Advice please: I bought a lemon

[TGP]

Seeking some advice on a potential lemon.

 

Without getting an official diagnosis yet (booked in this week), I’m 99% sure I’m a mug who bought one of the ill-fated CDAA engine, oil guzzling, dodgy-scraper-ring-equipped 1.8 tsi Octavias. 

 

I’ve only owned it for a couple of weeks but noticing all the tell tale signs of oil consumption and smoke out of the exhaust after deceleration. Here are some key facts:

 

- 10/2010 build / 127k on the clock / regular servicing / engine otherwise fine / DSG recall done

 

- I bought it from someone who told me he had a dealer licence, but after I mentioned that I was worried about the smoke from the engine after purchase - which I didn’t notice on the test drive - he said he sold it to me privately on behalf of a friend who had moved overseas (in fairness to him, he is no longer selling cars as his job and had this car in storage at his house, but if he was genuinely not selling it under his licence, he definitely confused the situation and gave me a false sense of security by telling me he was a dealer before I purchased when I asked - I have this in an email from him). I know this sounds like I didn’t do my due diligence (probably partly true), but there was a bit of a language barrier and some details were likely lost in translation. Either way, I’m prepared to send him a letter from my lawyer as I reckon he was being misleading.

 

- I got a roadworthy completed at a Skoda dealership here in Brisbane (Australia) before purchasing, does this lend any weight to requesting a contribution from Skoda for the fix if they didn’t pick up the issue (eg. smoke from exhaust)? 

 

My only saving grace is that I got it really cheaply (too good to be true in hindsight) for $AUD5000. Potentially looking at same amount to fix if it’s the scraper rings/pistons/conrods. I otherwise really like the car, it’s a top spec wagon with all the extras, so if I can’t return it I’m thinking it’s not a bad buy for $10000 with a reconditioned engine.

 

Anyway, I feel a bit foolish, but interested in any thoughts. Thanks.

Edited 26 August, 2018 by TGP

[ScoutCJB]

I don't think that you can ask for a contribution from Skoda for them not detecting the issues.  For me a roadworthyness report is checking wheels, tyres, brakes etc and a road test for any knocking noises.

 

If he sold it to you saying he had a dealer licence and you have that in writing then this is your only real proof / point that you can work with to try to return (if that's possible) or what a lawyer could work with.

 

Is the person you brought it from paying for any of the additional diags  or oil changes that you have had done.

 

 

[TGP]

Thanks for the reply. Yes I think that makes the most sense in terms of holding the ‘dealer’ to account. No contribution from him post purchase.

[Ootohere]

So how does it work in Australia, was the receipt you got for the money just the car and the paper work, or was there even a hand written note from the seller?

Was the car Registered to the Seller, or do they have 'In Trade' in Australia while a Dealer / Trader has a car 'in trade' and for sale?

Does the Dude actually have a Dealer / Traders Licence and pay taxes etc on profits from dealing in cars or any goods?

 

Or is it actually a private sale and buyer beware?

[JR RS]

15 hours ago, TGP said:

- I got a roadworthy completed at a Skoda dealership here in Brisbane (Australia) before purchasing, does this lend any weight to requesting a contribution from Skoda for the fix if they didn’t pick up the issue (eg. smoke from exhaust)? 

 

Skoda Aus (aka VW Aus) will not help/contribute in any way, shape or form, sadly.  Your car is long past its warranty period, and its been through a number of hands/owners it appears.

 

you also mention - ".....I otherwise really like the car, it’s a top spec wagon with all the extras......"

sadly again, looking at the pic - it doesn't look like it.

1. it doesn't have the xenon headlights

2. it appears to have aftermarket front sensors, and only 2 of them.  normally there is 4 sensors.

 

here is pic of my front-end.  u can see the headlight washer caps for the xenon headlights, and you can see the 4 front parking sensors.

Edited 27 August, 2018 by JR RS

[TGP]

Okay thanks, yeah — I think you're just confirming my suspicions there around any manufacturer goodwill unfortunately.

Re: spec level, sure, I guess I was using that term pretty loosely. My point is it's not a base model and it's a nice car to own (has satnav, leather etc), so won't be a total loss if I have to spend a bit of money on it to recondition the engine.

 

Interesting pick-up with the front sensors, they're not actually working at the moment. 

Edited 27 August, 2018 by TGP

[TGP]

13 hours ago, Offski said:

So how does it work in Australia, was the receipt you got for the money just the car and the paper work, or was there even a hand written note from the seller?

Was the car Registered to the Seller, or do they have 'In Trade' in Australia while a Dealer / Trader has a car 'in trade' and for sale?

Does the Dude actually have a Dealer / Traders Licence and pay taxes etc on profits from dealing in cars or any goods?

 

Or is it actually a private sale and buyer beware?

I got a generic receipt and the standard paper work. No hand written note.

