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This is pretty much par for the course with used up euro cars on buy here pay here car lots esp at this price point. I get this vibe after watching that news video that no matter what this car was a bad mistake.
While test driving, it is good to connect an OBD reader to detect any codes, or take it to a mechanic and have it completely checked out. Caution if the dealer says they already checked everything out and present a checklist. That is to deter you from having it inspected.
The question is : who put the tape there? Was it the dealer or the previous owner, and how do you prove it?
It could even be worser. Most cars on used car lots come from dealer only used car auctions. Where do those cars originally come from? Other dealers. So who actually put the electrical tape on the dash? So who put the tape on? The first owner? The last owner? The trade-in dealer? The auction purchase dealer?
$18,000 for an engine? If this is true then all of those buying a used German car might think again.
Is it the responsibility of all used car dealers to look closely at dash to see if there is any tape anywhere? Are all used car dealers responsible to connect to OBDII to check for problems? Is that written in law someplace?
So who held the gun to the head of the buyer and prevented him from having an independent
technician perform a pre-purchase inspection?
MOST, (but not all) faults that trigger a check engine light will not lead to total engine failure.
And, we don't know who put the tape over the light, but had the car been inspected by the dealer they should have noticed the light did not illuminate with key on, engine off bulb check.
Plenty of blame to go around.
Don in Austin
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