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Buying a new "used" car, timing belt question.

  • 01-06-2010 01:00PM
    #1
    Lord Nikon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,613 ✭✭✭


    I am in the process of buying a new used car. Engine bay shows timing belt done at 123k mikes, car now has 136k miles. Dealer can't find proof that it actually was done, no receipt or anything.

    Now the car is fully NCT'd by the dealer from last week, all good. But do I still have grounds to haggle him down with no real proof of timing belt done.

    I only have a few quid down as a deposit for the car, and I am trading in too. I am afraid that he will start knocking money of my trade in, if I start to haggle on a price already agreed in writing.


Comments

  • #2
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,897 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Too late to haggle further I reckon.


  • #3
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    If you can't find proof that it's been done then (IMO) you'll have to budget to do it again now. BTW, forget about purchase prices, trade in values etc - the ONLY figure that matters is the cost to change. One other thing - if the TB invoice can't be found then i'm assuming the rest of the SH is pretty patchy too. At 136k indicated miles is that really a road you want to go down?


  • #4
    Lord Nikon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,613 ✭✭✭Lord Nikon


    I said that i am happy to purchase the car once I get enough service history, as in, he said he would source any other history through previous owner and previous garage that the car was serviced through....

    My heart is set on this car and has the right spec i am looking for. I have been looking for a while for this car.


  • #5
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,897 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Then go ahead and buy it.


  • #6
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    I'd get the history first and then make the decision, rather than vice versa.


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  • #7
    robbie_998
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,222 ✭✭✭robbie_998


    123K for a timing belt... not too sure there.

    i thought a timing belt was done every 50K or the new ones every 100K

    buy the car and get it changed at 50K just to be on the dot.


  • #8
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    robbie_998 wrote: »
    123K for a timing belt... not too sure there.

    i thought a timing belt was done every 50K or the new ones every 100K

    buy the car and get it changed at 50K just to be on the dot.
    This makes no sense. Firstly, we don't know the recommended interval for the car in question, and secondly we don't know when (if ever) the belt was last changed.


  • #9
    robbie_998
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,222 ✭✭✭robbie_998


    Anan1 wrote: »
    This makes no sense. Firstly, we don't know the recommended interval for the car in question, and secondly we don't know when (if ever) the belt was last changed.

    The recommended for most timing belts in cars/vans are 50K but recently that moved up to 100K

    im suggesting change it at 150K just to be sure.


  • #10
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,339 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    robbie_998 wrote: »
    The recommended for most timing belts in cars/vans are 50K but recently that moved up to 100K

    im suggesting change it at 150K just to be sure.

    to be sure of what ? what happens if it goes before that ?


  • #11
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,339 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    neuromancer wrote: »

    My heart is set on this car and has the right spec i am looking for. I have been looking for a while for this car.

    Heart set on a 136K mile car ? Is it ultra rare or something ?


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  • #12
    Max Power1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,272 ✭✭✭✭Max Power1


    RoverJames wrote: »
    to be sure of what ? what happens if it goes before that ?
    +1
    If buying a car with over 100k miles and no history of when the TB was done Id be inclined to get it done anyway. Dont want it to fail when you are driving and cause way more damage


  • #13
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    robbie_998 wrote: »
    The recommended for most timing belts in cars/vans are 50K but recently that moved up to 100K

    im suggesting change it at 150K just to be sure.
    The first part of this post is untrue, and the second is senseless. If you have nothing knowledgable or constructive to add then best not post at all.


  • #14
    cruizer101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,205 ✭✭✭cruizer101


    Timing belt change on mine is 60k so it will vary from car to car.

    You say the engine bay shows it was done at 123, personally I'd be fairly inclined to trust this unless there was something else leading you to believe it wasn't done.

    Try get a quote on how much will cost to get done so you can factor that in if you decide to get it done.
    Not sure if you'd be able to talk the dealer down but might be able to get him to do the job for a bit cheaper.
    Depending on the car might not be that hard a job and might be able to do yourself.


