New purchase - extensive welding done for MOT - do we go ahead?

[Steff]

In the process of buying a 2002 Fiat Ducato based mh with 50,000 mileage, which has just had a new Mot put on it by dealer and now due for collection. Checking MOT history today I see that it failed on front suspension mount corrosion both sides (on the wheel arch and chassis parts of suspension mountings), front passenger seat belt connection corrosion and both sills corrosion - which has now been welded and passed by MOT, although the year before only surface rust was detected on the MOT. Now seriously concerned about carrying on with the purchase! Trouble is if I pull out I’ll lose £2,500 in a non refundable deposit.
Dealer is reputable one with good reviews and the van after all is over 17 years old, and is being sold with 3 month warranty and full hab check, as well as a timing belt change so what do I do? Carry on with the purchase and not worry about the original rust because welding has been done or walk away £2,500 lighter?

 

[138go]

We bought new and in excess of £70,000 and all they asked for was a £500 deposit. When we went to collect it I paid with my Debit Card and that was it. Just got a receipt out of their machine showing the amount.

 

[Chris]

I do
I don’t.
Bloody hell,Im confused.
Do what? Don’t do what?
Am I having a nightmare,or am I on MHF on a Friday evening.
PS. What day is it,anyway?

Sorry it’s my fault. I was responding to Gromett who had said he listened to eddievanbitz .

I was just saying that I don’t listen to anything he ( Eddievanbitz) says.

#backgroundnoise

 

[Gromett]

£2,500 in a non refundable deposit.

Did you pay by credit card? Please tell me you did?

 

[Yorick]

I'm amazed they were going to sell you a van with only 1 month MOT. Then extended it as a favour. Cowboys.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Minxy]

How about giving us the details of the MH in question so we can have a shuftie at it and also the MOT history ...

 

[Figaro]

Since you agreed to the purchase before the rust problem was known about, I think you have strong grounds to now reject the deal and get a full refund.
As you believe the dealer is reputable, if this is the case they should not have a problem with this.
Rust to that extend materially changes what the dealer was selling and you believed you were buying.
Please come back and let us know what happens

 

[Minxy]

I am no legal eagle but I suspect that as the MH is not in the road legal state it was declared to be by the dealer when you originally agreed to buy it you do NOT have to go ahead with the purchase and should be able to get your deposit (part-payment) back without an issue ... other than they won't want to do that! IMV you do NOT have to accept any repairs especially since it appears from what you've said the dealer did not tell you about the failed MOT and work that had to be carried out to get it to pass, which in effect change the state of the MH you agreed to buy, therefore it is not 'as originally sold' to you, therefore you should have every right to get your money back.

 

[Jev88]

but you've only had it since April, the fact you "expect" it to give no further trouble is being naive at best and poor advice in my experience of "others" car welding I've seen over the years.

Do you trust your mechanic you use?
I am lucky to have a reliable place to use and they work 50/50 on large vehicles and not just cars. I am not stupid and know rust is always around the corner for older vehicles but in this case you could see where the jacking points had been abused and lead to rust.
Note my first comment "Independent expert inspection required".
I have owned cars older than I am and still maintain a rolling machine from the 1950's.
I am sure you meant no offence but I have owned and run and had repairs on rather a lot of vehicles in my time.... e.g. a welded Cat D repair...... Still running happily 10 years after its smash up.

 

[Misterg]

In the process of buying a 2002 Fiat Ducato

They agreed to put a new MOT on, as the original only had a month to run, do a full service, a habitation check and timing belt change, to ready it for my collection,

I see that it failed on front suspension mount corrosion both sides (on the wheel arch and chassis parts of suspension mountings), front passenger seat belt connection corrosion and both sills corrosion - which has now been welded and passed by MOT

Walk away.

That's pretty widespread rust on an old vehicle.

It is possible to repair rusty bits to 'as good as new', but this is the realm of restoration, rather than MOT repair. There is a risk / probability that the minimum amount of work has been done to get it through an MOT with a healthy dollop of underseal over the top (the dealer will not spend any more than they have to) and the rust will just continue to cause more and more problems, maybe making the vehicle uneconomic to repair in a couple of years.

