Total flop on my car

My recent sales dealings with King of Cars has not been a very good experience.

This is in regards to a Black 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4TSI 4Motion REG: ZRZ803GP that my wife and I purchased from them on the 22 April 2017. The car was not owned for too long before we picked up an obvious problem with the engine where the car even went into limp mode (EPC & engine light were illuminated) and lost all power. King of Cars saw to the car by means of a onsite workshop, a problem was picked up and sorted out apparently because of bad coil packs. We appreciated the gesture of a loan vehicle in the time we had no car. When we got the car back it seemed to be all fine and besides for the odd jerking of the car while driving it was fine. The car then started to behave in the same way as it did the first time, I found this very odd because did we not, have this problem sorted out the first time.

I called the dealership and advised that the problem was back yet again, to which they said I could have it checked by a friend at Oettinger because I know the mechanics there. When the vehicle was put on a diagnostics system, they immediately picked up a bad misfire on cylinder 3. Not to mention all the other engine parts that were loose sometimes even missing some and other all bolts that they needed for mounting. I advised you of their report, to which the car was then returned to the dealership for them to do diagnostics and follow other procedures required to have it sorted. We again received a loan vehicle 10 August 2017. We received numerous calls from our tracking company “Cartrack” that the battery was in and out of the vehicle.

I took their call 31 August 2017 to which I was given the news that the engine would need to be rebuilt because of numerous problems. To me this means that the vehicle should have been sorted out within the probation period because when the car returned the first time it was in the 30 day period. A bill of R35000.00 was quoted and they paid for the full repair that took place at Heidelberg Brake & Clutch by a mechanic by the name of Johan. The repair on the vehicle was done which took almost 3 months, when we got the car back the car seemed fine and drove somewhat all right. Yes I travelled with the vehicle in excess of 7000kms in the time we had it back but then a coolant warning light came on. I immediately advised the mechanic that they sent the car to of the problem , he advised just drive the car and keep the coolant topped and drive it till I could get it to him. When the car was returned to the mechanic the radiator had to be replaced because of a hole in it but nothing further was checked and the coolant light problem persisted. I called him and this time our conversation was not a friendly one because he automatically jumped and said if there is anything wrong with the motor it was not his fault.

I then proceeded to take the car to a more qualified mechanic in Menlyn close to my work place and they did a diagnosis and the head gasket had blown and I then forked out a R20000 to have it repaired. This was only a small part of the problem turns out the mechanic from Heidelberg and clutch used the incorrect silicon(black) which had broken off in the sumo and pretty much totalled the motor. We even sent them videos and pictures to which they denied they used the incorrect silicon.

I am now in a situation where we are now stuck with a car that need yet another engine rebuild and the dealership nor the mechanic are taking responsibly for the situation. A business deal gone wrong with a popular dealership and a mechanic that is clearly not sufficient in his work.