Cars

Car paint protection can come over as one of the most controversial upselling products around. In spite of Audi’s near impeccable track record of technology and design excellence, used auto sales, in general, can be fraught with trouble right from the start. You’ll want to be certain that someone else’s headache doesn’t become yours.

Whether your buying a secondhand Audi through private car sales, used car websites, seized property auctions, a used auto dealer or purchasing a repo car, be sure to make the kind of used car valuation that will avoid a used auto sale that results in the financial pitfalls and heartaches of bringing home a used car lemon.

First of all, a good start to a used car valuation will necessitate having access to a Kelley Blue Book and NADA used car guide. They are excellent car price guides for accurately measuring market value and Audi prices. Of course, you’ll want to verify VIN’s from the very start, as well as, carefully inspect for any signs that would implicate a history of damage with the vehicle. More specifics on that later.

Surprisingly,  a good number of those in search of reliable used cars somehow seem to miss the most basic elements of determining the value of a used auto sale and wind up scratching their heads later when faced with the facts afterwards. Having a reasonably detailed secondhand Audi used car checklist in your possession, and using it, will help to avoid this.

Once you become serious enough about the vehicle you’re considering, purchasing a Carfax report is worth serious consideration. The approximate $30 investment is worth your piece of mind. It is extremely important to make sure you have access to a valid clear title. No in transit, to be issued at a later date, title shenanigans will do, no matter how attractive an Audi used car appears to you. Sometimes an owner, either unintentionally or intentionally, can have title issues that are very difficult to resolve. So, don’t hand over any cash until you’ve inspected the title for any signs of tampering or invalidation.

Having a reasonably qualified person look over the secondhand Audi you’re interested in can save you a considerable amount of future headache. Paying a professional for a small fee to accompany you is even better. More than likely, you can a professional to do this for you for $100 or less. No matter how “good with cars” you might think you are, those who earn their living in the profession can recognize otherwise undetectable signs of damage, abnormal wear or disrepair that you would easily miss.

To go along with the above, here are an additional 20 checkpoints that will get you started on successfully executing a used car valuation of the secondhand Audi you might be considering:

1. If all VIN stickers from the doors, hood, trunk, dashboard do not match then the vehicle could have been wrecked or stolen
2. New carpeting for no apparent reason could indicate the vehicle has been flooded or not well looked after
3. Check for excessive exhaust coming out of the muffler system.
4. Evidence of leaks or hand applied seal material to plug up window leaks.
5. Auto transmission fluid should be pinkish or a very light reddish color. If dark red or a brownish or smells burnt this could indicate that the transmission might be worn or even damaged.
6. Engine oil should be a smooth brown color. If it is in any way a milky looking brown, that would indicate that the oil is mixed with engine coolant. Big problem.
7. Check for loose or crooked windows, or power windows that aren’t working. Motors are very expensive to replace.
8. Check the pedals to determine if they’ve been replaced from wear or damage. Not a good sign as to the wear and tear of the vehicle.
9. Check full functioning air conditioning. Let it run.
10. Rusty disk brakes and drums would Indicate that the car has sat abandoned for some time or may have been flooded.
11. When you move or jiggle the steering wheel back and forth there should not be any play or odd  noises of any kind.
12. Bald or uneven tire wear would be an indication of a bad alignment, possibly resulting from a wreck.
13. Look for excessive dimples, dings, dents, scratches or paint chips. Give the bumpers good looking over. Do your inspection during daylight hours.
14. Variations in paint thickness. This would require a digital thickness gauge.
15. Look for fake airbag covers. Vehicle history will tip you as to what to look for.
16. Be on the lookout for for any paint over-spray along windshield, engine compartment, traces inside door edges and along door seams.
17. Feel around door edges for evidence of leftover masking tape from body work or doors that don’t line up properly.
18. Determine if there is excessive mileage for the car’s age. You can deduct $.10 to $.15 per extra mile from the price of the vehicle.
19. A rebuilt title lowers the value of the car by 30%. The vehicle report should indicate if it is the case
20. Look for any frame irregularity which would indicate involvement in a major accident Give a good look along the vehicle for straightness.

