SL55 Vehicle inspection

[E55BOF]

I don't know who that is

Schlumpf Collection - Profile, Photo Gallery and History

Profile and photos on the Schlumpf Collection in Mulhouse, France, one of the most prestigious automobile collections in the world.

www.sportscardigest.com

 

[alabbasi]

Too rich for me. I just have a regular middle range income. The only reason I can get away with owning a few nice cars is that I don't have kids which by all accounts, cost about the same as an SL55 every year for every child.

 

[Supracat]

Agree re underside inspection.

I have inspected BMW's for members on another board before & allowed trusted friends & members to kindly do same for me if geography/time an issue.

Suggestions.....If nobody here suitable steps forward maybe call some reputable independents closer to the seller...(outside chance that asking someone to else to view could result in the person inspecting making a cheeky offer themselves).

A proper professional inspection wont be cheap. You could ask seller to stick it up for an MOT test at a station of your choice & ask testing station to give you their verdict for cost of a decent drink.

Really difficult to give prescriptive advice.........So often viewings inspections & deals only come together with the right people in place & the stars aligning in favour. Good communication is obviously key.

Good luck

Do the RAC still do inspections? They did one for me about two years ago and it was really helpful.

 

[ArfanFarooq]

Do the RAC still do inspections? They did one for me about two years ago and it was really helpful.

I had the AA do an inspection for me on my last car. Complete mistake ! Unknown to me at the time the inspections are carried out by a third party and not the AA.
I purchased it (based on the glowing report), and it was only when it went into my local Mercedes dealership a short time and 75 miles later, that they advised me all 4 tyres needed changing (£600) and an oil leak from the steering box (£££s). Tyres were 12 years old and cracking badly !! They were dangerous.
Obviously no due diligence or care was given by the person who did the inspection as far as im concerned.
What was annoying was the previous owner had agreed with me to repair/replace anything found during the inspection or reduce the purchase price accordingly. Had the person who did the inspection done his job properly I wouldnt have been out of pocket or put in danger driving the car back at motorway speeds.
The AA's response was to tell me to call the people they had instructed 'ACE Ltd'. Despite my insistence that my contract and payment was to the AA (and the fact that the report I received had AA all over it) they "refused to help me".
As for ACE Ltd, after 2 months of chasing and calling them for updates - nothing.
I became shortly after quite seriously ill and I advised both the AA and ACE to this effect (in the hope that they would deal with this more swiftly if they were aware of this). I think instead they used this to their advantage that I would sooner or later just give up, which I had to when I eventually had to go into hospital.
Just my experience but please do your own homework if you do use the AA or equivalent organisation to carry out an inspection.
As for me never again.

 

[Supracat]

I had the AA do an inspection for me on my last car. Complete mistake ! Unknown to me at the time the inspections are carried out by a third party and not the AA.
I purchased it (based on the glowing report), and it was only when it went into my local Mercedes dealership a short time and 75 miles later, that they advised me all 4 tyres needed changing (£600) and an oil leak from the steering box (£££s). Tyres were 12 years old and cracking badly !! They were dangerous.
Obviously no due diligence or care was given by the person who did the inspection as far as im concerned.
What was annoying was the previous owner had agreed with me to repair/replace anything found during the inspection or reduce the purchase price accordingly. Had the person who did the inspection done his job properly I wouldnt have been out of pocket or put in danger driving the car back at motorway speeds.
The AA's response was to tell me to call the people they had instructed 'ACE Ltd'. Despite my insistence that my contract and payment was to the AA (and the fact that the report I received had AA all over it) they "refused to help me".
As for ACE Ltd, after 2 months of chasing and calling them for updates - nothing.
I became shortly after quite seriously ill and I advised both the AA and ACE to this effect (in the hope that they would deal with this more swiftly if they were aware of this). I think instead they used this to their advantage that I would sooner or later just give up, which I had to when I eventually had to go into hospital.
Just my experience but please do your own homework if you do use the AA or equivalent organisation to carry out an inspection.
As for me never again.

thats poor from AA, would have thought with their reputation on the line they'd have done it themselves with their name put to it...

 

[ArfanFarooq]

thats poor from AA, would have thought with their reputation on the line they'd have done it themselves with their name put to it...

I now understand why you can never find reviews for AA vehicle inspections when you do a search! Lol

 

[AW8]

Arfan,

Mindful your 1st post was over a week ago.

