In the previous article we talked about what pitfalls await buyers of the secondary car market in Bulgaria. We would now like to provide specific instructions for selecting and inspecting a machine before purchasing. So, we offer you a detailed list for checking the condition of a used car.
Checklist for inspecting a car before purchasing:
- Details of different shades. They talk about an impact (into a painted part of the body). By the way, Bulgarians don’t particularly try to match the color when painting; if they want to, it’s easy to notice.
- Factory welds on the body. Racks, the inside of the trunk and hood, door pillars, stiffeners, side members. Traces of handicraft welding indicate that the car was welded from several parts.
- The symmetry of the gaps between parts of the car body. With special care: bumper, fenders, doors, headlights, hood. Gaps of different widths occur when replacing body parts, which also indicates participation in an accident.
- Markings on the headlights (see the brand of the headlight manufacturer in the factory configuration). Non-original headlights indicate that these are tuning or most likely the consequences of an accident.
- The condition of the internal metal part of the body at the bottom of the trunk. Heavy rust means the car has been sunk.
- Fogged headlights, condensation - the headlights are not sealed. The car was in a minor accident.
- The markings and numbers of the glass in the windows must be identical. Different? This means the car has a new door, but the old one remained at the scene of the accident.
- Exterior and interior lighting, electronics. If something doesn’t work, and the seller assures you that you just need to replace the light bulb, don’t believe it. This is most likely a wiring problem that is too expensive to fix. After the accident, of course. This also includes a non-working cigarette lighter.
- Presence and condition of airbags. Instead of a deployed airbag, a plug is often installed, this can be seen by scratches and asymmetrical gaps on the steering wheel, on the inside of the door pillars. By the way, the airbag is deployed during an accident.
- New seat, re-covered steering wheel (or braided), don’t rush to rejoice, most likely the previous parts were “meat” after an accident. Or this car served as a taxi. In general, the condition of the steering wheel and gear knob speaks about the mileage better than any documents.
- Ceiling. If the fabric bubbles and does not adhere well to the ceiling, you have a “drowned man”. According to the seller, these are the consequences of unsuccessful dry cleaning. Ask why dry cleaning was needed. Maybe there are blood stains left after an accident?
- Oil in the box, oil in the engine. Use the dipstick. Viscous and black oil indicates that it has not been changed for a long time, and also that the car has not been serviced on time.
- Sealing rubber bands in the doors. Bend back the rubber band around the door and check for signs of handicraft repairs or rust. Traces of repair - the pillars were straightened after an accident. Rust - the car was sinking. The rubber bands are crumbling - the car is older than they tell you.
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A washed engine is a serious cause for concern. The seller has something to hide. For example, traces of leaking oil from connecting parts. A dirty engine should be dusty but dry.
Listen to the noise of the running engine; it should not roar. Sometimes, before selling, a special mixture is poured into a problem engine so that it runs silently for several hours. However, this trick is more popular among outbids in the Russian Federation; in Bulgaria they have not yet reached such a level of deception. - Social networks and databases. Car dealers falsify not only the documents for the car, but also the Facebook accounts of the previous owners, who used the car only for trips “to church on weekends.” In addition to social networks, they can show you a fake database where you can see that the car is “not broken, not painted.”
- Car service is around the corner. Do not forget that to assess the condition of the car you cannot go to the car service recommended by the seller. An assessment of a “paid” car mechanic is unlikely to be objective.
- Test drive. If you are not allowed to leave the car and test the car on the track, citing various “rational” reasons, then the engine or gearbox is in very poor condition. The seller is waiting for a sucker.
- Decoy. “Another buyer” may come up to you and start praising the car that interests you.
- Weather. For inspection, choose a dry, sunny day; snowy and rainy weather makes it difficult to assess the condition of the car.
Water in the headlights indicates that the car was lifted from the bottom for you
What to take with you for a car inspection:
- Flashlight
- Several disposable gloves
- Wet and dry wipes
- Thickness gauge (a device for determining paint thickness).
If a car salesman, seeing you with this set, wrinkles his nose in surprise and sighs with displeasure, then he has something to hide.
Remember, no matter what car you buy, it is logical to set aside 10% of the cost for the next repair. Consumables should be changed immediately after purchase: engine oil and filter, cabin air filter.
“Professional” auto-selection service
A large amount of junk in the car market in Bulgaria has made the “professional” car selection service very popular. However, local car pickers, as a rule, evaluate the car according to their own, not always objective, criteria, without providing any guarantees for the service.
If you still decide to use third-party help, we advise you to look at what the “specialist” himself drives and only then make a decision. Moreover, it is not the class of the car that should be assessed, but its condition. By the way, in Bulgaria they really like to take money in advance, after which many workers lose interest in the task. Therefore, it is worth dividing the payment into parts.
Download our list and take it with you to inspect your car
Features of Bulgarian car enthusiasts
- Cars with an automatic transmission are almost never found on sale. Salon salespeople explain this by saying that a manual transmission is more reliable. In fact, cars with automatic transmissions are simply more expensive and they are not brought here. And if they do deliver it, it’s with a “used” box, which requires expensive repairs.
- In Bulgaria, station wagons are very popular, probably because they look like carts, which, by the way, can still be found on the highway. Some citizens, out of habit, load oversized items into the passenger compartment or trunk, creating an emergency situation on the road.
- In Bulgaria, they really love Porshe Cayenne, which end up in the car market with a huge discount and no less serious problems. Gas equipment is added to the Porsche package, as local “millionaires” prefer to save on refueling.
Tell us what experience you had when choosing a car. What's missing from our list?