If your vehicle interest involves private car sales, or any type of interaction that deals with a used car owner directly, don’t be intimidated or respond defensively if they appear slightly put off by your intention to execute a highly detailed vehicle inspection.

It’s good policy to inform the owner beforehand of your inspection agenda. Question them directly up front to see whether or not they have any problem with it. If they display any sign of reluctance or hostility toward the idea, this could be a sign of a shifty deal in the making and it might very well be a good time to sound retreat and live to fight another day.

Paqualina Trentino is Senior Media Manager for Secondhand Audi. Significantly noted for its Premium Price Workaround formula for leveraging cheap Audi deals to a nationwide consumer audience, Secondhand Audi also provides car loan, car loan refinancing and auto insurance resources, as well. Find out more about leveraging Premium Price Workarounds for cheap Audi deals by visiting Secondhand Audi.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Paqualina_Trentino/724458

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Just noticed another ding on your beloved vehicle? Has your kid opened the door on someone’s car door and now you have to pay for the damage? Most of the times it is intentional that is why you really need a car paint protection Adelaide to avoid this happen again.

Do you have a larger, nastier dent or scratch on a fender or bumper that is going to cost you hundreds of dollars to repair?

If you have ever answered “yes” to any of these questions, then this article may be for you. So often, we spend lots of money repairing our vehicles when they get damaged. Many times it seems that things also decide to go wrong at the very worst possible times, such as when money is short and when our responsibilities demand we have our car. Add to this the rising cost of your insurance premiums with another claim, and it is easy to see why people are looking for alternatives to traditional auto body repair.

What choices do we have?

There are basically 3 options to choose from. In short, they are summed up as follows:

1. Paintless Dent Repair
2. Spot Paint Repair
3. Traditional Auto Body Repair

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)

With Paintless Dent Removal highly trained technicians use specialized tools to massage damaged metal back to its original state – without the need for costly body repairs, without having to lose your vehicle for days, and at a price you can usually feel good about.

Here are some of the stats on Paintless Dent Repair (PDR).

Pros

• Maintains the integrity of the factory paint job (no fillers or paint that could later peel)
• Fast (Repairs can take 1/2 hour – 4 hours to perform. And some PDR techs are mobile)
• Economical ($50 – $200)
• Increases trade-in value
• Increases customer’s perception of vehicle condition

Cons

• Repaired dents may still be perceptible (80-95% of dent may be repaired. This is often acceptable & most people with untrained eyes would never notice.)

PDR works great on dings and dents where the paint is not broken. Although, it can help a dent even where the paint is broken. PDR can be used to fix dents that range in size from a “dime” to even a “softball” or greater. And, what’s more, PDR works great on creases as well. All of this, of course, will depend on how stretched the dents are and whether the PDR technician can get access to the back of the panel. One thing to be concerned with, too, is whether the technician will have to drill to get access. Sometimes this may be unavoidable in order to repair the damage, but you should ask for assurance that any holes that are drilled are properly sealed in order to prevent rust.

A testimony to Paintless Dent Repair’s effectiveness is the fact that many insurance companies will even choose paintless dent repair over traditional auto body repair when dealing with hail damage claims on a vehicle. The reason has to do with the benefits mentioned earlier. (And, quite honestly, if I drove a new vehicle that got pelted with hail, I would rather NOT have its factory paint job repainted only to have it possibly peel later.) Many hail-damaged vehicles can be repaired with paintless dent repair. This helps to minimize the number of panels that must be repainted to few or none at all.

So, if you think that paintless dent repair may be the way to go for you, then how do you go about finding a trained technician to repair your vehicle?

