EPV

Either run your own or use a third party that actually do something useful. Warranty Assist are good.

Great minds. I replied asking him to call me tomorrow to confirm his appointment and I will provide him with whatever he needs. I’ve watched the video back, there’s dry white crusty marking around the coolant expansion tank. Completely normal and the result of technicians missing the filler cap occasionally. It’s fuck all.

Same difference mate in regards to providing finance.

It has all that mate, clean ticket, proper pdi and invoice etc. I’m more wondering if this bloke is a buyer or messer. I’m not worried about the car is what i’m saying, the car is sweet. He, might not be. Exactly my thought process. What difference would it make to have the number of the garage where it was last serviced? ”oh yeah hello mr garage, you changed the fluids and filters, did you notice that catastrophic engine failure was imminent at all?”

I have a bite on an Audi Q5. 122k, 2011 plate, 1 owner from new, lovely car. Drives mint, 2.0 TFSI and i’ve had maybe 6 emails on it in 10 days. No viewings yet but 2/3 of them are close to being ready to buy. Anyway, here’s a conversation I had with a new enquiry sent last night; Hi Punter Thanks for your enquiry. May I ask if you have had the opportunity to review the video of the vehicle I have made?This evening is ok but only from 7:30pm onwards I’m afraid as I am busy up until then. Does that suit you?Regards,JamesElite Preowned Vehicles Hello, Yes, I have watched the video - one of my reasons to try and view is to have a closer look at something I think I spotted in it... Tonight is a bit short notice for the wife - could we do tomorrow evening? 7:00onwards ? Thanks, Punter Hi Punter, Don’t leave me in suspense, what have you spotted? Tomorrow won’t work for me, I could do Friday from 7pm onwards or Saturday morning at 10am? Regards, James Hi, Lets do Friday night - thanks very much. In terms of the "spot" - there's some water marks around the expansion tank - so thinking it might have overheated at some point - obviously got me wondering on the engine a bit, as relatively high mileage, & don't want the head gasket going on me !! Would it be possible to get the contact details for the garage who did the last service? - It didn't sound like it was an Audi garage though? Cheers Punter I’m not long in this trade as most of you know but is it me, or does this bloke reek of a weekend warrior know-fuck-all type who will bore me to death, waste my time and ultimately not buy the car because he’s been reading too much of PistonHeads? Or am I blowing off a potential sale?

A third party warranty company should work like this; You buy a third party warranty and when something goes wrong, the warranty company sort it out. Admin, pay for the repair, end of. Why would you bother with a third party warranty that you have to deal with all the shit and source the fix yourself?

I never knew that’s how the RAC warranties work. So the billy phones you up, you have to arrange the fix and they reimburse you? Or not as the case may be?

So what may I ask do the RAC do?

Well you certainly haven’t missed the cold weather. It’s like ghandis flip flop round here.

How was the holiday

Smashing

I don’t follow. If you’re paying for a third party warranty, why are you getting involved in the labour/garage allocation? That’s the point, the billy rings them and they sort it all.

When you say they don’t cover the claim in full, what do you mean as an example? I do my own warranties.

Appreciated thanks. As said i’m not looking for cheap or freebies but i’m keen to put the car in the right hands first time and not end up chasing shadows and losing fortunes.

Cheers, I’m quite happy to travel an hour or two to get it to the right person first time. I could spend days messing around with local garages who will play parts darts with it and cause nothing but grief each time a “fix” takes place but ultimately nothing changes. Pay cheap pay twice in this scenario. As a JLR man, would you mind if I rang you with a diagnostic as I have it (usual snap on/high street garage diagnostics) and see if you have experience of this particular problem I have?

Anyone got a recommendation for a JLR specialist in Kent, Surrey or East Sussex? I've found a chap in Surrey but would rather go on recommendation if possible. Will need to have dealer level diagnostic equipment.

Fair points, all stuff i’m sure i’ll Learn.

I know a shagged clutch. I don’t know that a certain bit needs changing at the same time. I expect my garage to know that. LIKE

There's plenty of info on that subject on here mate, there will be stuff stipulated in your house deeds that you can't run a business from a residential property or something like that but as you're only planning on doing one at a time and assuming you have good neighbours and you're not going to annoy them I can't see why you need to tell anybody anything.

Enjoy your well earned retirement!

Well, you do have your own workshop so I imagine you would know that

well I'm 40 so, 41.

Dave, I realise you mean well but you also have to realise that a large majority of car dealers aren't experts on mechanics. There's a reason why I sell cars and don't mend them, i'm doing OK at the former and i would be utter chaos at the latter. Most of us pay a garage to do the needful and don't question them if they have changed the flux capacitor because A; We assume the garages we use are competent and know these things and B: Most of us don't know what a flux capacitor is.

I'll be slightly unpopular with the older dealers on here and say that if you don't have a good grasp of technology, websites, photos, videos etc you will struggle. People buy cars from the internet these days and unless you're going to set up a roadside pitch (seems unlikely as a start up) then the internet is your showroom, therefore you must be better than everyone else or at least, aim to be. I think you need to consider how you're going to advertise, where, what etc before going to an auction and buying a car. It's good that you have lots of time, you will need it when starting up properly in this industry but if a complete novice like me can do it, anyone can. That said I have found the best way to learn is to fuck something up and try again, so whilst I'm saying consider all the above, there's nothing wrong with getting yourself a car to sell, fixing it up, looking around at what other dealers do and taking the plunge. Good luck,.

There used to be a garage local to me that named themselves BMWise. They were an independent BMW specialists and repaired nothing but BMW’s. BMW asked them politely to change their name, which they refused, they then started court proceedings which were resisted initially but upon realising the David and Goliath proportions, the garage saw sense and changed their name. I think this story along with TV’s story tells you alot about how huge organisations protect their brand.