XSeries-forum

Its a long time since I have bought a car private and hopefully later today I might be doing a deal. HPI used to be the best chech to make on a car, have things changed or what can anyone recomend as the best way to chech a cars hitory?

Thanks Richard...

I think it's still the version most people use. It doesn't uncover everything, but almost everything will show up. There are these things called 'Logbook Loans' which it won't know about - so make absolutely certain you see the V5C, that it is an originsl and not a duplicate or replacement, and ask about ANY finance at all on the cars. Recording some of these loan types is not mandatory, hence them not showing up.

These loans use the V5 as security and people have had vehicles snatched back by the loan company even after the car has been sold on because the original owner hasn't paid up.

Might be an idea to draft something on your PC to have in your back pocket which covers things like this and get the Seller to sign that the car is free of anything which might allow a third party to snatch it back. There are proper legal terms like 'lien' and ''encumbrance' that the lawyers use. It can state that should something like that happen then you will hold the Seller liable. Just summat to have if there is any doubt....

Thanks, It does worry me a bit buying private but the car I am intrested in has given me some reasurance. He has had it from new with a receipt for 60k + back in 2005, all the service invoices etc and it still has an extended BMW waranty running. It has a Type2 service done about 2 months ago. I have looked at athe car at his house while his wife and kids were present andI fell he is 100% ok.

But I will still get the HPI check done just encase.

Richard...

Sounds like a good find.....

I always hpi a car, but also check the mot history via the vosa website, get the V5 doc. Ref. number from the owner and input that, as well as the reg. number into the vosa system, this will then tell you the mot history, mileage check as well as any advisories that may be with the car now, from the last mot.

I do a full check by texting the reg to I think 83600 and after the hpi you can check plate changed and valuations and I think its £3 per txt, also check the coloiurs on the rear of the logbook are correct 'google dvla stolen logbooks' as a while ago a few thousand were srolen and a high % match x5s making them a clone favourite, someone near me bought one and lost 15k, it also happened to someone I know on a toureg! Expensive lessons!

If you find it's a Red V5 then you need worry less. All the original Blue ones (same as the stolen ones) are now in the process of being replaced. We had the Red one for our 2005 E46 arrive about 6 weeks ago...

That's right x5sport! I think that's one of the reasons why there being replaced

Shame it's taken them this long though eh......