Decided not to buy!

[welease woger]

In a previous post I was enquiring about a 2011 E250 convertible I was considering buying. I’ve spent some time researching the service and MOT history which shows too many inconsistencies, viz:
1) An MOT expired in May 16 and the next MOT was issued in April 17 yet a schedule service was carried out in September 16. The dealers answer was that the owner must have forgotten to have it MOT’d!
2) An MOT was carried out on 29/4/14 at 25,775 miles and a service was carried out by a main dealer on 28/4/15 at 25,372 miles. So for a year it had traveled 403 miles in reverse!
Needless to say I’ll not be buying the car and it’s a shame that an otherwise well known respected specialist Mercedes dealer failed to pick up on these irregularities when they bought the car.
(Or am I too cynical about used car dealers?)

 

[Dean Fletcher]

If I really liked the car that wouldn't put me off.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Used car dealers always tell the truth when they keep their mouths shut.

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

To be fair, we get so many errors with digitalised MOT systems that we tend to ignore the MOT history and go by what the cars service history says. There is no fall back for input errors that would make a test look twice at his/her input.

For example, MOT system will let you input any mileage into register where as DSB won't let you put a mileage onto the system thats less than the previous recorded entry.

Its also entirely possible an owner has forgotten his MOT, you would be stunned at the regularity of it, as well as the time lapse when people do remember. Its getting less frequent with digitalised tax but there is still a lot that happens.

 

[EmilysDad]

.....

Its also entirely possible an owner has forgotten his MOT, you would be stunned at the regularity of it, as well as the time lapse when people do remember. Its getting less frequent with digitalised tax but there is still a lot that happens.

I did that the other year with a Smart. I'd been driving for around 10 months with no MOT .... it was only when I tried to tax it and the system wouldn't let me that I had a proper look
I now have an app on my phone that keeps watch over our cars

 

[curious]

I believe these days you can have an email alert from the .GOV website to remind you of an MOT expiring.

 

[Flyinspanner]

On a family Suzuki Swift, the first MOT Mileage was incorrectly entered (4500)- they’d put in the trip meter reading, went back And told them it should be 24,000, they inputted it wrong again (45000) then said they couldn’t alter it again.... muppets

 

[John Laidlaw]

I believe these days you can have an email alert from the .GOV website to remind you of an MOT expiring.

And a text if you want ....

 

[welease woger]

Thanks folks. Judging by the replies I'm minded to reconsider.

 

[fabes]

That was 2 to 3 years ago.....

What TLC has it had in the last couple of years?
Faults and shortcomings (if any) may have been rectified

 

[Abb]

Thanks folks. Judging by the replies I'm minded to reconsider.

Personally I wouldn't. Imagine when it comes to moving it on and trying to explain what may or may not have happened to the potential purchaser, when explaining the irregularities.

 

[davidsl500]

Then again it's a good negotiating point for a hefty discount?

 

[mioba]

I dont think any mistrust can be placed on the selling dealer as he is not responsible for whats gone on in the past.
It could be the car is sold as its just not getting used and so why pay tax and insurance.
If the car is neat and tidy and ticks all the boxes then go for it.

 

[sonic]

I dont think any mistrust can be placed on the selling dealer as he is not responsible for whats gone on in the past.
It could be the car is sold as its just not getting used and so why pay tax and insurance.
If the car is neat and tidy and ticks all the boxes then go for it.

I disagree the dealer should carry out all the usual checks before accepting it as a part exchange. That is the basis for the price he will offer for the car.

 

[Caulkhead]

NMR can be contacted by phone to recheck a mileage discrepancy, and often something simple and obvious can happen when the MOT guy wrongly adds the mileage or can be confused by a KM reading etc etc etc. Discrepancies unfortunately are many these days, I’ve had a few.

 

[BillyBoy]

I disagree the dealer should carry out all the usual checks before accepting it as a part exchange. That is the basis for the price he will offer for the car.

I would guess that the dealer check consists of typing the reg no into HPI (or equivalent) and making sure it says OK. If the above discrepancies don't show on HPI, I suspect the dealer won't know about them.

 

[rifiki]

And then get it MOTd and service at same time saves a lot of aggro.

 

[MBDevotee]

I agree a slight discrepancy on MOT miles wouldn't put me off - I have over the years had 3 x MOT places put the wrong mileage in - and unless corrected immediately it can't be changed.

It's sloppy and poor - but it happens - and it's no reflection on the car. If everything else is ok - it wouldn't bother me.