Disappointed and sad and frustrated customer

I bought a 2021 Aygo car for R118,500 in cash. After driving it home, everything seemed fine until the engine light came on. I asked a petrol attendant, and he said it was a service signal. We bought a service kit, but then discovered that parts of the engine were broken. We suspected the car might have been in an accident, but DEKRA didn't find anything wrong. Here are the issues we found: sludge in the engine, a broken water reservoir, a broken air filter, and the engine light on. I raised these concerns with We Buy Cars, and they asked if I wanted the car fixed or returned. I chose to have it repaired, so they told me to take it to an RMI-accredited mechanic, which I did. They needed to open the car to provide a quote. I agreed since CAR CARE CLINIC is one of their representatives. They found that the top gasket pistons weren't functioning, which is why the car was using too much oil.

I provided We Buy Cars with the quote, but they told me they don't work with the service provider I chose, and they never gave me a list of their approved mechanics. I selected my own, as it was nearby, and they said that they would approve the repair within 24 to 48 hours. They even contacted the service provider to assure them that they would pay for it, and they escalated the matter for approval.

However, they later changed their mind and asked who authorized the car to be opened. The service provider said it was me, based on the RMI accreditation. After a couple of days, I received a message saying my request was declined. They sent me a letter stating that I violated section 56 of the Consumer Act by "repairing" my car without their permission. But the car was only inspected by RMI professionals, and I did not actually repair anything.

Now, my car is in pieces because of the inspection and cannot be driven. If I don't continue with them, they will charge me storage fees, so I had to tow the car back home. They also sent me the contract and said I should have inspected the car before buying it. However, how can I open the engine while at their premises to check for these issues? I know it’s a second-hand car, but I deserve to drive it happily for more than just three days before facing engine problems. I am not convinced that DEKRA did a thorough job in detecting the engine issue. I need help getting We Buy Cars to either give me a refund or replace the car. Right now, it's not drivable, and the service provider said they cannot use the same damaged parts again. I'm spending a lot of money trying to fix the engine so I can return the car.We Buy Cars should have communicated with me by providing the list of RMI institutions they work with. I even informed them that I was waiting for the quote after they followed up with me. They could have stopped me at any point and clarified the situation, but instead, they **** about not dealing with my chosen service provider. Why are they making this so difficult for me with my car? They promised to pay for the repairs since the car was already taken apart, but now they claim I've voided the clause. Who is really at fault here? Is it me for not confirming with them before they opened the car, or is it them for not providing the list of approved suppliers? Their excuses don’t add up, and I really want to understand what went wrong. I am currently spending a lot of money to get the engine rebuilt so I can return the car, and I need to be reimbursed for all these expenses. I want to use this car for Uber, and since I lost my job, I really need it to support my family. Unfortunately, my situation has taken a turn for the worse because of them.