Actually I have a live example of what I mean.
I sold a 2008 Audi A3 2.0 TFSI with 80k on 6 weeks ago. Chap gets in contact to say he’s using/losing oil/coolant. I point out to him that even Audi themselves state these engines use oil but that doesn’t explain the coolant. I ask him to check for smoke (nothing) then to put a piece of cardboard under his engine bay for a weekend and to give me a call on Monday and if it’s leaking i’ll get him booked in to my garage for a look. He doesn’t have a formal warranty with me by the way.
He also mentions that the heater/ac blower has stopped working.
Now, in theory i could easily point this out as working on the PDI and now 6 weeks later it doesn’t. The heater blower either works or it doesn’t. It did, now it doesn’t. I’m not liable to fix this as it’s clearly a fault that has developed and the consumer has been unlucky that it’s packed up. I believe I would stand an excellent chance of winning in court based on the age/mileage and pre sale process.
I will of course, fix it for him, especially as he’s likely had an unpleasant shock at how much oil his engine uses and how he’s going to have to live with it, me fixing his blower will make him feel better.
But strictly speaking from the law side of things, i’m confident i’m Not liable.