10 most common "new import" scams

Many people who, after a long search for a used car in our country, decided to compare prices: the same cars in Western Europe are usually 10-15% more expensive than ours. Where, then, does the profit of Gorublyane or Dupnitsa car dealerships come from? Are they altruists working at a loss to gain access to the machine?

Not at all. The simple explanation is that the so-called "new imports" to our country consist mainly of cars that could not be sold in the West. These are either so-called fleet vehicles with huge mileage, or, more often than not, they have experienced serious accidents or natural disasters, and the insurers have written them off. It is no secret that the cost of installation and painting work is much higher in countries such as Germany, Italy and Switzerland, and often repairing a badly damaged car costs the insurer more than just scrapping it and paying compensation. Then this broken car ends up in a garage in a Bulgarian village, where the masters who have already played give it a commercial look. But many of the damages that led to its disposal remain hidden from the buyer. Here are ten tricks that traders most often use to hide the flaws of a "commodity."

Rolled mileage

The most common fraudulent practice is “new” imports. Many years ago, a well-known dealer from Gorublyane admitted to us that at some point he decided not to cheat, left the actual mileage and explained to buyers that all other cars on the market have the same. He hasn't sold a single car in a month. Customers want to be lied to, and so the “105 miles Grandma Brought to Market” still works.

However, the VIN number will help you here. You can check this in the systems of the official importer or dealer of the brand - in general, do not refuse such a service. The inspection will show how many kilometers the car has traveled during the last official service in the West. Last year, for example, we tested the Nissan Qashqai, which was claimed at 112 km. It turned out that the last warranty service in Italy in 000 was … 2012 km. Since then, he has clearly gone backwards.

Ideal paint type

A used car older than 10 years inevitably has scratches and scuffs on the paintwork in some places. If you do not notice them, the car is clearly repainted. It is also possible that individual panels were damaged on impact. The seller rarely voluntarily admits that the car has crashed. But with a caliper, which shows the thickness of the varnish coating, it is easy to find it yourself - in additionally painted areas it is much denser. And painters almost never manage to achieve uniformity in the factory painting. If a car has been in an accident, it does not automatically make it unusable. But you need to make sure that the repair is done professionally, and not just turn a blind eye. If there are no service documents for its implementation, it is better to skip it.

Airbags

In the event of a "complete breakdown" imported and revived in the Bulgarian garage, the craftsmen rarely bother to replace the airbags. This not only makes cars dangerous, but also makes it easy to identify an accident hidden by the seller. Take a close look at the panels under which the airbags should be - if you notice scratches or a difference in color and condition of the plastic compared to neighboring panels, this is an eloquent sign. On much more modern vehicles, a squib is installed on the positive battery terminal to cut off the power supply in the event of an accident and prevent a fire. Its absence clearly indicates a catastrophe in the past.

Restyling ahead of its time

“Restyling” is an update of a model in the middle of its life cycle, when the manufacturer replaces something in the exterior and interior to make the car more attractive. Naturally, cars after the facelift are more in demand and have a higher price than before. That's why many dealers, after repairing a broken car, replace some components to make it look newer. Often serve as the year of issue. Luckily, this is easy to check with the VIN - there are many websites where you can get this information.

Paint polishing

Even if the car has not been repainted, the dealer may try to cover up scratches and wear to make the car look newer. The more refined he looks, the more suspicious you must be. There is nothing wrong with polishing - but you can do it yourself by purchasing it.

Salon dry cleaning

The internal equivalent of polishing. Modern household chemicals can work wonders (albeit temporarily) with the condition of the upholstery, leather, dashboard. But that only hides the problem. Cleanliness and attractive appearance is normal. But if expensive chemistry is invested in it, this is already doubtful.

Steering wheel upholstery, seat covers

The surest signs of real mileage and how brutally a vehicle is being used are the condition of the steering wheel, driver's seat and pedals. The latter are often changed, and the steering wheel is upholstered or at least covered with a cover. Covering the seats with seat covers meant that even the chemical force of the car wash was powerless. Don't go into these cars.

Pour in a thicker oil

The dealers' favorite method is to add more oil than necessary, and add various additives to cover up temporary roughness and engine noise. For the same reason, they pre-warm the engine before showing you the car. It's a good idea to manually check if this is the case. A cold start of the engine will tell a lot about its problems. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to know if supplements have been used.

Perfectly flushed engine

A well-washed product is easier to sell, every tomato seller on the market will confirm. But a car engine doesn't have to be clean. Even on a new and constantly driven car, it is covered with layers of dust and dirt. And these layers show where there are leaks. The only reason anyone bothers to wash the engine (a procedure that is quite harmful to it) is just to cover up these leaks.

Control indicators off

This is also a relatively common occurrence: the car has a serious problem (for example, with ABS, ESP or electronic engine control), but the importer cannot or does not want to invest in fixing it. The easiest way is to turn off the warning light, which would otherwise be on constantly. When the key is turned, all control indicators should light up momentarily and then go out. If it does not light up, then it is disabled. Then in any case, take the car for diagnostics.

What is the conclusion from all this? When a person buys a used car, he can never be completely sure of it. Even in large car markets, it is quite possible to find a readable car, as well as from reputable sellers. However, your chances are greatly increased if you buy from the first owner and with a history of service. It is worth making diagnostics in a proven service. And above all, remember the most important thing: there are no unique cars on our market. If you like the car, but something about it or the seller bothers you, just move on. Supply exceeds demand, and sooner or later you will find what suits you perfectly.