So I bought a used car in the Geneva canton at a dealership for a trade in against my current car. Prior to giving me the key they did the 360 check of the car and realised there is an issue with the radiator. I haven't paid the cash yet for the sale.
It's been a week and a half now, and they have apparently no visibility as to when they will get the part "could be a further 2 weeks or 2 months, we don't know".
I am suspecting some potential BS on the part of the garage, the car I am buying is 2018 and I can't see how a radiator for a BMW car can take that long to be delivered. I am willing to give it another week, and then cancel the sale. The car for the trade in is still under my name and registered as such with the canton (confirmed by the garage today to me).
I've identified another decent car, and was going to go see it. If I like it I was going to trade in my car and buy it, and only then cancel the contract for the car I am currently in the process of buying. Are there any risks to doing this?
Some close in the contract that I have 14 days to change my opinion etc.. By Friday this week the 14 days will have expired, so wondering what are some of my rights here - given I signed the contract but did not get the car. When do the 14 days actually start?
I realise that no one will have one answer on this, but any kind of idea or similar experience would be appreciated!
PS: I had a breakdown recently on my current car, and was abroad seeing my parents, my father's garage secured a part in 12 hours. Am I right in believing there is something odd with the garage's attitude?
Yes, the risk is that you end up liable for the cost of two cars.
My advice would be to get out of one contract before taking on another one.
And get it all sorted out with this garage first....
Does the garage have your old car or do you have it ?
I would say that these garages probably sit on a lot of cars that need repairs, but only fix them once they have a buyer....
Really, you can only try to negotiate with the garage - maybe they feel that they have a contract and they know it will be difficult for you to get out of it, so there's no hurry. Maybe it's really genuine with not being able to get parts - or at least, not at the price they want them - international shipping right now is a big drama.... without talking to the garage, you just cannot tell - did you already exchange written contracts and any money ?
I exchanged written contract, but they told me to pay on delivery of the car. My old car is still with me and the cash is still with me. If they are genuine I really don't mind waiting a bit - I am just surprised that they can't give me a firm deadline as to availability of the part. They told me they bring parts from Germany and France, so it's not like it's coming all the way from China. But again, I could be wrong in my assumption that it's an easy part to bring in.
I'll wait until end of the week, see the other car, and if I like it just break with old garage first in writing and then sign with new dealership as you advise, probably much wiser... I think the risk is not worth it... Especially given the price of cars at the moment...
This is testable premise. Do you have the part(s) number(s)? If so, quite easy to find a price and delivery estimates. More than 1 site with whole BMW parts catalog online https://www.leebmann24.de
If you find the part at a price it suits you, you might offer them to get the part and get a discount for that.
Sometimes individuals have more freedom and get things done when compared to business. Garages sometimes are constrained to work with a the single provider/importer they work with. They’re also slowed down by consolidated cargo arrangements.
My local garage guy sometimes asks me to look for stuff (even for him) as I'm better at finding weird stuff in the Internet (and he doesn't do English)!
Maybe the car's a lemon - they think it's a radiator problem and changed it already but the problem is still there? Or maybe it's something else entirely. Sounds sus in any case.
I wouldn't expect a rad problem on a BMW unless there has been an accident or poor maintenance although having said that some very old models were known for having an inferior design.
I've asked them to cancel the contract. The whole thing is odd and I need a car now, not in 2 months + as I don't know how much long my current car will survive with all the issues it has (they are trading it in at market price considering the repairs I would need to do to it)..
Instead, I found a hybrid at some local Del Boy garage. Not sure it's any better - but I'll take a chance. It's a 40k purchase, I never spent that much in my life and I am quite stressed, but then it's a hybrid and I've already costed the price of changing the battery back in the UK in case it starts being too weak. The previous car was a diesel with double turbo - at least the savings in tax should help cover potential costs... Let's hope.
PS: garage was actually decent, they let me cancel the contract. There is something still very fishy about it. I think the problem was far more problematic than they let on. But then, had it been a shady dealership, they would have just let me drive off with it... Here they did not.
Ok good for letting you cancel the contract. But why dont you spend that money in a decent garage for maybe a lower specs car? As you said, its a lot of money so why risk it?