RACQ Inspection on Used Car Purchase Failed Roadworthy, Should I Proceed?

wooroongarra on 18/07/2021 - 12:21

Hi OzBargain,

I am looking to buy a used car and found one I like, gave it a test drive last Sunday and was very impressed with condition. Passed all PPSR checks so went ahead with a RACQ Mobile Inspection + Safety Certificate which took place on Friday, and the car failed the inspection. I have let the owner know and he has booked in the car to see a mechanic on Monday to have the issues rectified. Just wondering what your thoughts are on the overall condition and whether anything here should be avoided.

Here are details from the failed inspection:

3.1 Windscreen and Glazing
3.1.e Tint films are not free of bubbles, scratches or other defects that significantly affect the driver’s field of view

Don't know what's wrong with it, I certainly didn't notice anything, RACQ report says tinting distorted but should be easy fix.

6.1 Steering Components
6.1.f Any power steering component (electric or hydraulic) is leaking, not secure, damaged or inoperative

Power steering fluid level low, should be easily fixed.

7.3 Tyres
7.3.h Tyres do not have a tread pattern at least 1.5mm deep, other than at tread wear indicators, in a band that runs continuously
across the tyre width that normally comes into contact with the road and around the whole circumference of the tyre

Front Tyres need to be replaced, not big deal and Owner has said that he will replace them.

8.2 Brake System Operation
8.2.b Any warning device or pressure/vacuum gauge does not operate correctly

There is dash warning saying service break, visit workshop.

9.4 Leaks
9.4.a Any component leaks oil on to the roadway or onto any exhaust system or brake component

RACQ Inspector's Notes: Leaking onto exhaust,Advise clean, locate and rectify source
Seems concerning but want to hear other's thoughts.

Poll Options

  • 3
    Seems like nothing to be concerned about, go ahead after mechanic visit
  • 11
    Wait until mechanic visit and make decision after then
  • 83
    Don't proceed
Automotive

closed Comments

  • spackbace on 18/07/2021 - 12:25
    +3

    What's the year, make and model?

    • Nugs on 18/07/2021 - 12:30
      +2

      and price
      .

    • MS Paint on 18/07/2021 - 12:31
      +1

      And price?

    • wooroongarra on 18/07/2021 - 12:41
      -8

      Price $8,500 so not huge purchase. Won't say model as I've seen time and time again on this and other forums people bashing the mere suggestion of anybody wishing to purchase a used European car.

      • spackbace on 18/07/2021 - 12:44
        +16

        a used European car.

        There is dash warning saying service break, visit workshop.

        Lol…

        • pegaxs on 18/07/2021 - 12:51
          +21

          Euro car… Dash warning light on… That $8,500 was only a deposit for the work it required…

          My money is on 17yo BMW 3 Series… Hope the father-in-law doesn't find out…

        • pharkurnell on 18/07/2021 - 14:46
          +2

          FULL CODE BROWN !!!!

      • randomusername2017 on 18/07/2021 - 12:49
        +13

        bashing the mere suggestion of anybody wishing to purchase a used European car.

        Guess that's balanced out by the amount of posts asking for advice and ignoring it…

      • HeWhoKnows on 19/07/2021 - 14:25

        As many others have said

        STAY AWAY FROM USED EUROPEAN VEHICLES!

        If you don't want to take OB community advice then why waste our time with this post?
        Let the decision be on your shoulders and nobody else

        Just another time waster

    • tight-ass on 18/07/2021 - 13:36
      +1

      I can rule out an electric car - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/7224018/redir

    • HeWhoKnows on 19/07/2021 - 14:32
      +3

      This poster is wasting everyone's time

      He is hell bent on buying this car dispute warning after warning from the OB Community

      Don't waste your time here

      OP will just challenge you instead of taking good advice

  • randomusername2017 on 18/07/2021 - 12:28
    +8

    Follow up post…

    Ignored RACQ Inspection private sale, brakes failed, no insurance…can I get a refund?

    • pegaxs on 18/07/2021 - 12:33
      +12

      Just do a charge back on your direct deposit, drive it back to the sellers house and leave a $20 on the front seat for their troubles…

    • Peck on 19/07/2021 - 19:52

      Can I get the seller to pay for the coffin?

  • oscargamer on 18/07/2021 - 12:36
    +1

    The issues found could be easy fixes or very expensive.