You could just go to the internet and do a search of qualified PDR techs in your area, but personally I feel that a better barometer of skill is word of mouth. Call up a local high-end car dealer in your area like a Mercedes-Benz or BMW dealer and ask them for a recommendation. Some of the people who purchase these types of cars are among the most pickiest and hardest to please. So when one of these dealers has a used car they are attempting to recondition for sale, they may choose only the best repair techs with experience in their field.

SPOT PAINT REPAIR

You might have a bumper that is scratched and scuffed just on one corner. Or, you might have a door dent that has cracked paint but is below a molding that extends across the length of the door. In such cases, why go through the extra expense of painting the whole panel, most of which is NOT damaged? Then Spot Paint Repair may be for you.

With spot paint repair, a highly skilled paint technician does their best to straighten the damage in a way that keeps the repair area small. They fill, prime, and color-match the area much like traditional auto body repair. However, when they reach the clear coat stage, instead of prepping and coating the entire panel, they use a special “blending-solvent” to “melt” the edge of the freshly sprayed clear coat into the existing clear coat. Many times this make for an almost imperceptible repair that the customer can feel good about.

Here are some of the quick stats on Spot Paint Repair

Pros

• Fast (Repairs can take from 2-6 hours)
• Economical ($125-300)
• Some Tech’s are mobile and will come to you in order to repair your vehicle
• Repair area kept smaller than traditional paint repairs
• More of the vehicle maintains the integrity of its factory paint job
• The same high-quality paints are used for spot paint repair that are used in traditional auto body repair
• No need to be without a vehicle for days or pay extra costs of car rental
• Increases trade-in value and customer’s perception of vehicle condition

Cons

• When panels are clear coated only partially, the edge may become visible in time. For this reason, spot paint repair is not recommended for top panels such as hoods, roofs, or trunk lids.
• Depending on the skill or method of the repairer, panels may peel, not match, or look grainy or dirty, and repaired dents may still look wavy
• May not be equal to factory paint job in quality and durability

All things considered, Spot Paint Repair is an excellent way to repair damage to a vehicle’s exterior. It may be best suited for those who are paying out of pocket or who are looking to recondition a vehicle for sale.

So, if you think that spot paint repair may be the way to go for you, then how do you go about finding a trained technician to repair your vehicle?

You could just go to the internet and do a search of qualified techs in your area, but again, personally I feel that a better barometer of skill is word of mouth. Call up a local high-end car dealer in your area like a Mercedes-Benz or BMW dealer and ask them for a recommendation. Some of the people who purchase these types of cars are among the most pickiest and hardest to please. So when one of these dealers has a used car they are attempting to recondition for sale, they may choose only the best repair techs with experience in their field.

So next time your car gets a scratch, dent, or scuff remember that there are alternatives. Paintless Dent Repair and Spot Paint Repair can save you time and money while maintaining the value of your vehicle.

Economical Alternatives to Traditional Auto Body Repair-Paintless Dent Repair & Spot Paint Repair

By Danny Leary

For more information, please visit me at www.autoworxplus.com

Read other helpful articles, get tips and advice on common vehicle appearance, restoration questions. Browse our articles, our top how-to video picks, and shop at our online selection of stores that have great deals on auto parts, restoration supplies, and other items. Get recommendations on our favorite products for detailing, painting, repairing dents on all of your vehicle projects. Ask us a question if you’d like!

Danny Leary

Danny Leary has been in the auto body repair field for many years. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and resources to help others with their auto restoration projects. He also has experience in Paintless Dent Repair, Windshield Chip Repair, Headlight Restoration, Vehicle Graphic Wrap Design, and Website Design.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Danny_Leary/571469

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Carnauba wax is still highly recommended in automotive industry. Having a car repaired can strike fear in the heart of countless individuals. You need to learn more about auto repairs to make sure you are taking good care of your automobile. The following article below contains the information with regards to auto repair. You’ll want to remove surface dirt, clean the leather, and condition the seats regularly using our leather conditioner.

