M3 Inspection- success!

[drumo]

For the past few weeks, been looking for the perfect spec E46 M3. Found one at weekend and took the advice from PH & M3Cutters forum to get an RAC inspection.

The price now is pretty heavy- £305. But, I have to say it's worth every penny. The guy who did the inspection was brilliant and by a stroke of luck, owned an M3 himself!

If you're thinking of buying, I'd thoroughly recommend if you're not an expert.

Counting the days no until it's prepped, 7 long days to go...

[dave9]

mate got an indy to inspect for him they quoted an hours work so £40 plus vat but they ended up doing it for free!

[NiceCupOfTea]

I have to say that I think they are variable. If you've got anything remotely specialist they may give you some bum steers. A few years back I got an AA inspection on a (then) 9 year old classic Saab 900. They picked a few holes in it and scared me off. Looking at the report a few years later it was clear that he just wasn't accustomed to some of the idiosyncracies of the car or some of the things that you expect on an older car. It was actually not a bad car!

Spend your money on a specialist inspection IMHO!

Glad the car turned out well though!

[LC23]

NiceCupOfTea said:

I have to say that I think they are variable. If you've got anything remotely specialist they may give you some bum steers. A few years back I got an AA inspection on a (then) 9 year old classic Saab 900. They picked a few holes in it and scared me off. Looking at the report a few years later it was clear that he just wasn't accustomed to some of the idiosyncracies of the car or some of the things that you expect on an older car. It was actually not a bad car!

Spend your money on a specialist inspection IMHO!

Glad the car turned out well though!

I agree with this. A potential buyer used the AA to inspect my E36 323i. They came up with a few issues including head gasket going and parts of the front suspension being "dangerous" and needing immediate attention. I had only had it serviced at BMW a few weeks before that and took it back to the dealer who got it up on the ramp and showed me that there was nothing wrong with the car. It was on about 65k miles at that point and the potential buyer pulled out. Finally sold the car years later on 113k miles and surprise surprise, the head gasket was fine and that "dangerous" suspension still had the same components fitted when sold.

[Cemesis]

My indy charges £65 an hour and knows M3's backwards. He could have performed the same inspection in under an hour.

£305 is an enormous amount of money for an inspection.

[duff]

Not that simple though unfortunately.

Munich Legends is just down the road from me however the car I wanted (E36 M3) was from a dealer 30 miles away. Now the dealer (or most private sellers for that matter) was hardly going to drive an hour or so, sit around whilst an inpection is carried out and then hammer out a deal based on everying thing the specialist has found wrong with the car.

Unless you happen to know a someone who'll have a look you either take the risk and get a pre-purcase inspection done post-purchase (what I did) or get an AA/RAC insp).

[drumo]

duff said:

Not that simple though unfortunately.

Munich Legends is just down the road from me however the car I wanted (E36 M3) was from a dealer 30 miles away. Now the dealer (or most private sellers for that matter) was hardly going to drive an hour or so, sit around whilst an inpection is carried out and then hammer out a deal based on everying thing the specialist has found wrong with the car.

Unless you happen to know a someone who'll have a look you either take the risk and get a pre-purcase inspection done post-purchase (what I did) or get an AA/RAC insp).

thanks Duff- not being an expert, nor living near an M specialist, or being able to source a specialist has meant that I used the RAC, who were recommended on most forums. I'm just saying that whilst expensive, I feel they're worthwhile.
Obviously i can't comment on experiences with AA on other vehicles etc, but I'm pleased to report very good service that I'd like to recommend!

[bluetone]

Cemesis said:

£305 is an enormous amount of money for an inspection.

Indeed but does this fee not also include some degree of warranty/come-back if something serious is missed?

[E30M3SE]

No. No guarantees or comebacks.

RAC said:

Do you offer a guarantee on the inspections?

No, our inspection confirms the condition of the vehicle at the time of inspection.

It includes a RAC Car Data Check, but this is justan HPi with only £5,000 of cover.