Any advice on pre-purchase inspections? Not Citroen.

[qprdude]

My son is about to buy a Porsche Cayenne V8 turbo and wants an inspection done at the vendors in Ongar, Essex. The AA don't do Porsche and the Porsche "specialist" doesn't do Cayenne!!
Still have the RAC to try when they open tomorrow, but he is supposed to be driving his BMW from Aberdeen to part exchange on Saturday morning. He is driving down on Friday afternoon and staying in a hotel before picking up the Cayenne and driving back on Saturday so it's kind of urgent. Any advice would be good (apart from" don't buy it") because he won't listen to me as usual but is a bit wary of any previous repairs.

[Hell Razor5543]

Are there enough petrol stations between Ongar and Aberdeen?

[RichardW]

http://www.eliteporsche.co.uk/
http://www.charlesivey.com/

Sure there are others.... Is there someone in Aberdeen can look after it? Oh, yeah, forgot, the offshore money means they're ten-a-penny

[qprdude]

http://www.eliteporsche.co.uk/
http://www.charlesivey.com/

Sure there are others.... Is there someone in Aberdeen can look after it? Oh, yeah, forgot, the offshore money means they're ten-a-penny

Ha Ha, if there is loads of money up here, it has passed me by.

There are Porsche dealers here but what he needs is an inspection service where they go to the sellers place to inspect the car and provide a report. They would appear to be as rare as hens teeth. Plenty garages but they don't travel to inspect.

[wurlycorner]

Is that from Ongar Bridge?
I've not bought from them, but grew up not far from Ongar and was through there frequently, so I know they've been around a fair while and wouldn't have survived operating at their end of the market if they weren't pretty reputable. Not that that says anything in particular I suppose!

I'd be tempted to use an independant inspector than from any of the big chains tbh, less likely to be a 'cut/paste' report?

Good few options turned up just on a quick Google on "independent vehicle inspection essex"
http://www.alternative-vehicle-inspections.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.essexvehicleinspections.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I should add that I don't know any of them.

My mates used an independent inspector in Essex somewhere on one of his cars that turned out to be a lemon (so he could claim back via credit card company). I'll ask him who he used and get back to you if I can...

[daviemck2006]

Is your son wanting to scare everybody with one of these? Blackout the windows and he's a gangster The oil richness has also passed me by, but fortunately for my daughter, not her hubby. Which is good as she is not going back to work until her new baby goes to school. So thats less money coming in and further for it to go!

[qprdude]

Is that from Ongar Bridge?
I've not bought from them, but grew up not far from Ongar and was through there frequently, so I know they've been around a fair while and wouldn't have survived operating at their end of the market if they weren't pretty reputable. Not that that says anything in particular I suppose!

I'd be tempted to use an independant inspector than from any of the big chains tbh, less likely to be a 'cut/paste' report?

Good few options turned up just on a quick Google on "independent vehicle inspection essex"
http://www.alternative-vehicle-inspections.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.essexvehicleinspections.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I should add that I don't know any of them.

My mates used an independent inspector in Essex somewhere on one of his cars that turned out to be a lemon (so he could claim back via credit card company). I'll ask him who he used and get back to you if I can...

Yes, it's the Austin Owen place at the Stapleford aerodrome.

Too late, the R.A.C are inspecting it on Friday. I tried most of local the ones that turned up on Google, but I either couldn't get one in the timescale required, or they wouldn't do a Porsche Cayenne. Two "Porsche" specialists said they didn't do them either????. Got a bloody cheek calling themselves "Porsche specialists" ( that's what I told them anyway).
It doesn't really make much difference as none of the inspection companies would give any guarantees (bit like an MOT, where the car is OK on the day, and that's it!)

My son is getting a comprehensive warranty with the car which seems to cover everything but brake pads, exhaust, tyres (21" ) wiper blades etc. so it's mainly to see if there is any sign of previous body repairs. The car has one previous (Simon Fuller) owner and has done about 25,000 mls.

Good to know that the vendor has been around for a while though, as it's strange territory for me.

Money no object for some guys Davie. Son works for a big oil company, done 4 years offshore and now in the office. Congrats on the new grandchild.

[qprdude]

Oh well. The RAC inspector picked up on an oil leak. He hasn't reported yet, but my son phoned the garage and they told him. They have since had the car checked by their mechanic who stripped down a few bits and pieces and thought it could well be the turbo(s). The garage offered the deposit back but son wants to wait and see what the outcome is first .
Would I be being uncharitable if I thought the immediate offer of a refund would allow them to re-list the car and hope a new buyer didn't get an inspection?
They were offering a 6 months guarantee so if a leaking turbo pipe held up for that long, it might save them from having to get anything repaired. I have grave doubts either way, but my son has got the bit between his teeth.

