Would a dealer get uppity?
Discussion
Have to agree that it is worth having a scanner with you.
In the family we have 4 VAG cars and the favorite on TDI's is boost issues which dont show up a EM light, but will show up on a scanner. Also on the 1.8T the various sensors that dont effect the drive but will need sorting out show up on the scan rather than on a EM light.
I took mine when I bough the A4 and asked to use it. The dealer had no problem, with it.
Tried it before and after a test drive to check it all out.
I would do it again too if the next car worked with it.
In the family we have 4 VAG cars and the favorite on TDI's is boost issues which dont show up a EM light, but will show up on a scanner. Also on the 1.8T the various sensors that dont effect the drive but will need sorting out show up on the scan rather than on a EM light.
I took mine when I bough the A4 and asked to use it. The dealer had no problem, with it.
Tried it before and after a test drive to check it all out.
I would do it again too if the next car worked with it.
I've used Vag-Com on previous Audi's which meant I walked away from the deal.
Current barge is a E60 with 145k. DPF on 5 series has approximate life of 120k unless thermostats starts to fail and coolant temp drops. No warning on dash but the DPF never regenerates so it blocks requiring £1.5k to fix. For £43 you can read all the fault codes, reset plus read off live data of all modules on the car, not just engine. Scanner told me the engine coolant temp was averaging 68 degrees so the DPF would never re-generate, replaced 3 x thermostats and 10k miles later all is well. Hopefully no big bills in the short term.
BMW C110 Scanner
You check bodywork, service history etc when buying a car; why not the electronics?
Current barge is a E60 with 145k. DPF on 5 series has approximate life of 120k unless thermostats starts to fail and coolant temp drops. No warning on dash but the DPF never regenerates so it blocks requiring £1.5k to fix. For £43 you can read all the fault codes, reset plus read off live data of all modules on the car, not just engine. Scanner told me the engine coolant temp was averaging 68 degrees so the DPF would never re-generate, replaced 3 x thermostats and 10k miles later all is well. Hopefully no big bills in the short term.
BMW C110 Scanner
You check bodywork, service history etc when buying a car; why not the electronics?
POORCARDEALER said:
DocArbathnot said:
POORCARDEALER said:
Yes, very.
The thing is if it gives someone the confidence to buy why not? Just like when they bring WILF.
spats said:
POORCARDEALER said:
I may put my own scanner on a car if I felt so inclined, but any herbert plugging their computer into MY vehicles. No
But as long as yuo are willing to plug your unit in, it deso the same for the customer as plugging theirs in.(I have only been asked twice ever)
Motorrad said:
POORCARDEALER said:
however someone coming in off the street to buy £4K's worth of Mondeo diesel wanting to plug computers into it prior to buying it, the answer is no.
(I have only been asked twice ever)
What have you to lose in that scenario other than a potential sale?(I have only been asked twice ever)
LayZ said:
Howard- said:
Out of interest, faults such as?
Overboosting, loss of signal on most systems (this is an early Touran which are CANBUS), aux heater failure, cooling fan failure, ABS loss of signal, list goes on and on!It showed the rear electric window was not working sometimes (it's a bit temperamental), rear door tweeter was open circuit (it was built without one!) and the auto lights/rain sensor had died at one point. Also shows the mileage that the faults appeared.
POORCARDEALER said:
There comes a point where I have to decide what I think is reasonable...In my mind its not on the above, so I would nicely say no...
Why though?Is it because you don't have the opportunity to do this check when you're buying your stock in? Therefore it increases the chance of a fault being detected whilst it's in your ownership? (I.e. you didn't get a discount for the fault when you bought it so it would be best not to give a buyer a discount for the fault when you sold it?)
Not a dig, as I said before, I respect your position I just want to understand why, if you're willing to share.
mrmr96 said:
POORCARDEALER said:
There comes a point where I have to decide what I think is reasonable...In my mind its not on the above, so I would nicely say no...
Why though?Is it because you don't have the opportunity to do this check when you're buying your stock in? Therefore it increases the chance of a fault being detected whilst it's in your ownership? (I.e. you didn't get a discount for the fault when you bought it so it would be best not to give a buyer a discount for the fault when you sold it?)
Not a dig, as I said before, I respect your position I just want to understand why, if you're willing to share.
ModernAndy said:
Dr Interceptor said:
I'd tell you to do one.
It'd be akin to the ones who walk into my shop, pick something up, scan the barcode on their phone and compare the price to what's online, then ask me to match it. No.
It's not quite the same. It's more like taking an X-ray machine to a can of beans to figure out how many are in there.It'd be akin to the ones who walk into my shop, pick something up, scan the barcode on their phone and compare the price to what's online, then ask me to match it. No.
Anyway, if doing this is that important then why not just go round to a dealer and see?
FFS if you paid for a vehicle inspection, you'd at least hope they'd plug a modern ECU controlled one into a diagnostics machine. On a rational level why would you consider inspecting less fully if you are carrying out the inspection yourself?
POORCARDEALER said:
There comes a point where I have to decide what I think is reasonable...In my mind its not on the above, so I would nicely say no...
I just wonder why it isn't reasonable. Not something I've ever asked to do myself but it seems no different to a careful inspection. Likewise I fail to see how a 5 minute scan is 'wasting time'. I have a feeling car dealers would prefer it if you just turned up, got raped on your trade in, paid the full asking price without even looking at the car and then just f
ked off never to be heard from again.Motorrad said:
POORCARDEALER said:
There comes a point where I have to decide what I think is reasonable...In my mind its not on the above, so I would nicely say no...
I just wonder why it isn't reasonable. Not something I've ever asked to do myself but it seems no different to a careful inspection. Likewise I fail to see how a 5 minute scan is 'wasting time'. I have a feeling car dealers would prefer it if you just turned up, got raped on your trade in, paid the full asking price without even looking at the car and then just f
ked off never to be heard from again.If it deosnt suit a particular customer, thats unfortunate, but they are free to buy elsewhere.
Bottom line is I dont allow customers to plug their computers into my cars.
Poorcardealer said he wouldn't let someone plug a computer in, and I think that's fair. A computer can write all manner of dodgy stuff to a car, as well as read it off. A phone can also write, but it won't be running hooky OEM software that can do serious damage. So I can see why you'd say no to it.
It seems to work, I gather he's not losing much business from saying no.
It seems to work, I gather he's not losing much business from saying no.
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