You must keep good track of all your car’s records in a handy location. You want these with you when you go to get repairs done; a great place to store them is the glove compartment for easy access. The people repairing your automobile are going to need to go through these records. This can make the problem quicker and more precisely.

Keep a spare tire and a jack in your trunk. A lot of cars come equipped with them. You don’t need to be stuck out in the road and be forced to spend money on a lot for towing. It is a whole lot easier and cheaper to do the work yourself.

Keep a DIY tool kit for doing auto repairs in your trunk. Your tool kit should have equipment to change a tire. You need to get a lug wrench and a jack if you do not have them. You should have a few screwdrivers with various shapes as well as different wrenches like for this kit.

Just because it is winter does not mean you should avoid washing your vehicle. Winter is actually the season when your car becomes most damaged. Sand and salt can cause rust and corrosion.

There are a few different classifications that determine the quality of parts. New parts are brand new and made to the specifications of the manufacturer. Refurbished parts are ones that these parts have been restored to working condition. Salvage means used parts without any type of alterations.

Even if your car only seems to have a small issue going on, have it looked at by a professional. A seemingly small problem can become a big one if it is left unchecked.

Some unscrupulous body shops replace your tired with even older ones. They can get money this way. Mark your tires before taking your car to an auto shop. If your chalk is missing when you go to retrieve your vehicle, question the shop about what happened.

It is quite common for customers to find out about additional issues when collecting a car from a repairer. They do this to make you think you’re getting a good deal from them. Tell them that you’re going to have to talk to them later so that you want to take a few hours to make a decision and then call around for quotes from other shops.

OEM is the abbreviation of Original Equipment. Remember this when replacing parts replaced. You sound like a knowledgeable person on repairs if you ask your mechanic to install OEM parts. This will make it less likely to receive used parts.

AAA is an excellent ally to have on your side when you need auto repair issues.You are going to find discounts on an annual AAA membership if you shop around.

After paying a mechanic to replace an old part on your vehicle with a new one, ask him to return the old one to you. If your mechanic cannot show you the parts, it may be because the part was never replaced. This should call him out on it.

Written proof is always beneficial if you may have with the mechanic to court.

If you are happy with the work done at a particular repair shop, you should get back with them the next time your vehicle is having trouble. You might even get discounts since you are a loyal customer.

Ask your old parts to be returned to you when a mechanic replaces a part. This is an excellent way of making sure the parts have actually done. This is not important if you get your exhaust system replacement. You can see whether a new exhaust system installed.

Ask people you know a mechanic to you. This is a great way to locate a reputable mechanic because you have some first hand referrals from people you trust. This gives you much better than randomly risking your vehicle with mechanics who have no recommendations from trusted individuals.

You should always spend time to learn all about the inner workings of your car. You can only be able to sidestep the mechanic if you possess a bit of auto repair knowledge yourself. You can cut costs considerably by changing your oil or fixing a flat tire yourself.

You can either trust a small garage or a dealership to get your car fixed. Garages are cheaper, but you may find that you get hired by someone who is dishonest.

Do not try to work on your car unless you’re sure you have experience doing it. You may make problems worse or void a warranty otherwise. This will make it to where you financially responsible for everything that happens to your vehicle in the future.

Don’t buy into the tune up at 100K miles. This is a rule of thumb that actually depends on the make and nothing more. You would better be served by adhering to the maintenance schedule recommended by the manual that came with your car.

Tire wear is something you can be prevented by regular basis. Your tires should be rotated every 6000 miles, this varies based on your specific vehicle. Buy quality tires if you don’t want to have any worries about them wearing out quickly.

You may not think anything is wrong, but you should have an expert look at it. If you notice nothing is wrong with the your automobile, a simple adjustment of the computer on the dashboard may be required.

Dealing with car trouble can be very frustrating, especially if you do not have a good mechanic to help you. If you know certain facts about the repair process, you won’t need to worry. Make use of this advice the next time that your car needs repairs.