XSeries-forum

Ok so narrowing down my search slowly and wondering whether there is anyone out there or any companies that for a free will have a good look over a potential purchase?? I know that RAC and AA offer such services but wondering with an X5 if someone with a little more model specific knowledge or experience of BMW's might be better placed to do it?

I have seen one in particular had a good chat with the dealer that I selling it discussing history, owners, MOT's and silly things like matching tyres and the sorts of things that point to someone taking care of it.

A thorough inspection and health check would be very reassuring.

Any pointers would be great.

Thanks

Si

Just come across these people has anyone ever heard or used them??

http://www.carinspections.co.uk

Si

[quote="Sit"]
Just come across these people has anyone ever heard or used them??

http://www.carinspections.co.uk

Si
[/quote]How much do they charge?????  O:-) O:-) O:-) O:-)

It would seem it depends on the specific vehicle but suggested cost is £295 for a full inspection and report, £25 extra if HPi required.

Si

I'd want to now what comeback there is is something is found post purchase that they should have picked up or that they said was ok

I arrange a test drive, and with the sellers permission, take it to my local garage to give it the once over and pay their hourly rate to go over it for an hour or so. in addition to their knowledge and findings I research known faults with that make/model and then have them take a greater look at those areas specifically

But ultimately it is caveat emptor .......

Smee

putting the car through a fresh independant mot would be a helpful indicator of the cars condition. obviously they dont check the engine bits but a plug into a diagnostics machine should clarify any issues there.

I'm not sure these inspections are worth a lot - particularly on 'cheaper' cars.  Just make sure there's a recent MOT, recent service history, make sure everything works - if there's anything wrong then use that to haggle on price.  Ultimately it's a complex beast and anything could wrong the day after you bought it and there would not necessarily be any warning or show up in an inspection! (looking at you electronic modules)

All the MOT tells is you is it was roadworthy at the point in time they did they test

[quote="fenj66"]
putting the car through a fresh independant mot would be a helpful indicator of the cars condition. obviously they dont check the engine bits but a plug into a diagnostics machine should clarify any issues there.
[/quote]

Can you MOT a car that doesnt belong to you and it is more than a month/fortnight of it due date?

Smee

The owner can get it MOT's at any stage.  If you do it outside the two week 'window' then you just get a new start & end date.

It's only a snapshot of the vehicle at that moment and that it does not need a retest for 12-months.  All it does is indicate the vehicle was OK (within the MOT inspection limitations as to what can/can't be viewed/checked etc) at the time it was presented.

Richard

im not sure now with the electronic type mots, in the past with the paper type, i cant see why you couldn't mot your car every week if you so wanted to part with your money.
im just thinking that an inspection is nothing more than a costly mot and do inspections come with a guarantee beyond the date of inspection anyway?

it always makes me laugh to read what they do for the cars service inspection, it reads just like the mot check sheet, but you dont get the mot and you pay 4 times as much! 

a lot of inspections do do other stuff, but do they actually do it. I took a used bmw (sorry, pre-owned!)for a test drive at bmw dealership and it was supposed to have had a 3000 item check done or some old bollox like that and there were several things wrong on it whilst driving.

And the thing is, they can check say an indicator is working and five mins later the bulb packs up and suddenly its not working so what come back do you have - none !

So............. if you are going to shell out for the inspection then stand and watch them do it

I'll bet most of the '3,000 item checks' were mainly done by a laptop and shows the number of possible fault code combinations....

[quote="X5Sport"]
I'll bet most of the '3,000 item checks' were mainly done by a laptop and shows the number of possible fault code combinations....
[/quote]Yep and if buying a top range car Never pay asking price,haggle and put the savings to your next repair???in piggy bank. If a old banger X5 etc! Add the £300 savings from non inspection fee in the piggy as well plus say if you haggled £1000 that's a £1300 in the bank,but it needs to be a large piggy

These are easy enough to evaluate..... No need to be intimidated by them.

A recent mot pass should indicate emissions are okay.

Sytematically checking function and opertion of every control and option is important.

Gearbox ideally needs proper evaluation in all modes cold and warm,  (auto/sport/manual/kickdown) .

Check oil and coolant for levels and absence of oil/coolant mixing (unlikely to be issues as head gaskets not a wek point but it's good to do this buying any used car).

Condition of consumables is easy enough to check i.e. pads discs tyres etc....battery not so easy to check the date of (reality is most used cars sat undriven on forecourts for a while will have discharged batteries and surface corroded discs).

Knowing how they should drive when fine is something helped by experience but driving a few can help.

Ideally it would be good to check for fault codes or if buying from a dealer to have assurance this has been done and no issues.

Evaluation of  Panel and paint condition can benefit from experience. Don't reject a car that has had a decent superficial repair.

Make sure you understand what should constitute acceptable history.

If paying for a vehicle to be inspected I would ideally take it go to a good Indy. Main dealer probably won't want to get involved in this and will want vehicle on site for inspecting.

More in the buyers guide sticky.

Where are you ?