pre purchase inspection
Discussion
Hello all, does anybody know how long a pre purchase inspection should take at indy? Rang couple of garages regarding an e46 im looking at, both say an hours labour. I assumed (wrongly?) that it would take longer. Only ever used rac/aa in the past but decided against taking that route this time.
It depends what your definition of a pre purchase inspection is against theirs.
So you'd probably have to get the details of what they plan to do and see if it matches yours.
An hour would sound like enough time to get it on the ramp and give it a bit of a look over top and bottom with a short drive at the end. Which may not be as in depth as you would like but would show up anything obviously wrong.
If it's a specialist the value may be in them being able to compare that specific car against the dozens of others of the same model they've seen over time. At which point they need even less time to spot anything amiss as either they know exactly what the cars should drive / be like or they have a known list of weak spots they'll check directly.
So you'd probably have to get the details of what they plan to do and see if it matches yours.
An hour would sound like enough time to get it on the ramp and give it a bit of a look over top and bottom with a short drive at the end. Which may not be as in depth as you would like but would show up anything obviously wrong.
If it's a specialist the value may be in them being able to compare that specific car against the dozens of others of the same model they've seen over time. At which point they need even less time to spot anything amiss as either they know exactly what the cars should drive / be like or they have a known list of weak spots they'll check directly.
Would like to give a thumbs up to Mark and John at Mark Purcell Oxford. Took the car to them this week for ppi and it didn't take them long at all to highlight serious issues. It would have been an extremely costly mistake going ahead with the purchase. Helpful, knowledgable guys, would recommend.
I paid an hours labour plus vat, £66. Money well spent.
The AA charges vary, depending on whether it's a basic check or comprehensive, also on engine size. For example, a comprehensive check on a 2.5 for a non member would be around £254. Over 2501cc and it goes up to £305. I imagine the RAC are similar to the AA, i.e expensive!
The AA charges vary, depending on whether it's a basic check or comprehensive, also on engine size. For example, a comprehensive check on a 2.5 for a non member would be around £254. Over 2501cc and it goes up to £305. I imagine the RAC are similar to the AA, i.e expensive!
I've always wondered about this sort of inspection and have a few questions.
How did you pursuade the seller to take an iffy car to an indy for a pre sale check? Why were you not satisifed with the seller's own checks?
Who takes the liability if the indy breaks something on a car you don't own?
What did they pick up that an educated tyre kick and check of the paper work didn't?
How did you pursuade the seller to take an iffy car to an indy for a pre sale check? Why were you not satisifed with the seller's own checks?
Who takes the liability if the indy breaks something on a car you don't own?
What did they pick up that an educated tyre kick and check of the paper work didn't?
[quote=Collectingbrass]"I've always wondered about this sort of inspection and have a few questions.
How did you pursuade the seller to take an iffy car to an indy for a pre sale check"?
I just asked them. They asked me for a deposit, which I paid only after it was stipulated in writing that deposit was refundable subject to
the inspection.
They probably let me take it because, had they refused, I would have walked. Perhaps they thought I would still want the car
after the inspection and were prepared to re negotiate the price, I don't know.
"Why were you not satisifed with the seller's own checks"?
It would be foolish of me to hand over my hard earned cash solely on the word of a car dealer, without having the car checked over
myself by a mechanic who has nothing to lose or gain by my buying the car.
"Who takes the liability if the indy breaks something on a car you don't own"?
I would like to believe the indy would put it right if they broke something during an inspection. If not, I assume liability lies with the buyer. For me, the possibility of paying what was a high end price for a 10 year old e46 needing costly repairs was more of a concern than the risk of a recommended mechanic breaking something while simply looking over the car.
"What did they pick up that an educated tyre kick and check of the paper work didn't"?
I don't rate my tyre kicking skills at all when it comes to handing over £1000's of my money .
I picked up on a couple of things but needed an inspection to go over my concerns, point out what I missed, tell me what repairs were needed and
how much it would cost to have the car put right how i'd want it.
Data check was clear, paperwork looked fine to me, however garage noticed there was no indication in service book relating to coolant change.
Issues included water ingress/excessive condensation inside boot and all light lenses, which wasn't noticed the first time I viewed the car.
Break pipes were bent, rear arm bushes perished, front anti roll bar corroded, radiator leak, original battery and coolant expansion tank fitted which
would need replacing, front rubber coupling and blanking hose both split, etc etc........
Tbh, I switched off after seeing the excessive rust underbody and on rear wheel arches and the condensation.
The car will be a money pit for whoever buys it, i.e. a person who doesn't look underneath or, like myself, has someone look for them.
How did you pursuade the seller to take an iffy car to an indy for a pre sale check"?
I just asked them. They asked me for a deposit, which I paid only after it was stipulated in writing that deposit was refundable subject to
the inspection.
They probably let me take it because, had they refused, I would have walked. Perhaps they thought I would still want the car
after the inspection and were prepared to re negotiate the price, I don't know.
"Why were you not satisifed with the seller's own checks"?
It would be foolish of me to hand over my hard earned cash solely on the word of a car dealer, without having the car checked over
myself by a mechanic who has nothing to lose or gain by my buying the car.
"Who takes the liability if the indy breaks something on a car you don't own"?
I would like to believe the indy would put it right if they broke something during an inspection. If not, I assume liability lies with the buyer. For me, the possibility of paying what was a high end price for a 10 year old e46 needing costly repairs was more of a concern than the risk of a recommended mechanic breaking something while simply looking over the car.
"What did they pick up that an educated tyre kick and check of the paper work didn't"?
I don't rate my tyre kicking skills at all when it comes to handing over £1000's of my money .
I picked up on a couple of things but needed an inspection to go over my concerns, point out what I missed, tell me what repairs were needed and
how much it would cost to have the car put right how i'd want it.
Data check was clear, paperwork looked fine to me, however garage noticed there was no indication in service book relating to coolant change.
Issues included water ingress/excessive condensation inside boot and all light lenses, which wasn't noticed the first time I viewed the car.
Break pipes were bent, rear arm bushes perished, front anti roll bar corroded, radiator leak, original battery and coolant expansion tank fitted which
would need replacing, front rubber coupling and blanking hose both split, etc etc........
Tbh, I switched off after seeing the excessive rust underbody and on rear wheel arches and the condensation.
The car will be a money pit for whoever buys it, i.e. a person who doesn't look underneath or, like myself, has someone look for them.
Edited by caramba on Thursday 29th January 10:32
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