1 Month In & Sadly Bit Disappointed

[AleXc90]

Looks like I am going to have to get tough with my Volvo Dealership.
I have owned this car 1 month and 1 week and have had nothing but odd little problems crop up and I thought Volvo was big on there second hand 100 point check or whatever it is.
I have to say I am little bit disappointed as it is by no means a old banger car.
It is a 58 MY2009 with 45000 on the clock.
First thing I noticed when I bought it and collected it the fuel flap didn't lock and the boot release was faulty.
I also felt the ride felt a bit strange so thought I would check my tyres as from the posts I read that eco mode helps tyre wear and gives better fuel so took them to be pumped and found the majority of them were at 25.
I also noticed that half the interior lights wouldn't work.
So booked the car in and they were good enough to sort that out it was the boot release needed oiling as it wasn't releasing properly, as soon as that was sorted all the interior lights started working properly.
The Fuel Flap Motor had to be booked in and replaced which they did do.
Now after reading about the Pirelli Tyres and they can be a bit iffy if the tracking hasn't been looked after, so book my car in to be checked.
I have actually put a separate post on here about that, the factor I was told it was slightly out and because I had the car only a month they would do it for me for £80 instead of £120, quite honestly as a good will gesture I think they should sort this out for me, especially as I got 1 years warranty with my car.
They tell me when I asked them though it is general wear and tear and there is no saying whether it was like this before.
I have also noticed there is a little pull off flap near the bonnet release, low down from underneath the steering wheel, not sure what it is, but it was sitting on the floor when I went to my Car, when I looked to see where it had come from and saw the little hole to place it back, it doesn't appear to fit right and looks almost like there is a piece missing or the clip on the flap is broken, but not sure.
Now today I know the weather and dirt and things can upset sensors and stuff like the blis systems and the parking sensors and they say things like give them a quick wipe.
However today my parking sensors seem to have packed up on me.
Whenever I put the car into the reverse they just scream at me as if someone is standing behind the car.
I know this is an added bonus and not to relied on, but after 1 months of ownership I have to say I am a little bit fed up and disappointed to be having so many niggles crop up when they are suppose to be so thorough.
I have to say I am beginning to think to myself were the checks really done at all.
Obviously I can't put the actual blame on the garage as I don't know who actually did the checks, as the car actually came from another one of there dealerships in another area, so it could have been them that should have done the checks I don't know.
I'm sorry if I sound whingy but I obviously don't want to antagonise them, but I do wonder whether I should take this further and say I am not very happy with this and I would like the checks re-done and can I have a go that the tracking should be done at the same time.
Obviously like a lot of these dealerships, they see a girl and thing ahh she doesn't know anything or that I am going to be an easy touch, but I am born red head, does anyone think I am justified to have a bit of a go at the Guy who actually sold me this and say I think some explaining is needed here and whether that is better going with him, than taking it to the service guys at the dealership who obviously want me to pay out for the tracking.
Any advice would be gratefully appreciated and sorry about the whine.
Just obviously have spent a lot of money out in this last month.

[OvlovS70]

Hello,
I would get back onto your supply dealer and tell them what you have said here. I wouldn't say it's whinging at-all, you want things to be right, naturally.
Despite the fact it came from another garage in their dealership, they are part of one family and should put it right.
Just watch that red headed temper
Go firm but fair and let them know how you feel. If it were me,I'd be disappointed too, and i'm sure others will agree.
With regards to your sensors, don't feel like they are just extras, they are part of your car and should be working, everything should be.
Cheers

[A lex]

You sound disappointed and thats understandable.

You also do sound a little bit whingy - sorry!

The time to spot and rectify defects is before taking the vehicle out of the showroom, but thats a lesson learnt I guess.

It sounds as though they have fixed the boot release and fuel flap - so fair is fair. The fuel flap is a very common problem.

Tracking - as the dealership mentioned, its not a warranty item and who is to say (from their point of view) that you didnt whack it up a kerb or down a pothole after you drove it out of the dealership. Personally, id pay the £80 to a trusted independent tracking specialist rather than letting the dealership do it.

BLIS - it even says in the user manual they can be upset by dirt and low sun - chalk it up to experience.

Parking sensors - again, in wet and dirty conditions they can get upset. Mine are the same. Road grime will interfere with their operation.

None of the above issues sound terrible...... its far from an old banger, but its also far from a new car - 45k miles is not a lot, but its coming up 6yrs old now. You can not expect a new car for a 2nd hand car price IMO.

