Bought a parts car, bad tranny, looking for advice...

[BenM]

Ok, so back at the end of March this past year, I purchased an E36 325is parts car from a local vendor on BFC. I had bought an E36 M3 Front Brake Setup and Steering rack from him a few months eariler, and had a great transaction, so I felt comfortable buying a car from him. He didn't want to part the car out (even though most of the interior and exterior stuff was missing) and had it advertised for sale, stating the car "yard drove" and that the complete driveline was there. It was in a front end collision and was missing the powersteering pump, alternator, cracked oil filter housing and a few other things. Alot of other stuff was pulled prior to me receiving the car which is what I expected since I only wanted the driveline.

Fast forward to the middle of May, right before V@V, I get the car all back together and go to take it for a ride around the block and 2nd gear in the transmission is non-exsitent. I figured fuck it, find another Getrag 250 since they seem decently priced these days. Bought one from "Germancarsonly" on the board a few weeks ago and am awaiting to install it in the car, while the car is down and I figure out how to get my money back from the Vendor or at least credit for the bad tranny.

This past Monday, I sent him a nice message stating that I would like credit for the transmission since it was fubared and the car was advertised as good. Haven't heard anything yet, despite him posting on BFC. So I sent another PM, this one a little more irritated saying he needed to resolve this. I can look over the little stuff, but a transmission is a significant item.

Anyways, I won't be saying any names until it gets resolved, but I am at a loss now. The downtime (had to pull the engine to get the tranny off) and just general hassle has been not so fun. I am not the type of person to start slandering people online, but this pisses me off. I've taken losses before and people need to stand by what they sell.

Am I overreacting or does this sound appropriate? Any advice/insight/suggestions what to do would be appreciated.

-Ben

[SoopaGhetto]

the ad stated the car "yard drove" and the complete driveline was there. unless noted, the driveline shoulda been fine. come to find out its not, so the ad was incorrect. i would try to get some sort of compensation bc if he left out that information on purpose, that coulda been the difference of him making a sale, which in this case, to you.

ive gotten scammed and weaseled out of money too and that shit sucks!

you are not overreacting!

[BenM]

Thanks, I appreciate the support. I even stated that I would like be perfectly happy with credit towards some other parts to the tune of around $200, since that is what a used working Getrag 250 w/ 100K+ miles on it goes for.

I wouldn't say I've been "scammed", but it pisses me off that people, or supporting vendors for that matter, should stand by what they sell. Don't like threatening to leave negative feedback, but at the same time I want what should have been right from the get go.

[Turf1600]

I think the car was as advertised. It yard drove.

[wodcutr]

I think it all depends what you paid for the thing. If you paid top dollar for it then you have a beef. If you got the thing for $300 then you are out to lunch if you want to recover $200 in parts.

[TDE30]

That sucks man, it would have been nice if the guy would have clarified what "yard driving" consists of, as it sounds pretty sketchy to me. I guess he meant that it could be pushed around, but the motor needed attention. If you expressed to him that all you really needed was the driveline, this "vendor" should have checked to ensure all was well with every part of the driveline. The fact that the guy has gone incommunicado is very sketchy and should be a red flag to Bf.c if this guy has multiple transactions currently going on.

Best of luck though, in my opinion you are in the right on this one.

[BenM]

That sucks man, it would have been nice if the guy would have clarified what "yard driving" consists of, as it sounds pretty sketchy to me. I guess he meant that it could be pushed around, but the motor needed attention. If you expressed to him that all you really needed was the driveline, this "vendor" should have checked to ensure all was well with every part of the driveline. The fact that the guy has gone incommunicado is very sketchy and should be a red flag to Bf.c if this guy has multiple transactions currently going on.

Best of luck though, in my opinion you are in the right on this one.

I paid $825 for the car plus $100 delivery. The motor looked great too. When I pulled the valve cover off, it looked like the head was recently rebuilt, no sludge or buildup anywhere.

