warning about possible scam

euro44 · 4th January 2022, 19:53

A potential buyer when inspecting my car held up an oil covered finger ( after apparently dipping it in the coolant header tank) and suggested HGF, and maybe I would like to reduce the price agreed. Knowing in the 2years I have owned the car its never used oil or coolant and had both replaced during the summer service, I cancelled the sale and had it stripped down by a rover/mg specialist.
he found the head gasket to be perfect, all the water pipes and passages clean with no oil traces but there was clean !!!!! oil in the part of the expansion tank immediately under the cap. So a new set of gaskets following a pressure test and head skim and an unwanted bill for the work. I would not have believed someone could be so devious in trying to scam a few quid off the price but have passed this on so hopefully no other member gets caught, and yes I wont leave a possible buyer alone round the car again.

planenut · 4th January 2022, 20:40

It is easy to fall for such deviousness if oneself is not totally car savvy, so stay alert. That should now raise your selling price with evidence of your new costs and work carried out. Good luck. However, I would not bother taking any more work to your "specialist".

macafee2 · 4th January 2022, 21:17

Some years ago I was selling my daughters Daewoo Matiz for her.
When the chap looked under the bonnet he told me the head gasket had failed. I know where the head is and what is above and below it.
The leak was the rocker cover gasket.

macafee2

The Rovering Member · 5th January 2022, 01:36

I think l would have investigated the header tank myself before taking it to a garage for a partial strip-down.
And l would also have thought that the garage should have spotted the subterfuge before carrying out the unnecessary work.

SCP440 · 5th January 2022, 06:49

Buyers will try all the tricks to reduce the price, when we were selling the Wife's Mini one of the potential buyers reckoned the clutch was slipping, and needed £500 off the price because it is such a big job. I refused and we ended up letting the daughter in law have it and after 6 months and several thousand miles there is no sign of any clutch problems.

Sonic ZS · 5th January 2022, 07:55

As mentioned above, some buyers (not all, most are genuine) will try all the tricks you can think of. Be honest with your advert, listing any issues and confident that you know what you are selling. If any 'funny business' starts, just pull the rug by saying how sorry you are but you couldn't possibly sell the vehicle with the aledged fault.

Sellers don't expect this and their immediate reaction will show whether they are being truthful or not. You can then suggest that they might like to double check the fault, just to be certain, and whether they wish to proceed further ?

You might be surprised at just how many 'issues' disappear when the seller takes control and decides whether to sell or not.

4th January 2022, 19:53	#1
euro44 Avid contributor mg zt-t 226th made from total of 396 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: chelmsford Posts: 155 Thanks: 175 Thanked 55 Times in 37 Posts	warning about possible scam A potential buyer when inspecting my car held up an oil covered finger ( after apparently dipping it in the coolant header tank) and suggested HGF, and maybe I would like to reduce the price agreed. Knowing in the 2years I have owned the car its never used oil or coolant and had both replaced during the summer service, I cancelled the sale and had it stripped down by a rover/mg specialist. he found the head gasket to be perfect, all the water pipes and passages clean with no oil traces but there was clean !!!!! oil in the part of the expansion tank immediately under the cap. So a new set of gaskets following a pressure test and head skim and an unwanted bill for the work. I would not have believed someone could be so devious in trying to scam a few quid off the price but have passed this on so hopefully no other member gets caught, and yes I wont leave a possible buyer alone round the car again.

4th January 2022, 20:40	#2
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,955 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	It is easy to fall for such deviousness if oneself is not totally car savvy, so stay alert. That should now raise your selling price with evidence of your new costs and work carried out. Good luck. However, I would not bother taking any more work to your "specialist". Last edited by planenut; 4th January 2022 at 20:42..

5th January 2022, 01:36	#4
The Rovering Member I really should get out more....... Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: London Posts: 2,958 Thanks: 263 Thanked 538 Times in 431 Posts	I think l would have investigated the header tank myself before taking it to a garage for a partial strip-down. And l would also have thought that the garage should have spotted the subterfuge before carrying out the unnecessary work. __________________ Reducing the size of my Rover fleet by adding a 75 to it.

5th January 2022, 07:55	#6
Sonic ZS Posted a thing or two 75 Conn CDT Tourer, 75 Conn SE V6, 75 Conn V6, 75 Conn CDTi Tourer, ZS 180 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Devon Posts: 1,986 Thanks: 1,287 Thanked 963 Times in 534 Posts	As mentioned above, some buyers (not all, most are genuine) will try all the tricks you can think of. Be honest with your advert, listing any issues and confident that you know what you are selling. If any 'funny business' starts, just pull the rug by saying how sorry you are but you couldn't possibly sell the vehicle with the aledged fault. Sellers don't expect this and their immediate reaction will show whether they are being truthful or not. You can then suggest that they might like to double check the fault, just to be certain, and whether they wish to proceed further ? You might be surprised at just how many 'issues' disappear when the seller takes control and decides whether to sell or not. __________________

4th January 2022, 21:17	#3
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 14,928 Thanks: 1,630 Thanked 3,032 Times in 2,181 Posts	Some years ago I was selling my daughters Daewoo Matiz for her. When the chap looked under the bonnet he told me the head gasket had failed. I know where the head is and what is above and below it. The leak was the rocker cover gasket. macafee2

5th January 2022, 06:49	#5
SCP440 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Witney Posts: 2,504 Thanks: 6 Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts	Buyers will try all the tricks to reduce the price, when we were selling the Wife's Mini one of the potential buyers reckoned the clutch was slipping, and needed £500 off the price because it is such a big job. I refused and we ended up letting the daughter in law have it and after 6 months and several thousand miles there is no sign of any clutch problems.