Hey everyone, im new to the euro game and recently bought a audi a3 2.0 turbo. Month and half in seals are blown. Now im asking whats the better option, buying a rebuild kit for the turbo, or just buying a new turbo in general? I need all the help o can get since im new to this. Thanks in advance
In need of new turbo
- Thread starter Duvalsm
- Start date
You gonna rebuild it yourself?
If so you should have it balanced afterwards, and at that point since you'd be sending the turbo off to a specialist for balancing you may as well have the rebuild done for you at the same time.
Replacement turbo is quicker since you just remove and refit.
Basically put, if you rebuild it your car will be off the road for a number of days.
If you fit a new turbo its a job that can be done in a day.
If so you should have it balanced afterwards, and at that point since you'd be sending the turbo off to a specialist for balancing you may as well have the rebuild done for you at the same time.
Replacement turbo is quicker since you just remove and refit.
Basically put, if you rebuild it your car will be off the road for a number of days.
If you fit a new turbo its a job that can be done in a day.
A new turbo including fitting will cost about £1700 all in, and that would last a cars lifetime. You can buy a refurbed or repair your own turbo for something like £400 to £1000 but bear in mind it won't last as long.
Any chance the seller can be held responsible for repairs? or if you paid with a Credit Card the card company would have to help you out.
Any chance the seller can be held responsible for repairs? or if you paid with a Credit Card the card company would have to help you out.
Bóllócks, a dealer cannot waive your statutory rights no matter what yarn he's spun you.
If he refuses to step up then you do two things
1. repair it yourself and then claim it back through small claims. Chances are he won't turn up to the hearing gaining you a default judgement you then give him 14 days to pay, he doesnt pay and you escalate to the high court for a writ. High Court Sheriffs attend and bend him over the desk.
2. Report him to trading standards.
If he refuses to step up then you do two things
1. repair it yourself and then claim it back through small claims. Chances are he won't turn up to the hearing gaining you a default judgement you then give him 14 days to pay, he doesnt pay and you escalate to the high court for a writ. High Court Sheriffs attend and bend him over the desk.
2. Report him to trading standards.
Last edited:
Where you say 'As-Is', is this documented on the receipt or advert? If he sold it off the year then it's in a pretty difficult space unless it was a documented As-Is.
"As is" means nothing unless the dealer specifically stated the car was being sold with a faulty turbo.
Is that the case?
Is that the case?
No, ive had it about a month and a half from the dealership when this problem started
Right, so unless the advert stated "failing turbo" or he told you it was failing when you bought it, he's spinning you a yarn. You have a statutory warranty that he must legally honour. You're entitled to have them fix it.
Okay, they did do a vehicle inspection the day i bought it and said everything was okay, also it is stated in writing that this is an as is car
Sorry - my grammar was terrible in my previous post. I've updated the inserted quote above. Because he's sold the car off the dealers yard the 'As-Is' or 'Sold as Seen' premise doesn't really exist - he's bound by the trading laws.
Give your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Trading Standards a call.
As others mentioned (and why I asked the question in the first place about where you bought it), the Consumer Rights act is on YOUR side! It is a trader's responsibility to sell a vehicle fit for purpose, in this case, no matter what the trader says, he hasn't sold you a car fit for purpose
the only exemption to that specific Consumer Rights law for second hand cars bought from trade, is for VERY cheap PX bargains, the kind of thing you see being sold for around £500ish, where the buyer realistically understands that they're potentially buying a car that despite running and driving and having an MOT, could easily be categorised as being at the end of its life
the only exemption to that specific Consumer Rights law for second hand cars bought from trade, is for VERY cheap PX bargains, the kind of thing you see being sold for around £500ish, where the buyer realistically understands that they're potentially buying a car that despite running and driving and having an MOT, could easily be categorised as being at the end of its life
6months
https://www.theaa.com/car-buying/legal-rights
The Consumer rights Act
The Consumer Rights Act came into force on 1 October 2015 and covers the purchase of goods, digital content and services including new and used cars from official dealers (it doesn't apply to private sales) as well as servicing, repairs and maintenance work.
Products must be:
The dealer must have the right to sell the vehicle and is liable for faults with the vehicle – that mean it was not of satisfactory quality – that were present at the time it was sold even though they may only become apparent later on.
Satisfactory quality
Satisfactory quality means that the vehicle should be of a standard a reasonable person would expect, taking into account things like its age, value, history, mileage, make and description.
