I recently bought a 15-year-old Mini Countryman for £3,850. The dealership, Chelmsford City Cars, said it came with a three-month warranty on the engine and gearbox.
Two months later I noticed a rattling noise coming from under the bonnet and took the car to a mechanic who said it was an issue with the timing chain. I spoke to several local garages and most refused the job because of the difficulty in getting the part. But I did eventually find one mechanic that said they could do the job in a couple of weeks for £1,700. They said I should not drive the car due to the condition of the timing chain. I was told that if it failed, it could damage the engine.
As my car was still under warranty I called the dealer, only to be told that the timing chain wasn’t covered by my policy. I was confused by this because I thought it would be considered part of the engine. The dealer agreed to email me a copy of the warranty outlining its terms, but I have not received this.
It seems unfair to be faced with such a huge repair bill so soon after buying this car. I also need a car for my new job so this has caused me a lot of issues.
Ella, Essex
