Brownhills Motorhomes

[PaulRowell]

In August 2020 I bought an Elddis Evolution 120 from Brownhills. At the first annual check up some of the edge panels at the rear were noticed to be beginning to detach from the main body panel so this was sorted out under warranty. At the two year service it was noticed that the trim that goes along the side of the motorhome and around the wheel arch had detached completely - I had noticed when I had cleaned the motorhome that the sealant had cracked but assumed that Brownhills would sort it when they did the check up. After waiting all day for the service to be finished you can imagine my surprise when I checked the vehicle over to find the wheel arch hanging off. I returned to the service desk to ask them what they could do only to be told that there was nothing they could do and that it wouldn't be covered by the warranty and that Brownhills wouldn't cover it either.

Do I have any rights under consumer law to make a claim against Brownhills?

I guess I was expecting the response "It shouldn't detach after just 2 years and less than 7000 miles Mr Rowell, don't worry we will sort it"

 

[scallywag15]

I agree where is the incentive to listen, learn and improve if you’ll still be judged on things that happened years, decades ago?

They should be judged on how they conduct themselves in 2023 not twenty years ago

dealers get a big discount on the retail price of MHs eg Elldis on the understanding they sort out issues that occur. If you have ever tried to wave the warranty flag at a dealer who didnt sell you the vehicle "good luck". They all seem to have the same reply. Take it back to the original dealer.

 

[MisterB]

We bought our current motorhome from Brownhills, a pre loved Adria. So far we have been pleased with any dealings we have had with them, though in fact we haven't had any issues!
I was pleased with the cambelt change quote we received recently though and have stayed for free overnight and used their facilities twice now.

 

[Barryh]

Todd’s Leisure at Preston carried out warranty work for me despite not buying the van from there. Great service and nice people.

 

[Stroppy Bird]

dealers get a big discount on the retail price of MHs eg Elldis on the understanding they sort out issues that occur. If you have ever tried to wave the warranty flag at a dealer who didnt sell you the vehicle "good luck". They all seem to have the same reply. Take it back to the original dealer.

Not always the case though.

I bought a used Adria that was still in its warranty period. I took it to Brownhills (who had not originally sold the van, but are my nearest Fiat Professional) for a fiat recall and asked if they could look at a couple of issues. Response was we'll have a look when we've done the recall check. This was duly done and then booked in for the work to be carried out under warranty.

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[arthur49]

Todd’s Leisure at Preston carried out warranty work for me despite not buying the van from there. Great service and nice people.

Yes that was our experience with previous van. We drove from Perth to buy one from them and had to return to get a warranty repair carried out.
We were very happy to do this as Todds made it easy, allowing us to stop overnight in their car park, lending us a car to have a look around, and overall delivering first class customer care.
We're very happy with our current van, not bought from Todds, but if/when we buy again Todds would be on our radar.
We have no connection with Todds BTW

 

[funflair]

I agree where is the incentive to listen, learn and improve if you’ll still be judged on things that happened years, decades ago?

They should be judged on how they conduct themselves in 2023 not twenty years ago

I guess the trouble is people have long memories and mud sticks.

 

[ROCHESB]

We bought a new vehicle from Brownhills last year. The sales lady we spoke to was efficient, gave us a good PEX for our old van, & kept us informed about the progress of our order throughout. While we were considering whether to buy or not the price of the vehicle went up but she 'honoured' the lower price a day later when we said we would go ahead.

By contrast another dealer we had been speaking to earlier put their price up twice in a week while we were discussing a purchase. They even changed the windscreen price of the vehicle while we were looking at it..... we walked away........

Our new van was delayed by a couple of months due to issues with COC paperwork not arriving from the factory, it sat for 3 months in their compound but we got a 22 plate instead of a 71 plate....and made some money from the premium bonds we delayed cashing in to cover the PEX difference.

I was impressed by the guy doing the handover, he told me he had checked the van before we arrived and told us he had found a couple of issues which they would sort out for us before we left that day.

Sadly I was less impressed when we got home and I discovered they hadn't resolved the issues (I know, I should have checked).

I called them the next day, told the how unhappy I was about the situation. The lady I spoke to was most apologetic, we arranged a date to take the van back to have the work completed & they agreed to pick up the diesel costs for my return trip (300 miles).

The problems were fixed, along with several other minor issues I found afterwards. We stayed overnight at their dealership for a couple of nights before moving on to Vanbitz to have an alarm system fitted.

Last November, I discovered a small leak around a window; I took photos and emailed Brownhills. We booked the vehicle in for repair, I had expected them to simply remove the window, slap some mastic or similar around the hole & fix it back in. To my surprise they said the frame had been badly installed and was damaged & rather than 'bodge' repair it they would replace it under warranty. They temporarily sealed the window with 'goo' to stop the leak until we go back for the 'free' annual service & habitation check next month when they will replace it.

In my experience, I have found Brownhills to be responsive with their communications, willing to help and they recognised they had let me down at the beginning but have redeemed themselves since.

