Good evening,

I got my 2018 mk4 in July from Lookers ford. I have had various electrical faults with the car(unrelated just painting a picture) aswell as missing plastic light cover in the boot, cigarette burn in driver mats and carpet and lastly break discs are worn.

 

So my question is in relation to the break discs. I had them measured during the visual check when I got the electrical problems sorted and some had 1.9mm on them and some 3mm+ (not sure if that's the amount left or amount worn). Anyways, I ask them to sort it out because the cars first MOT is due I'm December, just after the 6 month warranty runs out and there reply was wear and tear so it's nothing they can do about it under the warranty. Sadly I never seen the extent of the worn discs when I signed for the car due to covid etc.

 

Do I have any grounds to counter their reply of wear and tear not being covered by warranty and should they replace my discs? Or do I bite the bullet and replace them myself?

 

Thanks for reading, I know it was abit long winded.

 

Mark.

I know with tyres there is a minimum depth they will allow on a used car before they change them to sell, it's more than the legal 1.6mm limit. If an MOT is due within the next couple of months then they normally make sure they either put it through or do it on time for free. Brakes are a different story though, it's a very tricky one. I think it would be difficult to get them to replace them for free, have you spoken to the salesman you bought the car from, or even the head of sales\head of service? 

You could play on the fact that you couldn't view the car prior to buying, however they will probably say that you have had a good 6 weeks with the car. Your best outcome might be to agree to a part contribution from them, for instance you pay parts and they pay labour. Push for full payment from them and settle for a 'goodwill' gesture on their part. 

The mot is due 19th December and the warranty runs out 1 week prior. The salesman said, they normally do the service if within 6months but I missed out by a week. 

 

I did mention the discs being worn after 2-3weeks after getting the car when the electrical problems started.

Guess I just have to keep at them and try and see what they can do for me. Thanks for the reply Jonro.

Missed out by a week, that's pretty petty. I know there has to be a cut off but for the sake of a few days and a sale they could have made an exception. Plus an MOT can be done 30days prior to the due date anyway. If they won't put it through MOT for you then make sure you put it through early, so that you catch the warranty before it runs out. And don't let that garage do it because I wouldn't trust them to tell you if a warranty item was about to fail. 

To be honest they have kind of set the tone for the after sales during the purchase. I would try your best for the brakes but don't hold your breath, then I would make sure any other work is done elsewhere and don't line their pockets any further. 

Unfortunately you don't really have a leg to stand on. As said above, you've had the car for 6 weeks, which is plenty of time to do a thorough inspection of the whole car, even if you couldn't view it when you bought it.

I don't believe the figures you quote though. In order to wear the disc down to 1.9mm, the car must've worn through more than a dozen brake pads. Unless it's a track car, that's just not going to happen in 3 years. BTW 2mm is about the thickness you'd see on a push bike.

Other than tyres, there's nothing else on the car you could consider as more of a wear and tear item than brakes.

1 minute ago, Luke4efc said:

Unfortunately you don't really have a leg to stand on. As said above, you've had the car for 6 weeks, which is plenty of time to do a thorough inspection of the whole car, even if you couldn't view it when you bought it.

I don't believe the figures you quote though. In order to wear the disc down to 1.9mm, the car must've worn through more than a dozen brake pads. Unless it's a track car, that's just not going to happen in 3 years. BTW 2mm is about the thickness you'd see on a push bike.

Other than tyres, there's nothing else on the car you could consider as more of a wear and tear item than brakes.

He did say that he brought the brakes to their attention on week 2 of ownership, which is why I hoped they may be a bit more flexible and make a goodwill gesture, but as I said if they stood fast over a week with the MOT then I doubt they will help in any other way.

12 minutes ago, Jonro2009 said:

He did say that he brought the brakes to their attention on week 2 of ownership, which is why I hoped they may be a bit more flexible and make a goodwill gesture, but as I said if they stood fast over a week with the MOT then I doubt they will help in any other way.

If they sold it in July, why would they be bothered about the MoT 6 months later?

 

18 minutes ago, MarksST said:

If they sold it in July, why would they be bothered about the MoT 6 months later?

 

The OP said that if the MOT was due within 6months they would normally do it free, he missed out by a week. I've only ever heard of them doing the MOT if it was due within 8weeks. 

Service not MoT.

7 minutes ago, MarksST said:

Service not MoT.

I misread it

This is confusing, you mention brake discs but surely the measurements you give,1.9mm and3mm,relate to the pads.

If the brakes work and pass MOT they have met obligations.

Electrical issues?

Is the battery charge OK?

Does any of the software need updating?

I would definitely get them to update the software (early cars had loads of software glitches) before the warranty runs out

Priority software to ensure updated.

PCM - Engine and TCM if it's an auto

DDM - Driver's door

PDM - And Passenger door to cure bounce back issues

SCCM - Steering control to cure lane keeping issues

IPMA - Camera, as above

APIM - Nav screen freezes

ACM - Radio, volume goes to rear over 15

ABS- Auto hold issues

Oh, and make sure you can open the bonnet OK, early cars suffer with stretched cables

On 9/7/2021 at 10:10 PM, Markwilson said:

The mot is due 19th December and the warranty runs out 1 week prior. The salesman said, they normally do the service if within 6months but I missed out by a week. 

 

I did mention the discs being worn after 2-3weeks after getting the car when the electrical problems started.

Guess I just have to keep at them and try and see what they can do for me. Thanks for the reply Jonro.

You keep saying discs but surely a brake disc cannot possibly be 1.9mm thin you must mean pads.

I am not sure what the 1.9mm they put on the paperwork was to be honest. I would assume it is 1.9mm worn(hence the lip). 

 

Software issues got fixed last time it went back to the dealers. No issues so far since being updated.