Agree the scope before the car moves
Give the inspector the exact buying brief: original CS75 or PLUS, required equipment, acceptable repair history and any conditions that would exclude the vehicle. Ask whether the appointment includes underbody access, diagnostics, a cold start and a lawful road assessment. These checks need time and suitable facilities; a seller's walk-around video should not be presented as the same service.
Agree how findings will be delivered. Request dated photographs, measurements where appropriate, a written summary and clear limits on what was accessible. Record the inspector's role and the party commissioning the work. For a batch, one detailed report is required for each car rather than a sample report attached to a list of unrelated VINs.
Verify identity and body condition
Match the VIN and manufacturer label to the documents, quotation and inspection file. Check that the photographs show the same vehicle throughout. Ask the inspector to assess accessible structural areas, panel alignment, visible repairs, corrosion and signs of water entry. Paint readings can support the assessment, but a number alone does not establish the full repair history.
Distinguish cosmetic work from structural concerns. A repainted bumper and a repaired structural member carry different implications, and each should be described accurately. Where an area cannot be accessed, preserve that limitation. Require further inspection when the buying decision depends on an unseen section. Do not translate “no issue visible in these photographs” into “never damaged.”
Inspect engine, gearbox and chassis together
Request the engine checks described in the powertrain guide, including the start condition, service record and any concerning observations. Have the transmission assessed under the agreed conditions, then consider braking, steering, suspension and tyre condition during the same review. A vibration or noise may involve more than one system and should not be diagnosed from a single short clip.
Record diagnostic findings before codes are cleared. Ask which modules were checked and whether any warning returned after testing. Keep scans alongside physical observations. If the report recommends a specialist assessment, resolve that recommendation before final acceptance instead of treating the absence of a confirmed diagnosis as proof that no repair is needed.
Test daily-use equipment
Check both keys when supplied, locks, windows, seat adjustment, heating and cooling, lights, wipers and the parking display. Verify the actual seat configuration and the operation of restraint-related systems within the inspector's scope. Test advertised assistance functions appropriately and record limitations. A switch or sensor visible in a photograph is not evidence that the complete system works.
Inspect roof seals and drains where applicable, cabin odour, dampness, trim damage and luggage-area wear. Demonstrate the screen language and phone functions your customers require. The equipment guide helps separate local functions from connected services. List missing accessories and damaged components individually so the preparation quotation has a clear basis.
Turn findings into priced actions
Classify each item as acceptable, repair required, further evidence required or outside the buying brief. Ask for a repair scope identifying parts, labour, estimated timing and who will pay. An unexplained lump-sum allowance can conceal major differences between a cosmetic repair and a component replacement. Keep uncertain costs separate from confirmed quotations.
For work completed before shipment, request completion evidence and a focused reinspection of the affected system. A new invoice does not necessarily show that the original symptom has been resolved. Document any remaining limitation and decide whether it changes the release decision. If the seller offers a substitute car, restart the VIN-specific review for that vehicle.
Use clear language in the approval note
Write the final decision in terms the receiving team can check. For example, specify that both listed keys must operate after programming and that the repaired air conditioning must be demonstrated before handover. Avoid “everything should be fine” as a release condition. When the evidence arrives, identify the report or photograph that closes each requirement. An approval is easier to administer when it names the result rather than relying on an informal conversation.
Close the file before release
At release, confirm identity, condition, keys, accessories and the agreed documentation again. Record the odometer and new exterior photographs close to handover. Compare them with the accepted inspection to identify changes during storage or preparation. Agree how discrepancies will be handled before the car is delivered to the carrier.
Share your inspection requirements through the dealer enquiry form. The form starts a sourcing discussion, not an inventory reservation. For a multi-car order, ask for an acceptance sheet per VIN and one order summary showing the pending items. That combination keeps a large purchase manageable without replacing individual vehicle evidence with a general assurance.
