Hypothetical question: There are two used Mini's for sale. Identical. One has had no mechanical problems and the other had an issue where the oil leaked out and was operated without oil for an unknown period of time. It seems to drive fine, but smells of burning oil after it heats up.

How much less would you be willing to pay for the car with the engine run dry of oil? What would you do the the seller who sold you that car if it wasn't disclosed and you later found out?


Paul

 

Seriously? I wouldn't even consider buying the car that had run dry, unless it was as a parts car for components other than the engine.

 

It all depends on how much was disclosed during the sale of the car that had leaked the oil. If you just say it had an oil leak and was fixed, no big deal. If you say it had a huge oil leak and was run for an unknown amount of time then I probably would hesitate to buy it or ask for a reduced price. If you said nothing about the leak and there were no signs of an oil leak, I probably would never find out and if I did, well those things come with buying a used car, you just never know what you'll get.
It all comes down to what you're willing to live with. Can you live with getting less money but telling the truth, getting more money and telling part of the truth or still more money but not telling the truth at all.

 

I'm aware of disclosure statements when it comes to real estate transactions. I'm not aware of any rule/law about disclosure when it comes to private party used car sales. I've always believed it was a case of buyer beware. I would never buy a car that had run without oil unless the price was low enough to cover an engine transplant.

 

Run low on oil.
Smells of oil when running at operating temp.
Only one logical approach.

RUN away!!

Mini owes you a new car.

 

Hypothetically speaking, I plead the fifth.

 

Real question would be does it show up on a carfax report. I do think mini owes you at least a good deal of parts/repair credit or extended warranty

 

Danger Dan says:
"Real question would be does it show up on a carfax report."

The real question is how much integrity would you have Dan,
if this were your car to sell?.

 

I'd expect it to be disclosed, especially knowing it was a warranty issue that resulted in the car being towed to the dealer. The details of the event are a matter of record and reside in both your and the dealers's copies. I have one from my little warranty thing and so do you. As for the price thing I think I'd steer clear of it unless the car had been driven event free for at least a year or the dealer extended the warranty. My gut feeling is that it will be fine.

 

I think by the time you sell the car (assuming you keep at least a couple years) you will know weather or not any damage was done. If the car is still running strong and not burning an abnormal amount of oil I say there's nothing to worry about, no point in mentioning it during a sale other than just saying it had an oil leak from the faulty filter housing and it was fixed under warranty and mini mechanics said everything was good to go.

 

What idiot seller would disclose that there was a huge oil leak and engine ran dry? Nobody would do that. Unless you are a saint. No, even a saint wouldn't do that, he would just donate the car to a church. Okay, if I'm selling it to a friend or family, that's the only time I would disclose the details.

As long as the problem has been taken care of (although I would be so mad over this situation happening in the first place) by the dealer through warranty, I don't think it will lose any value, and seller have no reason to disclose it in such detail. I mean, it's no different than buying a used car from a dealer (including CPO) or private party through Craigslist.

 

I am that idiot. There is no chance I would sell this private party without disclosing. No, I am no saint, but I am a decent person. My getting screwed with a motor that ran without lubrication does not justify sticking someone else with that problem.

I posed the question because I was wondering how big a financial hit I will take if I sell the car. I wouldn't sell it to a private party without disclosing the fact. If I did, any harm that my come to the driver would be on my head. If not legally, then at least for certain karmically. If I unload my Mini my only shot is with a corporate buyback or take it in the shorts by selling it to a dealer.

Paul

 

As a seller, I would clean the engine compartment and the exhaust to try to get rid of any oil residue that is causing the burnt oil smell.

I would cycle an oil change and from the drained oil send a sample in for testing, to get a little more information about the health of the engine.

And I would disclose the event to any prospective buyer, the price would be adjusted slightly to offset the possibility of the new owner having to replace the engine. (What is the going price for a short block?)

As a buyer, if the rest of the car is in really good shape and I was aware of the possible engine issue I would consider the purchase depending on the way the car drove (and smelled) during the test drive. I might be using the advantage of the lower price to secure a good car knowing I could get a year out of it before I would pull and do the engine.

Wait...I have done just that... $4K for a great car lots of things to fix $4K in parts and repairs and I'm sitting on a $16K car.

But I have also been upside down... $3K for the car, 8 years later and $15K in parts and repairs and I'm sitting on a $3K car. (This is my MG)

Motor on!

 

I wonder if there is a correlation between integrity and chronology?

 

That would be the best option for you if you were to get rid of it.

 

Props to you for insisting to mention it. Personally I wouldn't unless it was causing an issue. considering it's still unclear if or for how long the motor was run dry and it was a warranty issue that mini says is fixed and good to go.

Personally, I would completely avoid the car if the seller mentioned it running dry of oil unless it had a healthy chunk of warranty left on it. Even still I would steer clear. Your best bet is taking a hit on a trade in.

 

My experience with dealers and problems of this sort: Bought a 2000 Camaro SS and drove it 1500 miles. Went to the local hobby shop to change all fluids (oil, tranny and rear end). Everything going fine until I get to the rear end differential. Open it up and no oil...came that way from the factory. I added oil and immediately took it to the dealer. They keep the car for two days and said everything was fine. But, the rear end is winning. 5K miles later, they had to take it apart and replace all seals and bearings as the seals failed.

If it's running and not smoking, they will say it is fine. But, if the engine is run any distance w/o oil, the bearings in the engine will abnormally wear and probably the rings/pistons/piston walls also. This engine may be running ok at this time; but, will not be long for this life.

Trade it to the dealer as they say its fine and when they try to short you, throw their evaluation back in their lap.

I would have explored taking them to court to replace the engine as the problem exists due to a manufacturer defect.