    Personally, I wouldn't proceed, unless the car is about $5000 less than others.

    • wooroongarra on 18/07/2021 - 13:28
      -2

      Price is very competitive and low KM on it, pristine condition of interior. Will wait until everything is fixed and then go from there

      • pharkurnell on 18/07/2021 - 14:47
        +14

        And its verey broken and could be easy fixes or very expensive as many have said…

        but doesnt look like your after advice, but more looking for approval..

        Yes.,. go ahead - buy it and enjoy many feet of troubled driving..

        • pegaxs on 18/07/2021 - 15:01
          +1

          doesnt look like your after advice, but more looking for approval..

          This is OzConfirmationBias.com.au after all… and you gotta fight people who try and drop truth bombs on you.

        • HelpMeiCantSee on 19/07/2021 - 09:32

          Sounds like it’s a bmw. All of those things are standard maintenance on a bmw. Just hope they’re ready to keep fixing similar amounts of stuff annually.

          Love me a Beamer, but man. They’re maintenance intensive.

          • pharkurnell on 19/07/2021 - 10:27
            +1

            @HelpMeiCantSee: Mate of mine is a BMW Master Tech - been working there over 20yrs… neither him or his missus own a BMW LOL… says a lot.

      • HeWhoKnows on 19/07/2021 - 14:29

        You seem to be determined to buy this vehicle
        You seem determined not to take any OB Community advice

        Just close this post and leave us alone
        We are not interested in the outcome

        BUYER BEWARE!

  • apsilon on 18/07/2021 - 12:45
    +3

    My main concerns would be the power steering and brake issues found. They could be simple easy fixes or they could be extremely expensive fixes. If it's something rare etc that you really want, use these as negotiating points to get the price down further. If it's something common, walk away and keep looking.

    • wooroongarra on 18/07/2021 - 13:27

      Thanks, will see what happens tomorrow, but to transfer registration the car needs to be reinspected in any case

  • mskeggs on 18/07/2021 - 13:10
    +5

    The reason people scoff at older euro cars is because they are extremely expensive to maintain, unless you work on them yourself as a hobby (and even then, parts are costly).

    It is likely you will always get issues like the ones you have uncovered here with older euro cars, as people sell them rather than carry out the costly fix.

    If money is not a concern, go ahead and buy, but my suggestion would be to budget as much for repairs as the previous owner lost in depreciation each year. That way you will be prepared to spend $5k or more each year, and will be pleased if some years you spend less.

    • wooroongarra on 18/07/2021 - 13:24
      -4

      Spoke to a family friend a few days ago who works as a mechanic at a European manufacturer and he had a laugh at those kind of claims saying should be fairly stock standard in terms of maintenance on the certain model.

      Interested to know where you've heard that $5k a year on maintenance is a regular kind of cost on these vehicles.

      • randomusername2017 on 18/07/2021 - 13:40

        Just wondering what your thoughts are on the overall condition and whether anything here should be avoided

        …

        Spoke to a family friend a few days ago who works as a mechanic at a European manufacturer

        Their thoughts?

        • pharkurnell on 18/07/2021 - 14:48
          +7

          their thoughts?

          He'll bring to me for repairs, I'll make a fortune out of him :)

      • mskeggs on 18/07/2021 - 13:50
        +2

        Euro cars have a life of 150000km, give or take, and stuff is costly to repair/replace. A clutch or a transmission. Electrical problems. Oil leaks.
        Even routine maintenance like tyres, belts, fluids, plugs is costlier than a Camry or a Falcon.
        I've had old and new Peugeots and Audis. The old Peugeots were a pleasure to drive, but when stuff went wrong, fixing it was worth more than the the car's value.

        If you budget $5k a year you will have years where you don't spend that much. But you will have years when you do, too.

        Since your shy to name the model you are looking at, all we can say is include a budget for repairs.

        • mskeggs on 18/07/2021 - 13:51
          +4

          And sometimes the $5k goes toward the cost of a different car when your transmission fails and it is $7k to get a replacement.

      • adam on 18/07/2021 - 20:25
        +2

        I bought a new $42k European car in 2014. In 2019 and 2020 I was spending >$5k on it in maintenance each year & at that rate I was even ignoring the major stuff that mechanics kept saying would need to be fixed 'soon'. I was offered between $2k and $8k trade in on a Toyota (at different dealerships). I took the best deal I could get and got rid of it, any other new vehicle was cheaper than running that thing.

