id get a panel beater or merc specialist to look at it. not the AA.
mrsbeeblebrock,
Oct 21, 6:59am
Thanks for replying.
Does other profession offer inspections when they are not benefiting in you buying the car? I don't live in Hamilton.
tamarillo,
Oct 21, 7:02am
Same here. AA can't really specialise in this sort of thing. Might be fine, might be properly repaired and not crucial damage, but I'd like photos of damage and a panel beater to check it only because they are a complicated motor. But if all good it's a lot of car for money. And I like that advert is up front.
tamarillo,
Oct 21, 7:04am
A decent size panel beater will for a fee of course. You might need to ring around. I'd personally go see it and drive it first. Only if I like it, and can't find any warning signs would I invest more.
brapbrap8,
Oct 21, 7:06am
Yes you pay them for an hour or so of workshop time for them to do an inspection. Go to a Merc or European specialist.
kazbanz,
Oct 21, 7:11am
You are less that 2 hours from the car and looking to invest 14000 in a car. I would be doing a LOT more than an AA inspection if I was investing that kind of coin. Then again--given the vendor they may well not allow more than an onsite inspection.;
franc123,
Oct 21, 7:18am
This is the only course of action that should be followed re inspection.
mrsbeeblebrock,
Oct 21, 7:26am
How can I trust the advice of a competing dealer, if I choose a Mercedes specialist? They are dealers too, right?
How would you recommend I choose a panel beater?
I am new to a) car buying and b) the North Island.
There are independent service people, I am sure one of those could no doubt help , far better than the AA.
serf407,
Oct 21, 7:41am
Obviously the pre-purchase phase is important. The issue for you should you purchase it, is likely to be the on sale of the car and having someone else happy to purchase it from you at a figure above a wrecking price if it is still in good condition.
gunhand,
Oct 21, 7:45am
The car has been written off if it's been recompiled etc, I assume. Was the damage structural or just panels and lights? It seems it was worth recompiling for someone since it's for sale. My question would be, who got hold of the car after it was written off and how come it was worth their while putting it back on the road. The only way someone could do it IMO is with out any labour charges and basically doing it themselves or has a few good mates. No one would do it if there wasn't a dollar in for them. You shouldn't get to see the photos as I understand it the general public isn't allowed to see them, or shouldn't. Could be wrong on that. Best bet would be to try and find last owner and ask them. It could all be just fine and as good as new if all aspects of panel beating painting and recompiling have been done properly. There is nothing wrong with a correctly repaired car. If you are in doubt why not wait for another to come along? Is this a good price or cheaper than the average? But yea ya gotta get something like this one really checked out as there could be faults down the road that no one will want to know about if they can get away with it. I could be wrong but looks like left door lines don't match front of rear.
supernova2,
Oct 21, 8:26am
I agree the left rear door looks well out. Also left front bumper looks a bit sus but may just be the photo. Sure it may have passed the recompliance process but that dosen't mean that cosmetically its correct. I'd been getting it well checked out by a GOOD merc specialist.
ema1,
Oct 21, 8:50am
It looks like that to me too gun, leading edge of rear door doesn't line up with trailing edge of front door on left side at 'B' pillar. If it can be seen in the photo then it will be glaringly obvious in the flesh. That repair needs to be sorted properly IMO. I would be looking a bit sideways at that car if it were me! Anyway I'd also be going over it with a "fine tooth comb" as in get expert advice from professional repairers and even from members of the Mercedes Benz Club as already mentioned. I'd be very wary of the fact and as to why it was deregistered? Buyer beware is my advice to O.P.
ema1,
Oct 21, 9:12am
Interior door trim "insert" panel on passenger side front door looks a bit suspect to me as well? Shouldn't it have a similar reveal line as on the trim "insert"on the rear door interior trim? Looks a bit blotchy to me ? Could be wrong about that.
franc123,
Oct 21, 9:27am
You have to be a bit weary of tricks of photography and lighting here chaps, the door alignment thing looks fine from one angle but not another, it needs proper assessment.
tgray,
Oct 21, 8:36pm
I would be asking the dealer who did the recompliance and whether they have the paperwork showing exactly what was done. To 'write off' a car of this value, it must have been more than simply panel and painting a door or two.
mggd,
Oct 21, 8:42pm
Why cant you purchase subject to a Merc dealerships inspection, if its ok you pay for the check. You will find out how confident the car dealer is in his product as well when you suggest this.
mrsbeeblebrock,
Oct 21, 9:05pm
I've gone cold on this. Thanks all for your input.
kazbanz,
Oct 21, 9:07pm
The issue is the vendor. It isn't a 'dealer" as such so they are unlikely to concider the vehicle going offsite. IMO the fact the car had to go through the recomply process is if anything a positive thing. For a start the OP knows its definitely been in an accident. Second -the repair at least in principle has to be to a VERY high standard.-factory welds etc. The whole "dodgy repair" bit may be the case but is a fair bit less likely than if it was just repaired by a beater to insurance company "standards" Important question-How much cheaper than the same car that hasn't been in an accident ?
kazbanz,
Oct 21, 9:11pm
Im sorry if I come across as horrible but regardless of what car you are concidering You are looking at spending 10-20k on a car. I sure as heck would be taking every option available to ensure its sound
mrsbeeblebrock,
Oct 21, 9:26pm
The non-accident one has nearly 180 kms and askign $17k. This one is under $15k.
darryl,
Oct 22, 12:00am
Maybe its a Mercedes thing. A gentleman I know just bought a brand new Merc sedan and the left rear door alignment is appalling. I told him to take it back. $80k for a new car and the lines on the back door are out by about 2 - 3mm
intrade,
Oct 22, 12:19am
you need a checker guy with a mercedes capapble scantool to see if and what codes it has in memmory and trust me it will have codes i have not seen a single merc with no codes even the numberplate light sets a code on modern mercs . the automotive diagnostic new zealand training semminar guy has a ML merc it was brand new when he scanned it and it had tail light bulb code and speed sensor fault= he needed to take it back under warranty for the speed sensor fault You need to know what codes are and what the likely cause is to add up what future repair bills are looming for example and this is a example of when you would walk away "cam and crank intermittend out of sinchchronisation." that would be a code to make the desition to stop the check and walk away. also i would do a good test drive if there are no codes then maybe they just erased them and they will be back with a good test drive. some of the bad ones will be back , and they only show under factory codes there is 2 rooms global obd2 = what the AA would use if they even have a scanner , and then there is the factory room car specific codes only in factory side. also codes are symptoms not what parts to replace.
merzedes tool factory is das-xentry . startech .
richardmayes,
Oct 22, 12:28am
Would the Mercedes computer show a code for rear wheel alignment not quite right?
Or a code for a bent sill with a bit of bog over it?
intrade,
Oct 22, 12:28am
Now to your question is it worth 150$ on AA no its not a 5 year old can do a better report then what the AA does. that car needs to be hooked to a mercedes factory level capable scanner for reading fault codes stored in memory The AA only have generic tools not factory level
Since the public registrations are closed, you must have an invite from a current member to be able to register and post in this thread.
Have an account? Login here.