The dealer’s not liable for fair wear and tear, where the vehicle broke down or the fault emerged through normal use, nor are they liable if they drew your attention to the full extent of any fault or defect before you bought the car.
Fit for purpose
You must be able to use the vehicle for the purposes that you would normally expect from a vehicle including any particular purpose that you tell the dealer about before you buy, or which the dealer has advertised or gleaned from your conversation – towing or short journey use for example.
Faults, repairs and refunds
Under the new act, if a fault renders the product not of satisfactory quality, not fit for purpose or not as described, then the buyer is entitled to reject it within the first 30 days.
Between 30 days and 6 months
If a fault comes to light after 30 days but before 6 months you’re entitled to a repair, replacement or refund.
The burden is on you to prove that the product was faulty at the time of delivery if you want to pursue a claim for repair or replacement.
https://www.theaa.com/car-buying/legal-rights
The Consumer rights Act
The Consumer Rights Act came into force on 1 October 2015 and covers the purchase of goods, digital content and services including new and used cars from official dealers (it doesn't apply to private sales) as well as servicing, repairs and maintenance work.
Products must be:
- Of satisfactory quality
- Fit for purpose, and
- As described
The dealer must have the right to sell the vehicle and is liable for faults with the vehicle – that mean it was not of satisfactory quality – that were present at the time it was sold even though they may only become apparent later on.
Satisfactory quality
Satisfactory quality means that the vehicle should be of a standard a reasonable person would expect, taking into account things like its age, value, history, mileage, make and description.
- An old car with high mileage wouldn’t be expected to be as good as a younger car with low mileage
- Each should still be roadworthy, reliable, and in a condition consistent with its age/price.
- If a vehicle turns out not to be of satisfactory quality, the remedy will depend on the time that has passed and the nature of the fault – it's best to seek legal advice or visit http://www.adviceguide.org.uk.
The dealer’s not liable for fair wear and tear, where the vehicle broke down or the fault emerged through normal use, nor are they liable if they drew your attention to the full extent of any fault or defect before you bought the car.
Fit for purpose
You must be able to use the vehicle for the purposes that you would normally expect from a vehicle including any particular purpose that you tell the dealer about before you buy, or which the dealer has advertised or gleaned from your conversation – towing or short journey use for example.
Faults, repairs and refunds
Under the new act, if a fault renders the product not of satisfactory quality, not fit for purpose or not as described, then the buyer is entitled to reject it within the first 30 days.
Between 30 days and 6 months
If a fault comes to light after 30 days but before 6 months you’re entitled to a repair, replacement or refund.
- It’s assumed in law that the fault was present at the time of purchase unless the seller can prove otherwise.
- Unless you’ve agreed otherwise, the seller (dealer) has only one opportunity to repair (or replace) the faulty vehicle after which, if they fail to repair it, you’re entitled to a refund.
- In the event of a refund following a failed attempt at repair during the first six months the seller may make a 'reasonable' adjustment to the amount refunded to take account of the use that you’ve had of the vehicle.
The burden is on you to prove that the product was faulty at the time of delivery if you want to pursue a claim for repair or replacement.
Another thought... @Duvalsm - how did you pay for the car?
Please say credit card.... if that's the case then after he refuses to fix the car, just inform your credit card company and they'll likely just refund you and pursue him for the funds. There are additional protections afforded to you under the Consumer Credit Act.
If debit card then you may also have some protection there. Speak to your bank.
Please say credit card.... if that's the case then after he refuses to fix the car, just inform your credit card company and they'll likely just refund you and pursue him for the funds. There are additional protections afforded to you under the Consumer Credit Act.
If debit card then you may also have some protection there. Speak to your bank.
Last edited:
OK, in that case, you do the following:
If you bought the car less than 6 months ago, and the turbo failed, you can safely assume that the failing turbo was present at time of sale - it takes a lot of abuse to mess up a turbo. Therefore, the dealer has to either refund or repair the car. If he is refusing, you can take him to court and I would be very surprised if you lost.
How did you pay for the car?
- If you paid by credit card, call the card provider and make a claim under section 75 of the Credit consumer act.
- if you paid by debit card, call them and make a chargeback under visa scheme rules. There's a 120 days to make the claim in most cases.
- if you paid by cash then go to citizens advice bureau or take it up with trading standards yourself.
Or just let the dealer get away with it and pay £1500 for a new turbo fitted
