Before we start, bring along these simple tools to help you during the inspection.
1) Pen and Paper
2) Small Flashlight (LED keychain type would be perfect)
3) Some Tissue (for checking of engine oil)
4) CD or MP3 player (to check the vehicle's Stereo)
Paintwork
This is usually the first place you will find evidence of a repair, whether minor or major. A new paint job could mean that the vehicle could be involved in a recent accident, had been repaired and a given a fresh coat of paint to cover up the damage. However, some owners re-paint their cars for aesthetic reasons as well.
Look at the car from a distance. If you detect a slight difference in colour tone between body panels, it is an indication that part of the car was damaged and repaired.
Other tell-tale signs of a car being repainted includes over-spray inside door jambs, inside the gas-filler cap and under wheel wells. Another must-do is to check the area underneath the boot floor - look out for uneven welds and paint in there and around the spare wheel well. Bad welding or uneven paint in there might mean the car might have had a rear shunt before.
A pre-owned car will undoubtedly come with a few nicks and scratches as part of daily driving. These minor imperfections are no cause for concern.
Walk around the car and examine the body in close detail. Record down any dings you find. Use your findings as a bargain chip when negotiating for a lower price with the dealer or seller.
Look at the car from an angle and pay attention to light reflections. If you find ripples (distortion) in the reflection, it is an indication that the body has received some form of repair. An accident free car would have a nice, smooth and straight reflection.
Also, check the gaps between body panels. An even gap is also a sign that the car has been through an accident.
When buying an old car, look out for repairs on rust. Check under the carpets on the inside and under wheel wells for signs bad corrosion. Unless the car is relatively new (below 10 years of age), slight corrosion is acceptable.
Windshield
Examine the windshield (front and rear) carefully under lit conditions. Besides some light scratches, any other forms of damage to the windscreen are unacceptable. Be mindful of hairline cracks as they may sometimes look like a scratch.
Windshields are expensive to replace, thus paying closer attention to them is crucial.
Check the rubber seals around the windshields for any form of rotting or damage rubber as well.
Lights
Due to the myriad of lights on a car, it is easier to start from one place and move through the whole car section by section to avoid missing any. Check that all exterior and interior lights are working.
Powered Mirrors
If the vehicle has powered mirrors, check that the mirrors can freely move in all directions. If the mirror appears stuck, the motor adjusting the mirror could be faulty.
Wheels and tyres
First, bend down and look at the wheels closely. Check for any damage to the tyre sidewalls as these could lead to a damaged tyre. Inspect the rims for any bad scratches or damage.
Next, full-lock the steering wheel to one side and inspect the tyre threads. Look out for uneven wear patterns between the inner and outer parts of the tyres. These could indicate that the wheel alignment is off, the suspension is faulty or the wheels are unbalanced and improper tyre pressure.
Excessive wear on the outside shoulder of the tyres indicate that the previous owner had driven the vehicle hard.
Be wary of the thread depth as well, anything below 2mm is unacceptable and will require a replacement of the tires.
It is also important to check the condition of the spare tyre as well as the availability of a proper jack and lug wrench.
Windshield wiper
Activate the windshield washer to determine that the nozzles are not clogged or damage. Water should be sprayed out similarly in both nozzles. Check the windshield wiper as well, ensuring that they do not leave streaks across the windshield. If the wipers do not wipe off water cleanly, it could mean that they require replacement or that the tension on the wipers are off.
Seats
Shine a torch on the seats as you inspect them. Look out for stains and tears that you can use for negotiating further price reductions. Check that the seats recline properly as well as being able to move forward or backwards with relative ease. If it's an electrically adjustable seat, make sure all inputs on the controls move the seat accordingly.
Pop a CD that has clear vocals into the player and check that the Head-Unit functions properly and all buttons work. Listen to each speaker for any distorted audio. A distorted sound could mean that the speaker is damaged. If the player has an auxiliary input, bring a MP3 player and a mini-jack cable and connect to the Head-Unit to check that the input works.
Doors, releases
Open the all the doors and check that there is no free play when you try to lift them up on the hinges. If the door seems loose, it is an indication that it has been subjected to hard or long usage. Inspect the rubber seals around the door to make sure there is no rotting or damage rubber.
If the windows are powered, check that the switches are functioning and that the windows roll down and up all the way smoothly. If it does not, it indicates damage to the door's internals.
Engine
Check the engine oil on a level ground. Remove the dipstick from the engine. Wipe it clean with a tissue or paper towel. Insert the dipstick back in to the engine again and remove it this time to check the oil level. It should be between the 2 indicative marks. Also note the colour of the oil. If it appears blackish, it means the engine oil has not been changed for some time. This could indicate that the previous owner is haphazard about the maintenance of his car.
Obviously, if the seller can supply you with previous receipts or service book that the car had been meticulously looked after, it'll be great. Receipts from previous servicing, maintenance work and parts are also useful when you sell on the car letter on.
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