Used vehicle inspection

[Jukie]

Has anyone every paid for one, using the likes of the AA or RAC?

If so, was you experience good, bad or indifferent?

Would any member recommend a company to use?

TIA.

 

[BlackC55]

Use an independent or main dealer so they can put it up in the air for inspection. IMO the AA or RAC inspections are a waste of money as they do not know the car.

We do them for just one hours labour (if the car is at the workshop). I think the AA charge £250

 

[John]

I was considering using the AA/RAC for mine but after some research - there were quite a few anecdotal experiences where you got the impression they didn't know the cars at all. In some cases - the person inspecting was asking questions to the person who had paid for the inspection.

I used a local inde in the end and, as said, they work on them and know them inside out and can raise the car up to check underneath.

 

[tonyc280]

The AA did an inspection on my 44k old volvo C70 T5 and said the turbo was leaking. obviously the person pulled out of deal but it was the air recirculation pipe that had come loose. I complained but got nowhere.

 

[IanA2]

Use an independent or main dealer so they can put it up in the air for inspection. IMO the AA or RAC inspections are a waste of money as they do not know the car.

We do them for just one hours labour (if the car is at the workshop). I think the AA charge £250

What he said. By far the best way to go.

 

[Mr Fixit]

I threw mine ant the Merc dealer took one hour and well priced, when through the car and even pointed out a few LEDS were out in the high level light

 

[IanA2]

I threw mine ant the Merc dealer took one hour and well priced, when through the car and even pointed out a few LEDS were out in the high level light

I imagine going to a main dealer would be fine with a fairly modern car. If, for example, the OP was looking to buy a 129, I wouldn't go near a main dealer. Horses for courses I guess.

 

[Charles Morgan]

I have taken all my old Mercs to Olly at PCS for inspection after I have bought them, an hour on a ramp is plenty of time to find all the things needing doing.

I suppose it would make a change if I had them inspected beforehand! I can imagine however that some sellers are not going to let the car out of their sight and they have to be close to an indy with availability for a full inspection.

My experience with the AA or RAC many years ago was a waste of money.

 

[Clkrichard]

I had mine inspected by Olly. 10/10 and terrific value. He even found things that possibly shouldnt have got through its MOT a couple of months earlier.

 

[Jukie]

Thanks for all replies so far.

I would be looking for a pre-purchase inspection. I appreciate there has to be a certain amount of personal leg-work involved in buying a car but my location means that most of the cars that are of interest are a great distance away and my available travel time and resources are very limited.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Then it's really Catch22 I fear.

An MOT is an alternative - it is a lot cheaper, it will be up on a ramp, and is likely to get the same amount of attention as a basic survey.

To be quite honest, as a seller, if someone far away hadn't looked at the car and wanted me to spend / waste my time to facilitate a third party survey or MOT I'd most likely say no. Life is too short for a cheap car.

 

[Fady]

I'v e used the AA in the distant past, and although they are not going to give you expert analysis on a particular model, they still do a thorough check. If you look at a car yourself you get a good general overview but unless you went with a 100-point checklist and went through ticking all the boxes, you are inevitably going to miss one or two things. Whereas, they are going to spend an hour or so checking the mechanicals, checking each body panel (measuring the thickness of paint I think to see if it's been resprayed), checking wheel alignment, tyre tread depth etc. After looking at a car yourself, to me this is the most viable option in terms of reaffirming your choice and not putting the seller off.

 

[IanA2]

Pre purchase inspection: AA v. Indie?

Indie, all day every day, no contest.

 

[DSB SL AMG]

i had a great pug406 coupe for sale few years ago...AA car insp made it look like a wreck, they air on the side of caution, i reckon they would make a new car look bad...best avoided stay with the indie's, as above most will charge 1hr labour.

 

[John]

In the case of the seller having to leave the car - I would be asking the seller to take the car to be inspected (as long as they are not too far away).

If you look at the car first and you are happy with it, you could leave a small deposit subject to said inspection later on (and agree to adjust the price accordingly depending on what is found).

In my case, the dealer happily drove the car probably 10 miles to my inde - and it was much appreciated by me so I didn't hard ball too much on the price - although we did agree on £700 worth of work to be done before I parted with my hard-earned - on top of the £500 I'd already asked for.

 

[mr tibbs]

Some really interesting points here, great thread. So if I were interested in Charles Morgans E320, I guess that it being in to see Olly (not sure who this is, but he seems to get lots of positive press...) regularly, then there would be no need to have it re-inspected?

Keith

 

[The _Don]

Some really interesting points here, great thread. So if I were interested in Charles Morgans E320, I guess that it being in to see Olly (not sure who this is, but he seems to get lots of positive press...) regularly, then there would be no need to have it re-inspected?

Keith

Hi correct, no need.
Cheers

 

[Charles Morgan]

Olly knows the good cars he looks after - people keep coming back to him, trust his expertise and know that he knows the cars inside out. For example Tudu on here had a superb C55 that Olly knew very well, when he put it up for sale, Olly recommended it to me, and apart from a couple of minor things that Tudu mentioned, it was in great nick. When I came to sell it, it was Olly that found me a buyer, who then took it down to Olly and so on.

On my E320cdi - I took it down to Olly to service it (early) as I was selling it, he did a list of things needing doing - we did the rear spheres, the rear shocks are being done next week, and over the next year if I haven't sold it, the front left lower control arm and front bushes will be done, and come late autumn, it will be dinitroled for the winter, all the little brown bits that appear having been zapped before being an issue.

This is what separates a good car from unknown ones - actively using it, checking it, maintaining it etc - and that costs a bit more.

I would have zero issue in anyone speaking to Olly about it. I would however tell someone with a 100 point checklist to get lost - having just paid close to £200 for a survey of zero use of course they are going to nitpick without any real knowledge of the car. It is the knowledge of what is right with a car that is of far more use sometimes.

 

[grober]

A few comments:- 1. I imagine the AA/RAC inspection is a franchised thing and uses a number of trained vehicle inspectors---- some will be good--- some bad. They also include an HPi type check as part of the inspection process. 2. There independents and independents the first have an intimate knowledge of the marque-especially the older cars ----the second are run of the mill garages that like to charge their customers more money for servicing by putting a sign above the door.3 Geography-- not all of us are lucky enough to reside within a reasonable distance of Olly's or may not be lucky enough to know a trustworthy local MB expert. 4. Any third party is probably a good thing as even experts or experienced previous owners forget the odd thing to check for in the heat of the moment . 5 Its also a good psychological tool to gauge the reaction of any prospective seller when faced with an inspection. Nothing to hide means nothing to fear but you need to be able to call their bluff- if garages in particular start saying things like -- we don't have the facilities to get it up on a ramp- a test drive is out of the question --- you have your answer. So pros and cons- perhaps depends on how "risk averse" you are------- one thing is they all seem to have disclaimers meaning you have no real comeback in the event of problems later.

 

[mr tibbs]

Thanks both for your comments. I did send you an email Charles, not sure if you received it though?
I cannot PM yet as I am still a newbie

Keith