 

[The Artilleryman]

The thing I hate the most when dealing with MH dealers, is the fact that workshop reception will try and BS you over why they can't service your MH.

Why not be truthful and state "We didn't sell it, so we won't service it"

 

[bubble63]

Brownhills….
Went to see a van that couldn’t be found and was left waiting in a showroom full of little yapping dogs and people that seemed to be on a day out
The site was scruffy and lacked any stock
Perhaps I picked a bad day

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[U.Toadifact]

It's a tad unfair to criticise a dealer for customers' little yapping dogs. The site may have been scruffy but so is my garden at this time of the year.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Brownhills….
Went to see a van that couldn’t be found and was left waiting in a showroom full of little yapping dogs and people that seemed to be on a day out
The site was scruffy and lacked any stock
Perhaps I picked a bad day

There is hardly any stock at Brownhills lately.

 

[Soycd]

I sat down with Brownhills at the last show in Birmingham. Pleasant enough people but kept going on about irrelevant stuff like their stellplatz/aire and other minor benefits I could have when all I wanted was a decent deal. In the end I went with another dealer who offered me a better deal. I imagine that Brownhills overheads are scary given the number of staff they have, thus the deal you may get might not be as good as another dealer.

 

[Billylou]

Edit, wrong thread

 

[eddie]

dealers get a big discount on the retail price of MHs eg Elldis on the understanding they sort out issues that occur. If you have ever tried to wave the warranty flag at a dealer who didnt sell you the vehicle "good luck". They all seem to have the same reply. Take it back to the original dealer.

Why should you buy from one business and expect service from another business?

Your buying a converted delivery van, not a car from a franchised dealer.

Buy local !

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[TheAleMan]

I guess the trouble is people have long memories and mud sticks.

That’s exactly right Martin, that’s how it is with me anyway. There were some absolutely horror stories going around regarding Brownhills years ago, such stories take a long time to dissolve with me I’m afraid.

 

[bubble63]

It's a tad unfair to criticise a dealer for customers' little yapping dogs. The site may have been scruffy but so is my garden at this time of the year.

Agree …. But they had a large fenced off area with seating in the main showroom and it was full of seated people chatting and petting their dogs, the yapping and the dog calling was distracting, I had to step outside with the sales guy (he was sick of the dogs too)
No one seemed to be interested in Motorhomes , has it become a destination?

 

[Langtoftlad]

has it become a destination?

Quite possibly...
"Shopping" seems to now be a 'Leisure Activity'.
Bluewater, Trafford Park etc... A trip out.

 

[MisterB]

There is hardly any stock at Brownhills lately.

When I called in a couple of days ago there were lots, so much so that they were parked in the normal car parking area. I have never seen as many motorhomes there as I saw a few days ago.

 

[ROCHESB]

Agree …. But they had a large fenced off area with seating in the main showroom and it was full of seated people chatting and petting their dogs, the yapping and the dog calling was distracting, I had to step outside with the sales guy (he was sick of the dogs too)
No one seemed to be interested in Motorhomes , has it become a destination?

Customer lounge for people waiting to collect their vehicles after service and/or repair.

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[Spriddler]

When I called in a couple of days ago there were lots, so much so that they were parked in the normal car parking area. I have never seen as many motorhomes there as I saw a few days ago.

I go past this dealer a couple of times a week and for the past couple of months it has been chockah, currently with some parked in the access road. Around 100 there at the moment.

(Library pic at Jan 2023)............

 

[gus-lopez]

Why should you buy from one business and expect service from another business?

Your buying a converted delivery van, not a car from a franchised dealer.

Buy local !

So they aren't franchised dealers then?
What happens to the foreigner needing help who didn't buy there ? He get told to *** off as well?

I go past this dealer a couple of times a week and for the past couple of months it has been chockah, currently with some parked in the access road. Around 100 there at the moment.

(Library pic at Jan 2023)............

View attachment 716072

Like it last year as well every time I passed. there is another off the M3 ( I think?) been packed solid for years.

 

[ianrm]

I go past this dealer a couple of times a week and for the past couple of months it has been chockah, currently with some parked in the access road. Around 100 there at the moment.

(Library pic at Jan 2023)............

View attachment 716072

I went to view a 2017 Adria Coral there last year and was appalled at the service and way I was treated given that the Motorhome I went to see was £65k. Although it had only done 6k miles it was in very poor condition. It looked like it been lived in by a load of apes. There was a huge stain on the Double Bed, scuffs and damage to nearly every panel, door, rusty oven, hob, mould etc. inside. The Cab front had a very poor respray and there were loads of other marks to the bodywork.
The Salesman said he was busy and just left me alone to view it as he said he was busy, I had booked an appointment, when he did come over he basically dismissed all the things I pointed out with excuses like, the mattress could be washed, the outside is just a van so expect to see the damage I found. I asked if there was any movement on the price, knowing that I wouldn't even buy it if he knocked £35k off, he said absolutely not. I checked the add again the next day and it had actually gone up in price. Suffice to say it is still for Sale. The Franchise or Leasehold is for sale too.