Organising a mechanic to inspect a probable purchase - how?

DeepBlue

So it's my first time purchasing privately and am looking for some advice on how to organise an inspection by a mechanic beforehand.

How do people normally do this?

I see AA offer an inspection at a cost of €249. Has anyone had experience with this. It seems a little bit pricey given the car I'm buying is about €4000.

Another option would be to pick a garage/mechanic local to the seller and get them to give it a once over. I presume this is what people normally do if they don't have a friend who's a mechanic that they can take along for an inspection.

I'll be doing a motorcheck/cartell report on it so just want to do the mechanic inspection to avoid any post-purchase gotchas.

punisher5112

DeepBlue wrote: »

So it's my first time purchasing privately and am looking for some advice on how to organise an inspection by a mechanic beforehand.

How do people normally do this?

I see AA offer an inspection at a cost of €249. Has anyone had experience with this. It seems a little bit pricey given the car I'm buying is about €4000.

Another option would be to pick a garage/mechanic local to the seller and get them to give it a once over. I presume this is what people normally do if they don't have a friend who's a mechanic that they can take along for an inspection.

I'll be doing a motorcheck/cartell report on it so just want to do the mechanic inspection to avoid any post-purchase gotchas.

€249 could save you from buying a lemon that will cost multiples of that to fix.

It all depends on year whether diesel or petrol and if it has service history and valid nct.

Most would get a mechanic to tag along. You could also ask seller would they be happy to tag along to a pre booked inspection at a garage or similar.

grogi

a) buy local
b) bring the car to your mechanic

€249 is ridiculous...

punisher5112

grogi wrote: »

a) buy local
b) bring the car to your mechanic

€249 is ridiculous...

Not for a car worth more though its well worth it.

Example buy a car blind don't get it checked and say I spent €10k on it only to find later its two cars welded together and there are many other costly issues. Just an example.

DeepBlue

punisher5112 wrote: »

€249 could save you from buying a lemon that will cost multiples of that to fix.

They said they take the car for a test drive and give it a visual inspection checking for respraying and any evidence of a crash and the interior for excessive wear.
Since they don't do any of this work in a garage I'm just not convinced on how effective it is or if it's good value for money. I'm ignorant of car inspections but I thought at least you'd need to jack it up to do an inspection underneath?
But maybe others have used the service and found it useful?

punisher5112

DeepBlue wrote: »

They said they take the car for a test drive and give it a visual inspection checking for respraying and any evidence of a crash and the interior for excessive wear.
Since they don't do any of this work in a garage I'm just not convinced on how effective it is or if it's good value for money. I'm ignorant of car inspections but I thought at least you'd need to jack it up to do an inspection underneath?
But maybe others have used the service and found it useful?

They should also hook up diagnostic and give engine bay and suspension and other parts a look over.

AA would have all the equipment to check anywhere as their vans are full of equipment.

DeepBlue

punisher5112 wrote: »

They should also hook up diagnostic and give engine bay and suspension and other parts a look over.

The chap I spoke to specifically said they don't do diagnostics.

MarinersBlues

What do ye think is a fair price to pay a friend/acquaintance mechanic to come with you for an inspection?

I will be buying shortly and would like to take my brothers friend as I would trust him but I am not sure how to compensate him. He'd be the type to refuse money if I asked him what he wanted an I want to be fair to him.

punisher5112

MarinersBlues wrote: »

What do ye think is a fair price to pay a friend/acquaintance mechanic to come with you for an inspection?

I will be buying shortly and would like to take my brothers friend as I would trust him but I am not sure how to compensate him. He'd be the type to refuse money if I asked him what he wanted an I want to be fair to him.

€20 or few pints and if not a friend I would say around €50 to get a mechanic to look.

punisher5112

DeepBlue wrote: »

The chap I spoke to specifically said they don't do diagnostics.

Check around as for that price it should include plugging in and checking and issues.

grogi

punisher5112 wrote: »

€20 or few pints and if not a friend I would say around €50 to get a mechanic to look.

€20 is a bit lame, a few pints, although costing the same, is much better option... Be sure to fund those pints AFTER the inspection...

cruizer101

From the AA website
**Underbody Inspection where a ramp is available. We don't connect diagnostic equipment to vehicles as part of our inspection.

which seems a bit crazy for 250, see can you find a local mechanic, maybe say where you are an someone on here can recommend

DeepBlue

cruizer101 wrote: »

see can you find a local mechanic, maybe say where you are an someone on here can recommend

Clonakilty is the closest town to where the car is.

The car looks spotless, drives well and is in excellent condition. Motorcheck reports no issues and the seller, unless he's an excellent actor, comes across as completely genuine and honest. The price is also €1,200 below what the motorcheck valuation says it should be for the condition of the car and mileage.

It does need to be serviced and, due to no documentation, will need a timing belt replacement.

bazz26

OP, have you already viewed the car?

If not then I would suggest doing this first. Get a visual and feel of the car first and if you are happy with that then arrange a mechanic to check it over otherwise you could be spending alot of money on bringing mechanics to examine cars that are nowhere near as described in their adverts. You will be able to eliminate alot of rough cars that way and save yourself money and a mechanic's time.

Motorcheck also provide inspections and I'd also contact the local main dealer of the same make as they might throw it up on a ramp and plug it into a diag machine for less than what the AA are offering.

grogi

DeepBlue wrote: »

Clonakilty is the closest town to where the car is.

The car looks spotless, drives well and is in excellent condition. Motorcheck reports no issues and the seller, unless he's an excellent actor, comes across as completely genuine and honest. The price is also €1,200 below what the motorcheck valuation says it should be for the condition of the car and mileage.

It does need to be serviced and, due to no documentation, will need a timing belt replacement.

There is a few mechanics in the area, I could get you the list or one or two my mates would recommend...

DeepBlue

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, have you already viewed the car?

Yep, car viewed. Test driven and on the cusp of buying. Small deposit given to hold car until next week and just want to get a mechanic's opinion to dot the i's and cross the t's.

I contacted the only Clonakilty garage I could find in the golden pages and arranged for them to give it the once over later in the week. I'm pretty sure the car is fine - just doing the due diligence.

bazz26

Sounds good.

DeepBlue

Got it checked out by local garage.
Brake pads will need to be changed soon enough. A headlamp bulb needs replacing and the engine oil level is bit low but it's due a service.
Otherwise no issues.

Overall charge for inspection - 40 Euro