Not pushing you into wrong car or deal but someone else may move quicker than you.

 

[ArfanFarooq]

Yes I know. I was hoping to find someone by now to do an inspection, but no luck yet. Everyone Iv spoken to wants the car at their premises and owner is unable to do this. There is another buyer but at a much lower price than the owner wants to sell for. So for the time being I still have time on my hands. Let's see what happens!

 

[Supracat]

Yes I know. I was hoping to find someone by now to do an inspection, but no luck yet. Everyone Iv spoken to wants the car at their premises and owner is unable to do this. There is another buyer but at a much lower price than the owner wants to sell for. So for the time being I still have time on my hands. Let's see what happens!

Good luck mate!

 

[bob6600]

I had the AA do an inspection for me on my last car. Complete mistake ! Unknown to me at the time the inspections are carried out by a third party and not the AA.
I purchased it (based on the glowing report), and it was only when it went into my local Mercedes dealership a short time and 75 miles later, that they advised me all 4 tyres needed changing (£600) and an oil leak from the steering box (£££s). Tyres were 12 years old and cracking badly !! They were dangerous.
Obviously no due diligence or care was given by the person who did the inspection as far as im concerned.
What was annoying was the previous owner had agreed with me to repair/replace anything found during the inspection or reduce the purchase price accordingly. Had the person who did the inspection done his job properly I wouldnt have been out of pocket or put in danger driving the car back at motorway speeds.
The AA's response was to tell me to call the people they had instructed 'ACE Ltd'. Despite my insistence that my contract and payment was to the AA (and the fact that the report I received had AA all over it) they "refused to help me".
As for ACE Ltd, after 2 months of chasing and calling them for updates - nothing.
I became shortly after quite seriously ill and I advised both the AA and ACE to this effect (in the hope that they would deal with this more swiftly if they were aware of this). I think instead they used this to their advantage that I would sooner or later just give up, which I had to when I eventually had to go into hospital.
Just my experience but please do your own homework if you do use the AA or equivalent organisation to carry out an inspection.
As for me never again.

That is very very poor from a company like the AA. I too have had a 'run in' with them (not for inspection work) and eventually got the Ombudsman involved. I think you should have done the same. The AA had to pay the amount disputed plus £100 to me for the inconvenience. I'm not sure of the time frames but if it is still within, I would get them involved

 

[AW8]

Yes I know. I was hoping to find someone by now to do an inspection, but no luck yet. Everyone Iv spoken to wants the car at their premises and owner is unable to do this. There is another buyer but at a much lower price than the owner wants to sell for. So for the time being I still have time on my hands. Let's see what happens!

You may need to engage with an indy closer to the car or financially motivate an indy further away to go to it.

It's a car at the end of the day. Perhaps if properly armed with enough model specific info & proper kit you might have a fighting chance of inspecting it yourself.

 

[Dickster]

It is a shame that you can’t resolve the inspection issue, it sounds like a great car.

I did a lot of searching for mine. It’s a 2003 with 65k miles from a dealer, with good spec (or so I was told by the indie that inspected it), and it cost £16,500 - indie said it was a cracking price, even though SL55’s don’t seem to be selling very quickly. I’m guessing yours would be at least £20k or probably closer to £25k? Although for that money I’d be tempted to look for one with the performance pack...jmho.

Can’t Mercedes advise you on the car?

 

[ArfanFarooq]

It is a shame that you can’t resolve the inspection issue, it sounds like a great car.

I did a lot of searching for mine. It’s a 2003 with 65k miles from a dealer, with good spec (or so I was told by the indie that inspected it), and it cost £16,500 - indie said it was a cracking price, even though SL55’s don’t seem to be selling very quickly. I’m guessing yours would be at least £20k or probably closer to £25k? Although for that money I’d be tempted to look for one with the performance pack...jmho.

Can’t Mercedes advise you on the car?

Thats a good price especially being from a dealer. Well done and congrats on your car. The one Im trying to get is indeed at the top end of £25K. If like yours it was from a dealer I would buy it straightaway as I would have a minimum 3 months warranty im sure. But being bought privately has problems so I need to ensure paying that kind of money I dont need to spend anymore at least for my first year of ownership!
On a sidenote (bob6600) I did manage to get the cost of the AA inspection back (£275) via my credit card company as a dispute resolution. The AA didnt even bother to contest it! A small consolation but better than nothing.