      • HeWhoKnows on 19/07/2021 - 14:30

        Again not taking advice of OB Community

        Just close this post and leave us alone

        TIME WASTER!

        • randomusername2017 on 19/07/2021 - 14:53
          TIME WASTER

          Might need to say it a bit louder😂😂

  • Hithere on 18/07/2021 - 13:13
    +3

    Won't say model as I've seen time and time again on this and other forums people bashing the mere suggestion of anybody wishing to purchase a used European car.

    And you're not listening?

    There's a good reason why so many people post negative reviews after purchasing a second hand Euro.

    Ignore them at your peril.

      • HelpMeiCantSee on 20/07/2021 - 09:38

        I’ve bought many. And my outlook on them is negative. They’re expensive to own. But lovely to drive.

  • brendanm on 18/07/2021 - 13:27
    +6

    Couple of mechanics on this thread, what is the make and model? Just so you don't feel threatened, I currently have 3 euro cars. Some things have common problems and should be avoided, for others it may be a small issue. Impossible to help you without the info.

    • pegaxs on 18/07/2021 - 13:59

      Can confirm. Mechanic also and have a Euro "scatola di merda" and a shed full of Euro motorcycles…

    • MS Paint on 18/07/2021 - 14:26

      Can confirm. Not a mechanic. Own a 4wd euro to go to the bush and collect firewood. Can't kill the bloody thing.

      • pharkurnell on 18/07/2021 - 14:49
        +20

        9 out of 10 landrovers are still on the road today.. the other one made it home

    • brendanm on 18/07/2021 - 17:13
      +3

      After thinking about it, it's a Mercedes. "Service brake visit workshop" is a Merc thing. What model op?

      • MS Paint on 18/07/2021 - 17:42
        +1

        C63s AMG

        Nah! 2005 E320 is my guess

        • brendanm on 18/07/2021 - 18:35

          I was going to guess C class of that era, seems too cheap for an E.

    • azonki on 19/07/2021 - 08:54

      Next door neighbour loves these old Kompressors.
      Has never paid more than $1500 for one.
      The dashes light up like Xmas trees with warning lights.
      But he is an ex-mechanic. Calls them money lights.

      • Euphemistic on 19/07/2021 - 09:38

        It seems there’s a couple of different types of people when it comes to cars. Buy new with warranty and sell if a light comes on types. Buy old and cheap and never service types and buy old and cheap and know how to fix it types.

        I’m in the buy used and learn how to fix it camp.

  • batfastard on 19/07/2021 - 07:07
    +1

    Unless you're handy with a spanner, run the (profanity) away.

  • HelpMeiCantSee on 19/07/2021 - 09:37

    I’ve said it time and time again. Bmw and merc are wonderful cars to drive, but beyond the warranty period they require extensive maintenance. Honestly safest if you’re an enthusiast, have mechanical skills to negate labour costs and are ok with getting dirty pretty often.

    Go in eyes wide open, and know when to not repair it (and call it quits) is the art to owning one.

    Source: have owned 4x bmw 5 series (e39), and a few merc c and e series, all 2000-2009

    • bunkymag on 19/07/2021 - 09:53
      +2

      When you decide not to repair it and call it quits, you can sell it for $8500 to an ozbargainer who pays for a roadworthy check but doubts the result

  • reactor-au on 19/07/2021 - 09:51

    Should be mandatory for these inspections to note whether the vehicle is of European origin, by far the best indicator of roadworthy and massive warning sign.

  • Manny Calavera on 19/07/2021 - 14:10

    Brakes aside,

    It may be worth having a chat to the fellow and see if you can kick in for nice new tyres, as opposed to cheap and nasty ones.

    Mmm. Pilot Sports.

  • Waltervp on 19/07/2021 - 23:28
    +1

    Just looks like the previous owner did not maintain car well, and maybe not exactly 'ran it into the ground', but just didn't want to spend another dime on it. Asking for troubel. Sounds like a BMW… :)

  • eggles01 on 20/07/2021 - 01:42
    -2

    contact "FairTrading or Consumer Affair which ever State you are in,they will give you information on how proceed to find out if you have any case,you can also ask for details of ""consumers warranty"",
    if you have a computer do a google search—""what are my consumer rights and or warranties of purchasing a secondhand motor vehicle from a private seller""???

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