanks Read more
Agree with the "Doc",
Diesels need to spin over at least 180 RPM for good starting....
Happy Christmas!!!
Are you HJ? Merry Christmas!... Read more
Bah humbug!
I am look to buy a Seat Altea 1.6 TDI with the ea189 engine which has the emission problem. Has any one had this engine had emission fix?
Do any one have any thoughs or experiance with the fix?... Read more
Thanks for all your replies.
I have driven one and found it OK. Mind you haven't tried a C-max for a comparison....
Having just taken delivery of a hybrid BMW I was surprised to be given no information at all about public charging points, and no charging cable to connect to them. The dealer helpfully gave me a cable when I complained (pointing cost of £161) but still no info on what appears to be a bit of a confusing picture of differing charging systems out in the wild..
I have a Govt grant supplied Chargemaster point at home and have not yet ventured far enough away to need to connect to a public point Read more
Please do keep us posted on your driving impressions and experiences: a 225xe Phev is on my list for my next company car, as the BIK tax and contract hire rates are very favourable at the moment.
As said above, I do hope the lack of a charging cable and relevant info about charging points is a blip.


I think a £3,450 reduction is ridiculous. Surely if this dealer had any common sense they could sort something out. Wouldn't be a big deal to fix the aircon, replace a few rusty nuts etc. Dealers need a good repututation, word soon gets around. I bought a 2012 SLK and the centre caps were peeling, replaced without any problem at all, result I recommend them to a mate and he goes there to get his next car.