I would strongly caution anyone considering paying Mercedes-Benz of Romeoville for a pre-purchase…read moreinspection.
I paid $498 for what I was told would be a two-hour PPI on a 2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 S that I was purchasing remotely. Because I could not inspect the vehicle myself, I specifically chose a Mercedes-Benz dealership and relied on their expertise to tell me the true condition of the car before making a $91,000 purchase.
Their inspection identified only two driver-assistance faults. I was sent a brief walk around video and engine video, along with basic tire and brake measurements, and was otherwise given the impression that the vehicle was in excellent condition.
After purchasing the car and having it delivered, I was shocked by what had been missed.
Nearly every panel on the vehicle appears to have been repainted, and multiple panels visibly do not match in color or finish. The passenger-side rear quarter area shows obvious prior paintwork. The front bumper is severely misaligned, with missing mounting hardware/brackets on the passenger side and is not properly secured. The paint also shows significant fading/sun exposure.
These are not hidden mechanical problems that would require extensive diagnostics to discover. The paint mismatch and bodywork are visible simply by walking around the vehicle. I genuinely do not understand how a technician performing a two hour professional PPI could inspect this vehicle and fail to mention any of it.
It gets worse. The vehicle's alignment was substantially off, requiring the steering wheel to be held noticeably to the left for the vehicle to drive straight. A proper road test should have caught this immediately.
After the vehicle arrived in San Diego, I brought it directly to Mercedes-Benz of San Diego. The vehicle has now been there for over a week having all of the engine mounts replaced, another significant issue that was completely missed during the PPI.
I paid Mercedes-Benz of Romeoville specifically to protect myself from this situation. Had they accurately reported the condition of the body, paint, alignment, and mechanical issues, I would have either substantially renegotiated the purchase or walked away from the vehicle altogether.
Instead, I relied on their professional assessment and proceeded with a $91,000 purchase that I cannot simply undo. I now have to deal with extensive prior paintwork, mismatched panels, body repairs, alignment issues, mechanical repairs, and the effect all of this has on the vehicle's value and future resale.
I understand that no PPI can guarantee a perfect used vehicle or uncover every possible hidden issue. However, missing nearly an entire vehicle's worth of repainting, obvious mismatched paint, a visibly misaligned and improperly secured bumper, a significantly off center alignment, and failed engine mounts is unacceptable for a $498, two hour inspection performed by a Mercedes Benz dealership.
I am extremely disappointed. I trusted Mercedes-Benz of Romeoville's inspection to help me make an informed decision on a very expensive purchase, and in my experience, that inspection failed at its most basic purpose. I would not recommend relying on their pre purchase inspection service.