Is there a used vehicle check worth paying for?
Is there a used vehicle check worth paying for?
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Discussion

RT76

Original Poster:

28 posts

162 months

Wednesday 7th July 2021
quotequote all
Evening,

Im in the process of looking for a used BMW 330e and have put a holding deposit on one to view at the weekend.

Thing is, it appears as though it hasn’t been taxed since Dec20, and has never had an MOT either.

Im still going to look at it, as from the photos it looks good, no obvious sign of damage or poor repair.

As the title says, are any of the surveys (HPI/RAC etc) actually worth paying for? Will they give me any peace of mind?

Cheers 🍻

Andy K

10 posts

95 months

Wednesday 7th July 2021
quotequote all
vcheck is probably the most comprehensive.

biggbn

32,330 posts

248 months

Wednesday 7th July 2021
quotequote all
Dvla mot check is very useful.

vaud

58,989 posts

183 months

Wednesday 7th July 2021
quotequote all
biggbn said:
Dvla mot check is very useful.
RT76 said:
Thing is, it appears as though it hasn’t been taxed since Dec20, and has never had an MOT either.
When someone doesn't read the 3 post thread...

georgeyboy12345

4,582 posts

63 months

Wednesday 7th July 2021
quotequote all
If it's a dealer it shouldn't be too bad, but it certainly won't do any harm to buy a check. Another thing I like to do with dealers is check them out on Companies House, look when the company was incorporated, I always make sure they are more than a couple of years old, check they haven't changed their name loads of times, google the names of the directors to make sure they haven't been up to anything naughty, etc. Also worth checking their reviews on autotrader and google maps.

If it's a private sale then a vehicle check is absolutely essential, especially with regards to things like outstanding finance.

Hashtaggggg

2,323 posts

97 months

Wednesday 7th July 2021
quotequote all
Buy a BMW AUC gives you the best protection I would guess

A HPI check is only a few £'s compared to the price of a 330e. I would always do a check myself on top of anything else offered by the seller.

I think HPI offers some guarantee but I cannot recall the details

joropug

3,030 posts

217 months

Wednesday 7th July 2021
quotequote all
V check is fantastic - has everything plus scours salvage records for unrecorded crashes etc.

Look on this Facebook page for examples:

https://www.facebook.com/dodgycarsuk/

Lewis Kingston

241 posts

105 months

Wednesday 7th July 2021
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Vcheck, without a shadow of a doubt.

voram

9,407 posts

62 months

Wednesday 7th July 2021
quotequote all
I'd go with HPI and an RAC inspection for the basics.

If you're feeling fancy put the car into the local dealer for a check-over but I doubt many sellers would want to faff about with that.

biggbn

32,330 posts

248 months

Wednesday 7th July 2021
quotequote all
vaud said:
biggbn said:
Dvla mot check is very useful.
RT76 said:
Thing is, it appears as though it hasn’t been taxed since Dec20, and has never had an MOT either.
When someone doesn't read the 3 post thread...
Read that thanks, the DVLA site also tells the extent of previous failures and advisories, some people just check the mot status and neglect that part, only trying to help.

Edit, misunderstood, car has not needed MOT yet ?

Pistonheader101

2,206 posts

135 months

Wednesday 7th July 2021
quotequote all
probably an ex-lease that has been sitting on an airfield for a while

cib24

1,127 posts

181 months

Wednesday 7th July 2021
quotequote all
Make sure you look into ex-lease cars. So many are fitted with mileage blockers these days. It is especially common on exotics like Ferrari, Porsche, Lambo, and M models. Not the case with what you’re looking at but nevertheless people take out leases with restrictive miles and get around it with mileage blockers, or at least try.

RT76

Original Poster:

28 posts

162 months

Thursday 8th July 2021
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies!

I have V-Checked it. I’m finding out bits that make me want to walk away, purely because of the potential bork factor involved!

The check didn’t throw anything up - hasn’t had its first MOT, and the tax was actually Dec19.

I have also found out that the car has never been serviced by BMW. This means I probably won’t be able to get a bmw warranty on it…

Something not sitting right, which is a shame as the spec is very good!!

Would you still go and look at it?

Edited by RT76 on Thursday 8th July 09:20

Hashtaggggg

2,323 posts

97 months

Thursday 8th July 2021
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There are 440 for sale on Autotrader, plenty of fish,,

jonwm

2,715 posts

142 months

Thursday 8th July 2021
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Pistonheader101 said:
probably an ex-lease that has been sitting on an airfield for a while
When I left my last company in February 21, my 330e went to an airfield and was there till June when it dropped off my "App". It was not taxed, missed its first MOT and was asking for a service last time I looked before it was either moved or re allocated to another person / sold.

There was nothing wrong with it at all but may now look suspect on any car checker

Truckosaurus

13,196 posts

312 months

Thursday 8th July 2021
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RT76 said:
T....
I have also found out that the car has never been serviced by BMW. This means I probably won’t be able to get a bmw warranty on it…
...
It certainly wasn't a blocker in the past - assuming it has proof of being properly serviced somewhere....

Ratae

293 posts

129 months

Thursday 8th July 2021
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vCheck is my go to nowadays