The car was unregistered, but being sold on behalf of his friend who has recently moved back overseas from Australia. I didn't realise that at the time, he only told me afterwards when I contacted him about returning it due to the smoke. I thought the name he wrote on the papers was his own, but apparently it was his mate's. Was either the language barrier or deliberate obfuscation. 

I specifically asked him over email to confirm if he was a dealer before I purchased for peace of mind, which he replied yes. But only after purchase when I mentioned I wanted to return it he then said he had sold it to me privately. Again, things were either lost in translation or he made it murky on purpose. 

A lot of this is my fault for not checking all the paperwork properly and not doing my research, but he knew what we was doing. He was aware the car had issues, and he wanted it gone. 

[Longship]

Is there a trading standards agency you can contact? They might be interested to hear about the case, especially as he's admitted in a mail to be a trader. That could be used as a lever to get "satisfaction". 

[JR RS]

12 hours ago, TGP said:

Okay thanks, yeah — I think you're just confirming my suspicions there around any manufacturer goodwill unfortunately.

Re: spec level, sure, I guess I was using that term pretty loosely. My point is it's not a base model and it's a nice car to own (has satnav, leather etc), so won't be a total loss if I have to spend a bit of money on it to recondition the engine.

 

Interesting pick-up with the front sensors, they're not actually working at the moment. 

 

all good.

 

do ur rear sensors work ok?

[brad1.8T]

On 26/08/2018 at 22:43, TGP said:

Seeking some advice on a potential lemon.

 

Without getting an official diagnosis yet (booked in this week), I’m 99% sure I’m a mug who bought one of the ill-fated CDAA engine, oil guzzling, dodgy-scraper-ring-equipped 1.8 tsi Octavias. 

 

I’ve only owned it for a couple of weeks but noticing all the tell tale signs of oil consumption and smoke out of the exhaust after deceleration. Here are some key facts:

 

- 10/2010 build / 127k on the clock / regular servicing / engine otherwise fine / DSG recall done

 

- I bought it from someone who told me he had a dealer licence, but after I mentioned that I was worried about the smoke from the engine after purchase - which I didn’t notice on the test drive - he said he sold it to me privately on behalf of a friend who had moved overseas (in fairness to him, he is no longer selling cars as his job and had this car in storage at his house, but if he was genuinely not selling it under his licence, he definitely confused the situation and gave me a false sense of security by telling me he was a dealer before I purchased when I asked - I have this in an email from him). I know this sounds like I didn’t do my due diligence (probably partly true), but there was a bit of a language barrier and some details were likely lost in translation. Either way, I’m prepared to send him a letter from my lawyer as I reckon he was being misleading.

 

- I got a roadworthy completed at a Skoda dealership here in Brisbane (Australia) before purchasing, does this lend any weight to requesting a contribution from Skoda for the fix if they didn’t pick up the issue (eg. smoke from exhaust)? 

 

My only saving grace is that I got it really cheaply (too good to be true in hindsight) for $AUD5000. Potentially looking at same amount to fix if it’s the scraper rings/pistons/conrods. I otherwise really like the car, it’s a top spec wagon with all the extras, so if I can’t return it I’m thinking it’s not a bad buy for $10000 with a reconditioned engine.

 

Anyway, I feel a bit foolish, but interested in any thoughts. Thanks.

 

 

Did the receipt have his dealer licence number or ABN on it?  if not, you're probably stuffed but I'd start enquiring with fair trading ASAP.  Keep in mind that we have no lemon laws and therefore he isn't obliged to refund the money - just do a repair as he sees fit if he is a dealer.  I think he's conned you though.  I hope the title is clear and it isn't on the write-off database.

 

Roadworthy is a safety check.  the closest they come to the engine is ensuring there are no leaks.

 

$5k + $5k in repairs isn't a good buy for that... Sorry.  Good luck getting an Aussie workshop to R&R and reco the engine for $5k.  BTW:  That is the Gen2  (CDAA?) engine and it probably has the bad timing chain tensioner  on it.  Realistically,  you will need pistons & a ring set, full gasket kit, the head cleaned (the inlets will be full of carbon, water pump while u have it apart, timing chain tensioner, PCV while it's apart and some incidentals.  Be prepared to order parts from O/S as they are half the price...

The DQ200 box is a bit of a dice roll too.

 

You might try some engine flush and a good thrashing over a lot of distance as the issue is that the oil ring gums up and stops expanding against the bore.  You might have to change the oil / flush several times in succession.

 

Where are you taking it?  Alba European is very good and one of the guys on the FB Skoda  page recommended another good shop the other day.

 

i love my 1.8tsi M6.  I think it's  a sweet engine but when your VAG group car starts playing up in Australia you might want to run a mile unless you are handy with a spanner.

[TGP]

Thanks Brad. Well, it’s f*cked. $10k repair quote today. Needs a full engine rebuild. Yeah, clear title + no write off.

 

Trying the solicitor route now with the seller. Running it into the ground or selling for scrap if that doesn’t work.

 

Yay. 

 

Edited 30 August, 2018 by TGP