Cupra unfixable bulb warning light? HELP REQUIRED

Feb 8, 2019
4
1
Okay, so the story goes I put a deposit down on a 2014 Seat Ibiza Cupra.

All was going well, until I got a phone call from the dealer, saying there's a bulb warning light on.
Initially, they said it's fine and easily fixable (fine) and said it's because of the front headlight light bulb.

A few days passed and I called for a check up, they had replaced the whole right side of headlight and now the light worked fine- however, now the motor doesn't work as they've fitted a new light (as they're bi-xenon). The light now needs to be "coded" to the car. Fine.

A week later, I get a call to say they'd plugged a machine into the vehicle, sent the diagnostics off to VW etc. And they came back with a fix. They've attempted the fix, (now replaced both headlights and control units) and it's still not working. The next part they need to replace is now too expensive, and as well as that - when taking the front end off it appeared that it 'may have been messed with'. So now they will more than likely auction the vehicle off. (Fair enough) I've been speaking with the sales guy and apparently, the technicians are baffled.

The low down: Is this a common problem, has anyone experienced it before? - is there anything I can do? - is it a major issue? - Are they lying?. Should I try and bargain for it and knock it off with VCDS?
 
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RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,784
983
South Scotland
I'd think that nothing is unfixable, but just how do you plan to do that, if you are personally taking it on and doing it yourself, then you might be able to solve it at a sensible price, but unless these VW Group techs are dumb/stupid, I'd think that they should have given it their best shot - and failed.
The trouble now is, as I see it, what damage have they found/caused accidentally or what was initially wrong with that car to cause this in the first place?
Do you feel lucky and competent? If so why not take it on at a reduced price.
This could be your lucky day as it might mean missing buying an brilliant but extremely fragile Cupra with the TwinCharger engine.
 
Feb 8, 2019
4
1
I'd think that nothing is unfixable, but just how do you plan to do that, if you are personally taking it on and doing it yourself, then you might be able to solve it at a sensible price, but unless these VW Group techs are dumb/stupid, I'd think that they should have given it their best shot - and failed.
The trouble now is, as I see it, what damage have they found/caused accidentally or what was initially wrong with that car to cause this in the first place?
Do you feel lucky and competent? If so why not take it on at a reduced price.
This could be your lucky day as it might mean missing buying an brilliant but extremely fragile Cupra with the TwinCharger engine.

Appreciate your reply! They’re Bristol street motors. Not sure if they’re an actual approved garage so I’m not sure. I’m due to give them a call today and see what’s going on or what we can do.
 

R3k1355

Active Member
Oct 30, 2014
1,778
247
Yorkshire
If they think it's been 'messed with' then it kinda indicates it's probably been in a smash and bodged back together.

I'd walk away personally, I assume you're due a full and complete refund, deposits,fees and all that included..
 

jdmsx

Away washing the car
I seen your post on the ibiza facebook page! It kinda sounds like the same as upgrading the rear lights. This is my own opinion anyway...

When upgrading the rear lights from pre-facelift to the facelift LED units, you get a permanent bulb warning dash light due to the LEDs not drawing as much power and thinking that there is a blown bulb in the circuit due to the CANBUS system. This can be rectified with VCDS so they don’t show the warning error.

In your case, I believe someone has either upgraded the headlights to the DRL Bi-xenon lights which were previously non-xenon lights and now doesn’t communicate properly with the CANBUS system, or someone had a crash and replaced the front end which explains the odd front bumper and the lights have been replaced at some point for the bi-xenons or may possibly be a wiring fault triggering it.

Just my food for thought. How about doing a reg check on it and seeing if it returns back any previous category damage, but may have been replaced by the previous owner out their own pocket. Seems like it may be a lot of headache but a gamble if it’s just a case of using VCDS.
 
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RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,784
983
South Scotland
There are some people out there trying to draw together all the info on salvage auctions etc and find that most are missing from any of the checking companies that you can buy a car check service from, included was an Audi R8 selling for £110,000 which this site held pictures collected from a salvage auction site showing that it sold for £74,000 and had serious damage to the rear suspension on one side and panel damaged all down one side, that car was being sold as "Audi Approved" and I think most people would think that that means it is a clean car in every way, not so!

Edit:- now okay it had been repaired, but given a car's full history, even at £11,000 if you knew a car had been heavily damaged in an incident, and there was another that was clean at the same price, most people would avoid the repaired one. If it was being sold a lot cheaper it would be different, but this repaired R8 was being sold along similar priced other R8s - or were they all rebuilds?
 
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Feb 8, 2019
4
1
Decided to give it a miss, realised the whole front bumper was not the same as it should have been! It was instead a Toca front bumper, so it must have been in some kind of front damage. Expected better from Bristol Street, Derby.

Reg was : LL63 XYC
 
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Feb 8, 2019
4
1
Think you made the right decision mate. You’ll find taking a loss and waiting out for the right choice will almost always work out better in your favour. Hope you find another soon!

Yeah mate, it's not worth the hassle, I'd have wanted it back to original which would mean new front- hell knows what the repairers could've done too- could end up as a massive job. Just gotta wait now!
 

jdmsx

Away washing the car
Yeah mate, it's not worth the hassle, I'd have wanted it back to original which would mean new front- hell knows what the repairers could've done too- could end up as a massive job. Just gotta wait now!
You’ll be happier in the long run too. I kinda done the whole rush into buying a car with mine, slightly overpaid for my ibiza with the miles it had on it just because I needed a new car and it was there, but I didn’t let the miles put me off as I knew it’s a diesel so will go for a good while, I would service it with good oil and treat it to good parts.
 
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