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British Columbia Lawyer’s BMW Oil Change Lawsuit Ends in Loss

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Published by:

David Johnson

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Reviewed by:

Alistair Vigier

Last Modified: 2023-05-12

There has been a BMW oil change lawsuit filed in BC. A lawyer from Vernon, Canada finds himself defeated in his tireless pursuit of justice and compensation. It all began with a routine oil change. Andrew Powell, a lawyer and the proud owner of a 2009 BMW X5 went needed to get his vehicle serviced.

He placed his trust in WBC Holdings, operating under the name Great Canadian Oil Change. Andrew Powell handed over his beloved BMW X5, unaware of the impending turmoil. This oil change would end in a lawsuit.

According to Andrew Powell, WBC had committed a grave error by neglecting to replace an oil filter cap insert, an oversight that resulted in extensive damage to various components of his cherished BMW. Seeking solace and financial reparation, Powell requested a compensation amount exceeding $5,000, an amount that reflected the exorbitant cost of repairs and engine cleaning.

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Great Canadian Oil Change opposed Powell’s claim, adamantly denying any responsibility for the financial burden associated with the damages. The company argued that the issues plaguing Powell’s BMW X5 were pre-existing, bearing no correlation to their meticulous oil change service. Additionally, they refuted the claim of misplacing vital oil filter cap components.

Powell vividly recounted the heart-wrenching moment when the ominous check engine light first illuminated on that fateful day. Overwhelmed by panic and concern, he promptly sought assistance from his trusted mechanic at Affordable Auto Repair.

To his dismay, the resulting invoice presented him with a staggering amount of $2,508, accompanied by detailed notes explicitly linking the adverse consequences to WBC’s ill-fated oil change.

British Columbia Lawyer’s BMW Oil Change Lawsuit

Convinced beyond doubt of the cause-and-effect relationship, Powell relived this nightmare a few months later when the dreaded check engine light made its unwelcome return. Once again, AAR came to the rescue, providing another invoice, this time totalling a daunting $3,865.

With a meticulous eye for automotive intricacies, the skilled technician at AAR, possessing the coveted red seal certification, delved deep into the heart of the matter. Carefully documenting the engine error codes and listening intently to Powell’s detailed account of the recent oil change, a crucial discovery was made.

It was revealed that the oil filter cap, a component of utmost importance responsible for directing the flow of oil, was inexplicably absent. Without this vital element, unfiltered engine oil had freely bypassed the filter, circulating through the system and posing a significant risk of potential damage.

BMW Oil Change Lawsuit

WBC stood firm in their denial, maintaining that they neither removed nor neglected to replace the oil filter cap, instead suggesting that it must have already been missing prior to their involvement. Their defence relied on a note from their oil change invoice, which explicitly mentioned the observation of “heavy oil leaks beneath the oil filter on arrival.”

To support his lawsuit, Andrew Powell shared crucial information provided by the AAR staff, who asserted that every invoice they received from Great Canadian Oil Change mentioned the existence of a pre-existing oil leak. The tribunal dismissed this information as mere hearsay, refusing to accept it as valid evidence supporting Powell’s case.

In an effort to bolster Powell’s argument, a technician from AAR stepped forward, providing a testimony that shed light on a recurring issue affecting not only BMW vehicles but also those serviced by various other establishments specializing in swift oil changes.

Micah Carmody, a respected member of the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal (acting as a judge), delivered a verdict. The lawyer’s lawsuit was dismissed.

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