Victor Karanja posted a video on 22 October describing how a BMW 523 purchased from a Nairobi luxury dealership began showing defects only days after he drove it home.

He paid 60% of the purchase price upfront and the remaining 40% in instalments, after his own mechanic inspected the car and the dealer’s website claimed the vehicle had zero defects.

During the initial inspection, the mechanic’s diagnostic computer flagged numerous errors, but dealership staff reassured Karanja that the issues were minor and would be cleared before handover.

Within three days of taking delivery, the car emitted a strong fuel smell, followed by oil and coolant leaks, and a persistent cylinder‑two misfire that caused the vehicle to lurch on acceleration.

Karanja reports that each return to the dealership resulted in a small fix and a dismissal, with staff urging him to monitor the situation rather than undertake major repairs.

After the car was flushed following a flood incident, it appeared functional, but two months later, while driving near the Australian Embassy in Nairobi, a loud bang was heard, smoke emerged from the bonnet and oil spilled onto the road.

Mechanics later identified a blown piston that shattered the engine block, leaving the vehicle stranded and requiring a tow that took over an hour to arrive.

Karanja estimates the repair bill at KSh 700,000, and the car has remained at the dealership for about three months while negotiations over the cost continue.

The dealer suggested the flood may have caused the damage, but independent mechanics consulted by Karanja attribute the failure to the long‑standing misfire.