  • #15
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,897 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Tippex is very cheap.


  • #16
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    Henry Ford III wrote: »
    Tippex is very cheap.
    +1. When it comes to timing belts, if I don't have proof that it's been done then i'll always assume that it hasn't.


  • #17
    Bodhan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,011 ✭✭✭Bodhan


    hey op, if your heart is set on a car and it makes you happy, then you are doing the right thing, buy the car. just be aware of the problems you might have down the road. i'm sure what ever kind of car it is, there's another one out there just like it with a full history.


  • #18
    Lord Nikon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,613 ✭✭✭Lord Nikon


    Okay a little update. I haven't bought the car yet, but the guy said the car will be ready tomorrow. Sweet. But, and this is a big but, he is still slacking with the service history big time.

    I have spotted an other car, with more the same spec as the one I have a deposit on, but this other one has history coming out it's ears. Full Dealer History, full NCT, 100% immaculate. Should I pull out of the deal with the original car, forfiet the deposit? Am I allowed to just pull out of the deal after the work that I wanted done to be complete, but seeing the service history, so far, is a single reciept from a service done over a year ago. Not log book or nothing, but it is promised from last week.


  • #19
    Mr Benevolent
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,456 ✭✭✭✭Mr Benevolent


    neuromancer wrote: »
    Okay a little update. I haven't bought the car yet, but the guy said the car will be ready tomorrow. Sweet. But, and this is a big but, he is still slacking with the service history big time.

    I have spotted an other car, with more the same spec as the one I have a deposit on, but this other one has history coming out it's ears. Full Dealer History, full NCT, 100% immaculate. Should I pull out of the deal with the original car, forfiet the deposit? Am I allowed to just pull out of the deal after the work that I wanted done to be complete, but seeing the service history, so far, is a single reciept from a service done over a year ago. Not log book or nothing, but it is promised from last week.

    Pull out and go for the other one imo.


  • #20
    Max Power1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,272 ✭✭✭✭Max Power1


    Confab wrote: »
    Pull out and go for the other one imo.
    +1

    Better to lose a couple of hundred euro deposit than throw a few grand in the hole if you get landed with a lemon with no history. Remember also the effect on resale value if you dont have fully verifed service history.


  • #21
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,897 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    If your deal was for a car with a service history, and the dealer fails to provide one I reckon you should be entitled to a refund of your deposit.


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  • #22
    quarryman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭quarryman


    Henry Ford III wrote: »
    If your deal was for a car with a service history, and the dealer fails to provide one I reckon you should be entitled to a refund of your deposit.

    +1. Don't sacrifce the deposit.

    Got a link to the ad of the cars in question?


  • #23
    JJJJNR
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,791 ✭✭✭JJJJNR


    Lose the deposit or ask for a discount on the first car to get the timing belt done yourself if its the only thing from stopping you buying it.

    I would expect the deposit back though, depending on how long you took to make your mind up.


  • #24
    Lord Nikon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,613 ✭✭✭Lord Nikon


    I'm not really worried about the deposit, trust me it's minimal loss. I'm more worried about the reaction from the guy after he did work I requested to be done. But still not service history after a week? Car I looked at today is dealer stamped to the hilt.


  • #25
    JJJJNR
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,791 ✭✭✭JJJJNR


    I personally wouldn't touch a car without a service history, I think your man is pulling as fast one on you, the work you asked him to do probably should have been done anyway.. you are fully entitled to walk away as its not as described.

    Think the boards thrash heap has spoken..... WALK AWAY.


  • #26
    Lord Nikon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,613 ✭✭✭Lord Nikon


    Further update...dilema

    Okay, so I put a little deposit down today on the second Passat I liked. Car will be ready tomorrow for pickup.

    The first Passat salesman rang me today, and said that he has a Full Main Dealer service history, with T-Belt good for at least 3 years of regular driving also done by the main dealer.

    Crap. I didnt see this coming at all. Dunno what to do.... :(

    Deposit on second Passat is more than the first one, substancially.


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