Sold a death trap. pre purchase inspection con!

J_Swan · Jul 8, 2017

Very sad to be posting this, but I found out today that since buying my first defender I've been driving a death trap.

I bought my 200tdi on 16th June and paid £83 for a pre purchase inspection from ClickMechanic. In short I was told that it was an honest example and that it was "better than most". I have this quote from the original inspector on text message.

On the test drive the inspector told me the steering was vague but this was due to the mud tyres. When I drove it home I thought this surely there's a fault with this steering. See my last post for proof of this. I booked into a 4x4 specialist asap, and my appointment was today.

On arrival they checked my steering box and told me they weren't exaggerating in that I should be dead. The mechanic pulled off a washer and a bolt with his hand and said this was all that was holding the spline in. In his words, another mile and the defender would have been on its roof.

In addition to this, the chassis number has been removed as has the engine number. I also have an A4 page full of dangerous faults picked up today, which the original inspector used words such as "fair conditon" and "to be expected for a Land Rover" to describe.

Can someone please advise as to where I stand with this, surely I can go to trading standards etc etc?! Sorry for the huge post but I'm fuming.

Swan.

neilly · Jul 8, 2017

Sorry to hear your woes.

Did you buy it from a dealer?

Did the click mechanic ( whatever that is) provide a guarantee of service in writing of any sort?

Cheers

neilly · Jul 8, 2017

Also,

This may be of use.

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/buying-a-crock-of-or-if-you-already-have.76002/

Cheers

Alan Crossley · Jul 8, 2017

Yes, follow Neillys advice and don't just acept that you have been placed in danger. Imagine, if you will, the potential ramifications, if you had been travelling with your family or friends, you could have driven into an oncoming or standing obstacles which might have caused fatalities. The potential outcome doesn't bear thinking about.

Colthebrummie · Jul 8, 2017

As well as the dangerous condition, the fact that it has no chassis or engine number is a worry. I think I would be tempted to go the police and brace myself for even more bad news.

Col

Gmacz · Jul 8, 2017

One 4x4 specialists dangerous faults, give us lots of money to repair it, is another mans " well its a land rover, they all do that".
You would be dead and on your roof is another way of saying give us a blank cheque if you want to live much longer.
How much did they quote for repairs.

Wimblowdriver · Jul 8, 2017

J_Swan said:
the chassis number has been removed as has the engine number.

Almost certainly a ringer. Does the chassis number look like it has been ground off or has a new dumb iron been welded in? Other indicators of a ringer - has the vin plate been attached with new rivets? Is there a vin number on the dash below where the tax disc used to go (don't know what year LR started to put one there perhaps somebody could advise?). The seller is going to say "thats not the vehicle I sold" and the inspector is going to say "thats not the vehicle I examined". Were you present when it was examined? If it was mine I would get the police to look at it and let them pursue the seller and the examiner. It ain't your car and you will be on the wrong side of the law if you try and dispose of it (assuming it is a ringer).

chris-the-gerbil · Jul 8, 2017

J_Swan said:
Can someone please advise as to where I stand with this, surely I can go to trading standards etc etc?! Sorry for the huge post but I'm fuming.

Swan.

You get a second opinion from another 4x4 mechanic. At the moment it is literally one mechanics word vs anothers.....

Colthebrummie · Jul 8, 2017

Gmacz said:
One 4x4 specialists dangerous faults, give us lots of money to repair it, is another mans " well its a land rover, they all do that".
You would be dead and on your roof is another way of saying give us a blank cheque if you want to live much longer.
How much did they quote for repairs.

That is true, when I bought Compo and first drove him, I couldn't believe how bad the steering and brakes where. It could only hold a quarter of a tank of petrol cos of the hole. The prop UJ was shot and the racket was deafening over. 30 mph. It had a brand new mot on it. It took me all of the following year to fix the dangerous faults and get a proper mot.