The dealer might argue that they should keep the deposit as they have spent money on the vehicle (and might be smarting about how much the MOT cost them, so will be reluctant to lose the buyer). You could argue that the dealer would have had to get it MOTd to sell it anyway.

I'd think long and hard about the worth of an 'independent inspection' - What could be more independent than an MOT? The van has just passed one, so it is now officially roadworthy. (The dealer may say that it's "good for years now!" )

I'd be inclined to say that you are not proceeding with the sale because of the extent of the rust and argue for the return of your deposit.

Good luck, whatever you decide

(Ex VW T2 and Transit owner. DIY welder because of it.)

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Hi, thank you to everyone for your help. The dealer requested the deposit sum, which was part of the precontractual sale agreement, which states the deposit is non refundable if I pull out. They agreed to put a new MOT on, as the original only had a month to run, do a full service, a habitation check and timing belt change, to ready it for my collection, and no, nothing was said about any rust problems. I found out about the rust from the MOT check which only came on the gov site today as it was only MOT’d a day ago, but to be fair I haven’t asked the dealer as yet what repairs they have done, so haven’t given them a chance to mention any rust.
In the first instance I’ll speak to the dealer tomorrow and ask them for a complete breakdown of the welding and ancillary work they’ve done, and ask them to agree to an independent vehicle check. Obviously if they refuse that’ll be an instant red flag and I’ll ask for my deposit back right away, if not then I’ll wait to see what the independent mechanic says.
I stand to lose £18000 all in if I go ahead with the sale ( the deposit was actually £2000 not what originally quoted). I’d rather lose £2000 though than £18000 so if it comes to it I’ll walk away and fight through the courts if I have to for my deposit back!

Can you advise who the dealer is? Some folks on here may have had similar experiences with the dealer, if they renew belts as a matter of course was it Oaktree?

 

[Gromett]

This is the kind of quality work needed, but I doubt your dealer did to get it through it's MOT...

Broken Link Removed

 

[138go]

Think you could quite happily tell the Dealer that if you had been told the extent of the tin rot before you placed the order you would not have proceeded and you would like your deposit back. Keep a diary of everything that was said and who said it. If they refuse then use the Small Claims Court. Download MOT History etc so you have proof. Garage must have known it was bad because they go over them with a fine tooth comb before they trade them in looking for damp and a way to reduce there initial trade in value.

 

[138go]

This is the kind of quality work needed, but I doubt your dealer did to get it through it's MOT...

Broken Link Removed

Agree the video looks good but is it worth all the time and effort. The vehicle has certainly got a bad dose of tin worm wonder what will need welding for the next MOT.

 

[Campervan_man]

Providing the purchase cost of the van is not excessive I would assess the amount of welding that has been carried out for the MOT. If it's a very minor repair have a think about rejecting if it's a major repair job I would say that the van was not as described and it is in poor condition.
Dealers are a strange breed. I worked for one MOCHDRE MOTORHOME and CARAVAN DEALERSHIP briefly as a Technician and I was told that I had to work every single weekend including Bank Holidays.
I had My ex-Employer's Nest Pension Stopped without notice for being off sick for ONE day to go to a pre-booked Dentists Appointment. My ex Employer still owes Me over £300 in wages and hasn't even sorted My pay or sent Me a P45. Needless to say I shook their hands, handed in My notice, said goodbye and left. I am now self-employed as a Motorhome Mobile Technician.
Do Dealer's have a heart ? You tell Me?
Don't feel guilty walking away from this bad Motorhome Purchase Deal.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[HandyAndy]

Agree the video looks good but is it worth all the time and effort. The vehicle has certainly got a bad dose of tin worm wonder what will need welding for the next MOT.

This is the thing though, all that pitted darker "metal" he painted over was just rust in the pits of what he couldn't grind off. Give it two years and the area will start to bubble. GUARANTEED.
The ONLY way to stop rust in its tracks in it's entirety is go to these lengths...


Is anyone likely to be doing this to the MH... err no.
THIS is why I say to anyone who cannot weld (well) to walk away from stuff like this.
It will cost you an arm and a leg for people like me to put right