- Victor Karanja shared a video detailing how a BMW he bought from a luxury dealership began showing defects just days after he drove it home
- Despite repeated visits to the dealership, the influencer says staff kept dismissing his concerns and assuring him the issues were minor
The car eventually suffered a catastrophic breakdown, leaving him stranded and facing a massive repair bill
Source: Instagram
Victor Karanja is facing a KSh 700,000 bill after a BMW he purchased from a luxury car dealership in Kenya deteriorated from a series of nagging faults into a full engine failure in under two years.
In a selfie-style video posted on Thursday, October 22, the content creator walked his followers through the ordeal.
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Victor Karanja’s BMW ordeal
Karanja explained that after a painful experience with his previous car, he decided to start fresh.
He visited what he described as a trusted luxury dealership and settled on a BMW 523, paying 60% upfront with the remaining 40% in instalments.
The listing on the dealership's website stated the vehicle had zero defects, and he even brought his own mechanic to inspect it before completing the purchase.
When the mechanic connected the car to a diagnostic computer, it flagged numerous errors. The dealership's staff reportedly told him not to worry and promised to clear everything before the handover.
He drove off, and within three days the car reeked of fuel. Oil leaks followed, then coolant leaks from a cracked expansion tank, and throughout all of it, every acceleration was accompanied by a lurching sensation that mechanics eventually identified as a cylinder-two misfire.
Each time he returned to the dealership, he says, the response was the same: a small fix, a dismissal, and a request to monitor the situation.
Things took a dramatic turn after the car went through flooding. The dealership flushed the vehicle and declared it fine. But roughly two months later, while driving near the Australian Embassy in Nairobi, Karanja heard what he described as a loud gunshot-like bang.
Smoke poured from under the bonnet, oil spilt onto the road, and security guards from the embassy rushed over. He waited over an hour for a flatbed tow truck. The verdict: a piston had blown out, shattering the engine block.
The car has since sat at the dealership for about three months while repair talks crawled along. Karanja says the dealer has suggested the flood may have caused the damage, but mechanics he consulted elsewhere pointed the finger squarely at the long-running misfire.
"This is a cautionary tale," he said. "If you're going to buy a car, just make sure even if you're paying from the most trusted luxury car dealer, make sure you have a thorough check."
His followers flooded the comments with sympathy and shared experiences:
@talliaoyando:
"You're giving me PTSD because I have suffered."
@tileh_pacbro:
"Bro! Same case! I feel you."
@_iammercynganga_:
"Do you give this many chances in relationships?"
@4real.ke:
"Very sad. Pole sana."
@nkiro_muriungi:
"As soon as that computer showed all the red errors at the start. Didn't the violins start playing?"
Why was Victor Karanja barred from entering Strathmore University?
In other news, Karanja sparked online discussions after revealing he was asked to remove his earrings before entering Strathmore University.
He said the request surprised him, having visited various companies and NGOs without facing similar restrictions.
However, Karanja chose to comply, explaining that personal pride should not hinder his education and future ambitions.
Source: TUKO.co.ke