Col

raywin · Jul 8, 2017

Colthebrummie said:
As well as the dangerous condition, the fact that it has no chassis or engine number is a worry. I think I would be tempted to go the police and brace myself for even more bad news.

Col

Might be wise to go back to the seller and ask for a full refund first, if it is a ringer then you might be the one who takes the hit, could be stolen or written off and you would be out on a limb.
Could take pictures and then report your suspicion later.

Gmacz · Jul 8, 2017

If someone wanted to use my old 90 chassis, they could have it for free, i would grind off the number before they took it away. Does not mean it is stolen. You need to speak to the seller and ask him about it. No chassis or engine number is not illegal but you do need some identification ie vin plate.

neilly · Jul 8, 2017

Gmacz said:
engine number

Why would you delete an engine number? A used chassis should keep the original number.

Cheers

Gmacz · Jul 8, 2017

A used chassis cannot keep its number, it stays with the original vehicle. Ask the seller about number on engine, maybe 4x4 specialist is looking in wrong place, that is why contact needs to take place.

neilly · Jul 8, 2017

Gmacz said:
A used chassis cannot keep its number, it stays with the original vehicle.

That is the opposite to what I understood, Chassis is what has the number on a LR , so only way this can be kept is if a brand new chassis is fitted and then the number can be transferred but the old chassis must be destroyed ( it is advised to keep the old stamped number as evidence). If you break a vehicle and fit an old chassis to a bunch of parts from a used old donor car then the number from the replacement chassis is kept not the number from the donor vehicle.

That is how I understood it anyway.

Cheers

Gmacz · Jul 8, 2017

Used chassis is a new chassis in the real world, it has no identity. Why scrap a good chassis, i would fit a good chassis to a rusty chassis vehicle. Only dvla would have a problem if you told them, you dont contact them with a new galvanised chassis, why would you tell them about a new used chassis with no identity.

chris-the-gerbil · Jul 8, 2017

You change the chassis you have to tell the DVLA(VOSA?). They have a points scheme that identifies the vehicle and the chassis I think scores the most points....

http://www.glencoyne.co.uk/vosalaw.htm

In particular.... "
Cars and car-derived vans (this includes Land Rovers) must use:

The original unmodified chassis or unaltered bodyshell (i.e. body and chassis as one unit - monocoque); or a new chassis or monocoque bodyshell of the same specification as the original supported by evidence from the dealer or manufacturer (e.g. receipt).

And two other major components from the original vehicle - ie suspension (front & back); steering assembly; axles (both); transmission or engine.

If a second-hand chassis or monocoque bodyshell is used a car must pass an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) and light goods vans must have a enhanced single vehicle approval (ESVA) or single vehicle approval (SVA) test after which a "Q" prefix registration number will be allocated."

If you change chassis - you nede to get your paperwork sorted.

raywin · Jul 8, 2017

Had mine replaced last year, they cut off the section with the number and advised me to keep it + the documentation for the new chassis which has a reference number from the makers (Richards) so that the legitimacy of the vehicle could be easily established.
I would be very nervous of any vehicle which had neither chassis number or engine number.

julianf · Jul 8, 2017

Looking at your location -
The truck want from everything landrover / Edward Barrington / Edward fear, was it?

SwannyLRO · Jul 8, 2017

Sorry to hear the situation your in mate, nothing worse than laying out hard earned money on something that's not as you expected. But on the other hand if what the 4x4 specialist has reported regarding faults is actually right then glad your here writing this post. If it was me I would definitely go down the path others have suggested of getting a third opinion. Hope you find a resolution to this where you either find out what 4x4 specialist not to go or what inspection company not to use and walk away with either a good landy or your money back!

Best wishes,

Swanny

raisingveg · Jul 8, 2017

as others get a third party to look at the landy,contact the seller etc etc ,if no joy I would contact the police talk to trading standards and to the citizens advice peeps after all its free to see where you stand.
I hope you come out smiling the other side and good luck

Sold a death trap. pre purchase inspection con!

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