Are you a member of Which? If so, then contact them and see if they will take-up your case. If not, it might be worth joining and then asking them to take-up your case - this is the sort of thing they delight in for case studies and publicity.

Do you have legal expenses insurance, perhaps as an add-on to your car or house insurance? IF so, check what legal actions it covers - it might cover your legal costs to launch a claim against the car dealer for the (multiple) breaches of contract. Then write to the dealer threatening to sue.

You could also threaten to write to the local paper - check if they have a consumer column that might want to use this for an article.

Finally, you could just write direct to BMW UK or even the German parent, complaining that the attitude and service received so far must surely fall well below the standards they expect of their dealers and asking them what they intend doing about it before you feel compelled to write to the press - BBC's Watchdog would be an excellent reference to make in my opinion!

Hi All

My car has just undergone over 35 days of repairs which to me has been the straw that broke the camels back. I want to reject the car and exchange or get a refund, but the dealer is refusing.
Back in April I ordered through the AUC scheme at my local BMW dealer a 525D M Sport. The salesman was, in hindsight, a liar and a crook, and the day I was due to pick up my new car I was informed it had been sold to someone else. I had already endured expense to changes to my insurance, and paid for the Cherished Reg transfer.

For some bizarre reason I ordered another, this time a 525D SE Touring, and for more money, and with the same salesman. After a lot of hassle to confirm delivery, it eventually was delivered late on 29 April, and with the following faults:

1. Damage to LHS doors, mirors and front bumper
2. Load Cover missing
3. Safety Net missing
4. Hand book missing
5. Central locking intermittant
6. Inoperative cup holders and ash tray cover
7. Graunching noise through power steering
8. Bluetooth inoperative
9. DVD Headrests missing
10. No Fuel
11. Poor fuel economy.

The dealer promised to pick the car up, though failed twice to meet me, and it took an irate phone call from me threatening to throw keys back at them to actually pick up the car.

When I got the car back after a couple weeks, there was still damage to left door, and # 8, 9, 10 and 11 had not been fixed. I arranged to return the car again, coupled with installing Ipod connectivity at a time convenient to me.

The car suffered with random alarm soundings, until early June when it was going off early one morning! When I went to start the car, it didn't with loads of dashboard lights flashing at random intervals. Loads of locking and resetting by me failed to start it, so calling BMW assist resulted in the car being taken to the dealer.

It is now 19 July - over 35 days later, and they have told me they have changed the following:

PDC Controller
Electronic Tailgate Controller (My car does not have electronic tailgate, only button release)
Tow Bar controller
Media Unit.

Today they told me they did not replace the tailgate controller, though last week I was informed this was being especuially manufactured by BMW Germany. I have questioned this with the dealer principal as being an engineer myself, I know you cannot just quickly manufacture an electronic controller, especially one for a car that does not have that feature!!

I want a replacement or refund - how can I convince the dealer that this is the only way forward - I do not believe the car was prepared in accordance with AUC scheme, nor do i believe the car has been "fixed"!!

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

All the best, and apologies for the long post.

Matt