If you compare what car dealerships do to prepare a pre-owned vehicle for sale to your free inspection checklist, you might find your list is incomplete.
Here are the relevant points of inspection that Mercedes-Benz dealers of Southern California include in their pre-owned vehicle program.
Engine compartment and pre-road test checks
1. Engine oil;
2. Transmission oil;
3. Rear axle oil;
4. Transfer case and front axle oils;
5. Engine compartment/antifreeze protection;
6. Power steering fluid;
7. Brake fluid and clutch fluid;
8. Windshield washer fluid;
9. Level control oil;
10. Engine component/system -- condition check & verification;
11. Air cleaner/filter;
12. V-belts, Poly-V-belt.
Undercarriage/drivetrain
13. Drive shaft flex discs, couplings and center support bearings;
14. Exhaust system/connections/supports;
15. Parking brake and cables;
16. Brake lines;
17. Tire wear (including spare); depth = 50% above tread wear indicator;
18. Brake rotors/pads (minimum of 50% pad material);
19. Shock absorbers/spring-struts;
20. Suspension inspection, self-leveling suspension;
21. Front/rear axle rubber mounts/bushings;
22. Steering play;
23. Tighten steering gear bolts;
24. Front axle ball joints;
25. Steering shock.
Post-road test inspection
26. Fluid leaks visible inspection;
27. All fluid levels (under hood).
When certifying a pre-owned vehicle at least 15 months old and with more than 18,000 miles on the odometer, the Mecedes-Benz dealers go through a 155 inspection point process.
