Pre-purchase inspection - standard
FitsAll
What’s included
-
$349
Members save up to 15%
Half day
Before You Buy
Don’t Buy
Someone Else’s
Problem.
A used BMW can look immaculate and still be three months from a timing chain. We put it on the lift, read every module — not just the generic codes — and hand you written findings with photos before you sign anything.
What We Look At
Every Module. Every Leak.
- Full OEM-level scan — every control module read with ISTA, PIWIS or Autel, including stored and intermittent faults a generic reader never sees.
- On the lift — leaks traced to their source, not just noted as “wet.”
- Cooling system — pressure tested, because this is where these cars get expensive.
- Brakes and tires — measured and recorded, not eyeballed.
- Suspension and bushings — checked for the wear that turns into a four-figure job.
- Battery and charging — load tested and registered status checked.
- Road test — drivetrain, shifts, noises, and how it actually behaves warm.
- Written findings with photos — yours to keep, and to negotiate with.
What It Costs
Two Options.
Both include the full scan, the lift inspection and written findings. The difference is how long we have with the car.
Pre-purchase inspection - premium
FitsAll
What’s included
-
$549
Members save up to 15%
Half day
What We’re Looking For
The Failures That Cost Real Money.
These are the ones we check for specifically, because they are the ones that turn a good deal into a bad one. Each is written up in full.
BMW Coolant Expansion Tank Leak: Why It Cracks, What It Costs$400–$1,500 to put rightBMW N20/N26 Timing Chain Failure Symptoms and Cost$3,150–$4,800 to put rightBMW N54 High Pressure Fuel Pump Failure: Symptoms$1,450–$2,400 to put rightBMW N54/N55 Charge Pipe Failure: Symptoms and Cost$300–$1,200 to put rightBMW N54/N55 Water Pump and Thermostat Failure$1,150–$2,000 to put rightBMW N63 Problems: Oil Consumption and Repair Cost$6,300–$14,000 to put right
Pre-Purchase Questions
How long does a pre-purchase inspection take?
The standard inspection is about an hour and a half on the lift. The premium inspection is roughly two and a half hours, which buys more time to chase anything the first pass turns up. Book ahead — a PPI needs a bay and a lift, not a parking spot.
What do I actually get?
Written findings with photos, plus the scan data. You keep the report. It tells you what the car needs now, what it will need soon, and roughly what each of those costs at our rates — so you can decide, or negotiate, with real numbers.
What is the difference between the standard and premium inspection?
Time on the car. Standard covers the full inspection and scan. Premium is a longer appointment for cars where that is not enough — higher-mileage examples, modified cars, or anything the standard pass flags as worth digging into.
Can you inspect a car that is at a dealership or a private seller?
The car needs to come to us so we can get it on a lift and on our scan tools. Most sellers will allow a buyer inspection at an independent shop — if one refuses, that is information too.
Do you inspect cars other than BMW?
Yes. BMW and European is what we specialise in, and it is where an inspection is worth the most, but we inspect other makes as well. Call with the year, model and engine and we will tell you straight whether we are the right shop for it.
What if the inspection finds something big?
Then it did its job. You get the findings and the cost, and you decide whether to walk, negotiate, or buy it knowing what is coming. If you do buy it and bring it back to us, you are already ahead — we know the car.