Used car check - what should i be worried about

efwren

Thanks for all the replys.

So today I saw two 2010 ford in the same dealer. Same model One with 40000 miles the other with 55000.

Both looked in great nick with the 40000 mile one slightly cleaner..

So i drove the 40000 miler and it drives great..really well, so I am pretty much happy to put a deposit (subject to getting car checked out by a mechanic) and the dealer hands me the service history report for both cars. Both were imported last week from the UK and have full ford dealer history.

I don't really know much about cars but reading through the history this evening the only out of the ordinary things I spot are:

1. Action: Check and Adjust alignment toe-in/out (front suspension) Job Description: Accident Damage

2. Action: Parking Brake (handbrake) Job Description: Defective

3. Action: Unscheduled Labour : Job Description : Low level oil

Now I have never read one of these reports before but should i be worried about this? I don't know what toe-in/out adjustment is but the words 'Accident Damage' are a bit of a red flag surely.

Also I would not have expected to see a defective handbrake listed at 18000 miles.

The higher mileage car has a much cleaner service history (as in just brakes, lights and usual service work), although I didn't get a chance to drive it

Am I being paranoid or should I be worried about any of the above?

Also the service report contains a VIN number, however when i run a check on the vehicle at carcheck.co.uk it says the VIN number listed on the service report does not match the registration. Is this something to worry about?

Many thanks

colm_mcm

Could be something as innocent as mounting a kerb. If the wheel didn't survive it'd be on the description too surely.

Have it independently checked if you're unsure

Does the record have the full vin number? Have you checked the number on the car itself?

mickdw

If it only needed wheel alignment its likely it was only pothole or kerb damage. Needs to be looked into though to be sure.
Defective handbrake is not an issue if it is no fixed.
Recheck the VIN number against what is on the actual car itself and the registration document. This MUST all match.

goz83

Get it looked at by a mechanic. If it checks out, you can be happy you bought it. If it doesn't, you can be happy you did not buy it.

colm_mcm

TLEN wrote: »

My opinion Buy Iris car.
other wise if you can go your self to UK and buy it .

Why? Irish cars crash too.

goz83

colm_mcm wrote: »

Why? Irish cars crash too.

He said Iris. Clearly a better car :pac:

colm_mcm

goz83 wrote: »

He said Iris. Clearly a better car :pac:

Eye see.

efwren

Thanks for the input everybody.
I was planning to get the AA to check it out irregardless so I guess they should be able to verify if its an issue

Unfortunately there is a shortage of irish sourced used cars on the market especially cars 2-3 years old. I have been in about 10 dealers in the last 6 or 7 weeks and nearly all the cars I have been looking at are UK imports..so its pretty hard to avoid..

colm_mcm

Im guessing its a fleet car. You wouldn't be getting that level of detail on a private cars service history.
My gut says you have nothing to fear.

dr.fuzzenstein

efwren wrote: »

Thanks for the input everybody.
I was planning to get the AA to check it out irregardless so I guess they should be able to verify if its an issue

Unfortunately there is a shortage of irish sourced used cars on the market especially cars 2-3 years old. I have been in about 10 dealers in the last 6 or 7 weeks and nearly all the cars I have been looking at are UK imports..so its pretty hard to avoid..

Well at least in the UK they have a concept of service history or even servicing their cars in the first place.

efwren

So, I got the AA report this morning..

only 3 things noted really...

1. evidence of some paint/body work on the left wheel arch,

2. a small amount of residue around the power steering pump that merits investigation

3. uneven tyre wear and tyre walls scrubbed on one side

However there is no evidence of any crash or structural damage and all other visible parts of suspension, body, engine etc where checked okay.

So the recommendation is to get the steering/suspension alignment and geometry checked due to the tyre evidence, and check out the power steering pump.

Is this something that can be done by every garage, is it a big deal? I am going to ask the dealer to do it, but I will have no evidence to ensure they have actually done it before I have handed over the money...


thanks again for all your replies/comments

efwren

I should also add..

evidence of some corrosion/rust on the undercarriage, but apparently that is quite common in UK carks