Please dont think im admonishing you, rather im just trying to adjust your take on the reality of it a little bit. Stay friendly with your dealership, ask them fairly but firmly to take a look at any issues you think it may have, but also keep your sensible head on.

If there are any permanent faults with either the BLIS or Parking sensors, it will be logged in the computer and the codes can be read. If its a temporary issue down to dirt etc, then of course there will be nothing stored.

Hope that helps!

[volvorocks]

Originally Posted by AleXc90

I'm sorry if I sound whingy but I obviously don't want to antagonise them, but I do wonder whether I should take this further and say I am not very happy with this and I would like the checks re-done and can I have a go that the tracking should be done at the same time.
Obviously like a lot of these dealerships, they see a girl and thing ahh she doesn't know anything or that I am going to be an easy touch, but I am born red head, does anyone think I am justified to have a bit of a go at the Guy who actually sold me this and say I think some explaining is needed here and whether that is better going with him, than taking it to the service guys at the dealership who obviously want me to pay out for the tracking.
Any advice would be gratefully appreciated and sorry about the whine.
Just obviously have spent a lot of money out in this last month.

Ok cars will from time to time have various faults but quite simply you have paid a large sum of money for a relatively new car and quite rightly you expect it to work properly.

I would be firm and fair with them, without getting het up. It is always best to remain relaxed even if you feel annoyed by staff. Best to write everything down and present the dealer with the list of issues. Rather than asking if they wiill sort it, kind of tell them you expect all outstanding issues to be sorted, and quickly. It is all about being cool, calm, firm, fair, yet assertive.

With big ticket items, if I have any issues and I do not receive a satisfactory result from initial verbal comms, I generally send the seller a letter outlining my expectations.

Regards

[bobdabuilda]

As mentioned by volvorocks I'd put it all in writing and send it to the head honcho of the dealership explaining exactly what you want in terms of their actions to rectify matters to your satisfaction. If they don't comply then the next action is discussing it with the local trading standards office or CAB with a view to small claims court if necessary.
The issues you mention are commonplace but nonetheless should be rectified under their warranty period which I'm guessing is around 3-12 months if you used a dealership?
The reverse sensors problem you mention sounds like an issue I had with my 07MY ie whenever it rained the damn things would just emit a continuous beep when reverse was engaged. They 'cleaned' the already clean sensors several times before admitting that it was a loom fault which I believe is a recognised problem and down to a faulty batch of looms.....

Good luck, keep calm but stay firm and focussed!

[AleXc90]

Thanks for the advice everyone.
I have taken a note of everything, everyone has said.
Will write down the notes of the problems have occurred and phone up the guy that sold the car to me and explain the problems and see what he says.
He seems a genuinely decent guy and he knew how excited I was to be getting the Car and said he was most jealous as it is a car they don't get an opportunity to get, as obviously they can't get that high up a company car.
So will keep my head the best I can and explain to him my feelings and take it from there.
I am very grateful that the Car came with 12 months warranty so it does give me 12 months to find all the niggles out and get them sorted.
I know it's not a brand new car and all car's have niggles at some point in time.
However it is an expensive Car from a reputable Dealership, not some fly by night Dealership and if a 100 point check has been done, small things like the boot release should have been noticed, even he remarked I can't believe I didn't notice that.
So that's what I need to do, will ring him up on Monday, explain my feelings, say how many problems have cropped up since owning the Car as again he sees me every time I go and remarks here again, so definitely think he's one to start with and take it from there.
Thank you for the advice and I will keep the red head hidden away for the moment in time

[Ninja59]

In bluntness I have found the majority of times these 100 point checks to be a load of cobblers in so many ways.

Overall I agree on the parking sensors, BLIS and this trim issue. On the parking sensors and BLIS I know from personal experience that BLIS cameras can be freakish things just going into complete fault mode sometimes our have been replaced once. Parking sensors the same.

The alignment though you won't win that is definitely one in my view that you should take the hit on, heck mine was out and I agree with the dealership and what has been said.

I also agree with what VR has said write everything down be firm and fair, also sometimes I have found if you say that I know X or Y is out/not quite right, and it won't be covered by such and such it makes you look as though you are understanding and give a little bit even though in reality you are giving actually very little.

It worked for me with the MX5 with a niggle with the foglights needing changing I said well you can have the foglights I want the blanking plates back...amazingly that soon got things rolling, it also got the ball rolling when I had another small job I wanted doing that involved about £35 .

[AleXc90]

Thanks Ninja,
I am all ready and prepared for tomorrow