When I say "driveline", I mean engine, transmission and driveshaft. Those were the main pieces that I really needed.

Like I said, he is a nice guy and I had a very pleasant transaction with him prior to this, but the lack of communication bothers me. I am figuring he is either busy or just does not want to deal with an unsatisfied customer.

[newman]

IDK. If i drove a car in my yard, i probably wouldn't get out of first.

I don't think you really have a case. Vendors deal with crap all day. It would be nice if he just said "no, you're SOL" but I think you're pushing your luck.

Second may have shattered in the collision. What if it was 5th? No way that could have been checked in a yard.

I think you are unlikely to get anything back, nor do I think it's warranted...

[BenM]

I think the car was as advertised. It yard drove.

Yeah, I figured that. Another person even asked the specific question, "is the tranny in working condition" and he replied "The car was started, it yard drove". You may be right, but if he "yard drove" it, he should have disclosed the transmission issue.

[TexasTerp]

Here's my issue with all of this, if I read your statement correctly, you bought this car back in March 2008? If so I wouldn't think you really have any major ground to stand on because it took you over a year to report the problem. Now if you bought in March 2009 then you have a small chance. The car may not have been "as advertised" to your standards but what exactly does "yard drove" encompass? If it drove in every gear except 2nd, then technically it's as advertised, since at a yard there is no necessity to have all gears working as long as they can get the car around the area.

I don't think you're overreacting at all, but because of the time span issue and that I don't know what your exact conversation with the guy was, I don't really think you have a claim. You have every right to be pissed about the lack of communication and that needs to be resolved. Sorry if I rained on your parade but it seems to me there are communication errors on both sides and you screwed yourself by taking so long to report the problem.

[BenM]

IDK. If i drove a car in my yard, i probably wouldn't get out of first.

I don't think you really have a case. Vendors deal with crap all day. It would be nice if he just said "no, you're SOL" but I think you're pushing your luck.

Second may have shattered in the collision. What if it was 5th? No way that could have been checked in a yard.

I think you are unlikely to get anything back, nor do I think it's warranted...

Perhaps, but also stated in his ad that the "driveline was worth $1k+", including the transmission and diff. He pulled the diff prior to me receiving the car. With no diff and a bad tranny, how much is it worth now?

Reason being is I had no use for an E36 diff, but in retrospect, selling it would have offset the cost of the transmission I had to buy.

[BenM]

Here's my issue with all of this, if I read your statement correctly, you bought this car back in March 2008? If so I wouldn't think you really have any major ground to stand on because it took you over a year to report the problem. Now if you bought in March 2009 then you have a small chance. The car may not have been "as advertised" to your standards but what exactly does "yard drove" encompass? If it drove in every gear except 2nd, then technically it's as advertised, since at a yard there is no necessity to have all gears working as long as they can get the car around the area.

I don't think you're overreacting at all, but because of the time span issue and that I don't know what your exact conversation with the guy was, I don't really think you have a claim. You have every right to be pissed about the lack of communication and that needs to be resolved. Sorry if I rained on your parade but it seems to me there are communication errors on both sides and you screwed yourself by taking so long to report the problem.

Yes it was at the end of March 2009. I was in communcation with him since he forgot to include the MAF & boot (picked that up in the beginning of May 2009), but I didn't get my E30 back together until mid May. Technically, I only waited about 2 months to let him know, but I know what you mean. I should have stated this when I found the transmission was bad.

Appreciate the feedback.

[TDE30]

Perhaps, but also stated in his ad that the "driveline was worth $1k+", including the transmission and diff. He pulled the diff prior to me receiving the car. With no diff and a bad tranny, how much is worth now?

That's exactly the statement I would use. The guy listed the driveline as one of the major selling points, and now that you have it, half of the driveline's value is gone.

[BenM]

Before this falls into the archives, I just want to say everything is kosher.

Talked with him earlier and felt silly complaining about the transmission when I was happy with everything else. He offered me a discount off some parts I was interested in, so everything is good. Will definitely by from him again.