robert

Here's an update --- I had wanted to write this sooner but was waiting for something in writing. First, though, thanks to everyone for your support. Bishops Nissan continue to deny liability. Nissan Motors GB have assured me that the existing extended warranty on the car is unaffected. After the extended warranty expires, they will extend goodwill for a further two years. Very specifically, I won't be paying for the engine to be replaced if it dies as a result of Bishops' handiwork. I'm very happy with the sympathetic and supportive response from Nissan GB. There remains no perceptible difference in the way that the car runs; given that the oil pressure warning light didn't come on at the time of the problem, I think it's most likely escaped unharmed. Even so, I have another four years in which consequent problems should be resolved without too much bother. From a legal perspective, after talking to the OFT (whom I believe passed on a complaint to Trading Standards), then regardless of the small print, a dealer remains liable for a total of six years for the consequence of negligence. This is outlined in the Sale of Goods Act, 1982 (or so I'm told). Interestingly, for the first six months there is a "reverse burden of proof" on the dealer; i.e., if there's a problem during this time then the dealer will have to prove that it isn't liable. Seeing as I'm unlikely to keep the car until it's 7 years old, I don't have too much to worry about. Nonetheless, I feel badly bitten by the experience at Bishops Nissan, and would strongly urge anybody to take his business elsewhere.

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm currently talking to Nissan CS, to whom I've described my extreme unhapiness. I've also pointed out that not even a monkey would think that the fact that I had had a service so soon beforehand was a coincidence. At the time I thought that the suggestion that I had loosened the plug myself was merely stupid, but it now strikes me as being insulting. The lack of integrity at Bishops Nissan is staggering. You'd think that a professional-looking organisation would have the integrity to admit their mistakes as happily as they took my money. I guess now they've shown their true colour. Robert

Am I missing something? Sorry Dorian, just my suspicious nature.... Thanks for the welcome; I have actually lurked for a while. Being suspicious is fair enough. Assuming that I can figure out how to post images, here are pictures of: 1. Hole where the sump plug should be. Apologies for the poor quality --- I stuck my arm under the sump with the car jacked up and aimed the camera blind. 2. Recovery vehicle's report citing missing sump plug 3. Service invoice from 20/12/06 I hope these pictures answer your doubts!

To cut a long story short, I had my Z serviced at Bishops Nissan in Guildford on 20/12/06; on 20/1/07 I came off the M25 to see white smoke everywhere. Oil pressure was low, but there was no warning light. I stopped pretty damn quickly and saw a nice pool of oil collect under the car. The immediate cause of the problem was a missing sump plug. Whilst waiting for the car recovery people to do their thing, I checked out my garage. Sure enough, a small patch of oil had soaked into the carpet. My car parking spot at work also has a little bit of oil there too. Once the car was returned to Bishops Nissan, they filled the engine with oil and started it up. The engine sounded fine, and the car seemed (and still seems) unaffected by the experience. I, however, am not unaffected. Astonishingly, the service manager suggested that I had loosened the sump plug myself. This barely deserves a response, but you can imagine that loosening the sump plug isn't the first thing I do following a service. Next, the service manager suggested that someone else might have done it instead. He must live in a rough area if he thinks someone would break into my (7ft) garage, jack the car up and loosen a sump plug...so soon after a service. In fairness, the service manager at first offered to pride a written guarantee of the worthiness of the engine to provide peace of mind. However, he later said that the dealer principal had intervened to prevent him from doing this. This seems to have nothing to do with Nissan GB, and Bishops' insist that they're not responsible. So, all that remains for me to do is to thank Bishops for their offer of a free service as a gesture of good will. I think I'll decline. robert