[wurlycorner]

Yes, it's the Austin Owen place at the Stapleford aerodrome

That's a different lot, don't know them at all.

Two "Porsche" specialists said they didn't do them either????. Got a bloody cheek calling themselves "Porsche specialists" ( that's what I told them anyway).

As a former Porsche 924s owner, that doesn't surprise me - most Porsche people don't believe any Porsche exists other than one with a 911 badge on the back (possible exception of 959's and their ilk).

The car has one previous (Simon Fuller) owner

Enough reason for me NOT to buy it!

[wurlycorner]

Would I be being uncharitable if I thought the immediate offer of a refund would allow them to re-list the car and hope a new buyer didn't get an inspection?

Probably not being uncharitable - looking at their website, I expect most of their customers are pure "oooh yes, that's a nice colour" 'point and pay' merchants...


How bad is the leak though? Is it actually something to worry about? I can't say I've ever owned a car that didn't leak some amount of oil - in fact I didn't know such a thing existed!

[Hell Razor5543]

While some types of oil leak are not critical, I would consider any to do with the turbo are serious. If the turbo doesn't get enough oil it fails, and that isn't good.

[qprdude]

While some types of oil leak are not critical, I would consider any to do with the turbo are serious. If the turbo doesn't get enough oil it fails, and that isn't good.

More or less what I was thinking. No information on how long it has been leaking for. There was some oil in a drip tray , that's all he was told.
If the y fix a leaking pipe, the turbo could still be on the way out.

[wurlycorner]

While some types of oil leak are not critical, I would consider any to do with the turbo are serious. If the turbo doesn't get enough oil it fails, and that isn't good.

More or less what I was thinking. No information on how long it has been leaking for. There was some oil in a drip tray , that's all he was told.
If the y fix a leaking pipe, the turbo could still be on the way out.

Yes, I know how Turbo's work I have 6 turbo cars (see signature) and all of them weep oil.
Sorry, no offence meant here but honestly, there's not anything like enough info here to start panicking about yet. "Some oil in a drop tray" - the fact there's a drip tray there indicates it will be perfectly normal that some oil will drip at that location?!

If it's a tiny weep, then oil pressure won't have been affected at all and there will be nothing wrong with the turbo. Replace the pipe or the sealing washers (whichever it is that's leaking) and job done. If it had caused any damage to the turbo and your son will be using the car as a daily car, then 6 months will be more than enough for a mildly damaged turbo to die - they spin at such high speed and temperatures, if there's anything wrong, they don't last 5 minutes.

You need to get the actual detail from the inspector before making any decisions and jumping to conclusions...

Also have a look on a Porsche owners forum and ask around if it's common on that model, or not - that's where you'll get the best/really relevant info for the car he's looking to buy

[qprdude]

I'm not jumping to any conclusions, I'm not buying the car. As stated, my son is waiting to see the outcome of the dealers check. In 45 years of car owning, I've had plenty cars,turbo and naturally aspirated, that didn't leak oil. I doubt very much that the RAC report will come any closer than " upper engine oil leak" or "lower engine oil leak" detected. Might be more precise, but in the absence of even a verbal report, everything is on hold. I had a look on the Porsche problems site and the tubo on the V8 was mentioned but I'm buggered if I can remember why! (It's an age thing). At £27 grand, my son is not taking any risks. I initially thought the car was a bit cheap and it seems like the inspection cost was money well spent. He earns good money, but not enough to be able to chuck it away!.

[wurlycorner]

I'm not jumping to any conclusions, I'm not buying the car.

Sorry, I didn't actually mean you were!

I doubt very much that the RAC report will come any closer than " upper engine oil leak" or "lower engine oil leak" detected.

Really? Is that right?
Never paid for a car inspection done myself so I don't know - that would be pretty rubbish if that is all they said though?! I'd expect them to given an opinion if it's significant or not? Otherwise that would be a bit like getting a house survey done and them coming back and saying "there's signs of damp on the walls but I didn't bother putting a damp meter on to check HOW damp it was and I didn't bother to check whether it's because there's no DPC, there's a blocked drain nearby, there's a leak in the roof above it, there's a burst pipe etc. So basically it looks a bit damp and that's yer lot".

My mate had his car inspected because he discovered things like rusty inner sills that he was surprised had passed an mot just prior to buying the car (from a dealer) and the inspector gave him an opinion on whether that extent of damage could have happened since he'd owned the car or must have been there at the time of the MOT and whether the vehicle should have been sold with a full MOT etc. (he condemmed the car, it was scrapped and the dealer was taken to small claims and shut up shop...)

Might be more precise, but in the absence of even a verbal report, everything is on hold.

Yeah - not enough info to go on yet.

I do sure as hell hope you get a bit more info that what you've had back so far!