Hi there,

I need some advice I’m currently in the process of buying a MK3 VRS but today had some worrying news the car went in for its MOT And inspection and it was noticed it’s got an oil leak from the timing chain area, the garage said they can not sell me a car with an oil leak so are going to repair the car before we finalise the paper work and I purchase it, the car has had one owner and full skoda service history with 82k. Is this a common problem with this engine or shall I walk away while I can? Any advise would be greatly appreciated 

Welcome.

What warranty does the car come with?    Petrol or diesel?

 Someone will be along that knows about the engines.

 

The car might be one former registered keeper, was that a Leasing Company or VW Finance, a garage has it now, maybe got it at auction, and before then you do not know how many drivers.

Full Service History is good, but what does it show, is it Variable servicing so maybe 4 oil and filter changes in 82,000 miles.

Has it had a service now at 3 years and did the brake fluid get changed?

You want to see because main dealer servicing is not much getting done unless extras are asked for and paid for.

You want to check the Warranty History with Skoda and see if anything done previously.

Edited 7 January, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

Like any engine they can leak. It doesnt matter whether it is the most cared for car in the world. If a seal goes it goes. Most car garage sells cars with 3 months warranty, however under the consumer rights act 2015 every used car has 6 months warranty when purchased of outside of the manufacturer warranty.

Edited 8 January, 20206 yr by Ecomatt
Addition of info

1 hour ago, Ecomatt said:

under the consumer rights act 2015 every used car has 6 months warranty when purchased of outside of the manufacturer warranty.

 

And it's the seller's responsibility to prove that the fault was not there when you purchased the car, so there's no argument of 'it was fine when it left here and you've damaged it' malarky,  Prior to 2015 the seller had to prove they didn't...

 

I'm not sure why garages advertise warranties of 6 months or less these days as the law protects you now anyway, as you say.  They're only a selling feature if they're over 6 months.

 

The exception to this is of course that there's a fault with the car, that you know about when you purchase it.  

 

The garage I got my car from chose to not register a warranty as it was still under manufacturer's warranty for 6 months.  Their choice...    I had 2 faults, both of which were not manufacturing errors (broken headlight adjusting arm and cross threaded wheel bolts), so were not covered by skoda warranty,  however the selling garage just had to pay for the repairs.

 

I also know somebody who had a car 6 weeks, failed HG, gave the garage an attempt to fix it, they didn't.   He exercised his right for a refund (the garage only gets one attempt to fix it) after having a courtesy car for about 3 months.

Edited 8 January, 20206 yr by Alex-W

Thanks for all your advice it’s greatly appreciated, I have decided to walk away from this particular car and the dealer has been very understanding and has offered me another car he has so I’m going to have a look at that car and go from there. Thanks again people 

I was going to say, whilst this fault may be a one off and easily repairable, unless the car is a rare spec or a particularly good deal, I'd just move on to the next one if I was you.