Hi

I am picking up this ST150, it has full history, 65k miles it looks to be in mint condition by pictures but hope it will be the same on real what should I check inspect on the car ? 

Looking on my phone so can't be certain. Had it been lowered? If so, I'd be checking the underside of the car for damage and signs of stress associated with reducing the ride height.

I'd also be looking to see whether it has had a hard, boy racer lifestyle. My bet is it has been driven hard for much of its life, so a comprehensive service history is needed at the very least. Lots of other receipts wouldn't be remiss either.

3 minutes ago, GaryPL said:

Looking on my phone so can't be certain. Had it been lowered? If so, I'd be checking the underside of the car for damage and signs of stress associated with reducing the ride height.

I'd also be looking to see whether it has had a hard, boy racer lifestyle. My bet is it has been driven hard for much of its life, so a comprehensive service history is needed at the very least. Lots of other receipts wouldn't be remiss either.

Yeah it have full history an 43 yr old men got that car, not sure who had it before him, yeah its lowered on eibach springs what als is there to be checked?

Pictures from under the car 

To be fare it looks quite tidy underneath.

42 minutes ago, mikeyd1 said:

To be fare it looks quite tidy underneath.

Then it is good sign then let see if it sounds good the engine

When i ever go to buy a car i spend at least an hour going over anythink just dont rush make sure everything feels good if not dont buy it but it does look nice. I think the best thing u can do is get a rac inspection done its about 100 pound  . But they will meet u there on the day and at least u will know everything about the car then

Make sure you start the engine in a morning when the engine is cold, starting an engine when previously hot is suspect.

Nice to see no oil leaks, that's a good thing.

Not on the up with this version of Fiesta but looking at the engine bay, the left inner wing strut has a black thing around it but the right hasn't! This normal ?

4 minutes ago, Ian Lanc said:

Make sure you start the engine in a morning when the engine is cold, starting an engine when previously hot is suspect.

Nice to see no oil leaks, that's a good thing.

Not on the up with this version of Fiesta but looking at the engine bay, the left inner wing strut has a black thing around it but the right hasn't! This normal ?

Lol think that is normal i remember looking at something on my brothers car and thinking looks like somethinks is missing. I could be rong tho lol

That black thing is the wiper motor mount...  I thought it seemed odd when I got mine too!

Apart from the usual Mk6 Fez checks, make sure it idles well and doesn't want to stall while driving, none of them seem to idle perfect but some are worse than others!  When checking oil, there wont be any on the dipstick first time you pull it out, no idea why but they need double dipping to get a reading.

26 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

That black thing is the wiper motor mount...  I thought it seemed odd when I got mine too!

 

Oh god! Another quality idea from Ford! Can it get any worse 

I would get an HPI check to find out if it's ever been written off (assume your old diesel was?),if it's been reported stolen or has any outstanding finance or Police marker on it. There are other Companies that provide checks but i've always been happy with the service they provide & it comes with a £25,000 guarantee. You could enter the reg number into the Autotrader website as if you're selling it & it will automatically tell you if it's recorded cat C or D if you're a cheapskate!

Is there anyone you know that's a mechanic you could take with you for their opinion? Looking at the rear axle beam there's a cleanish looking product barcode sticker,has it had a replacement one? Just that it looks newer than the other rusty bits. Also look for even panel gaps & creases in the boot floor & around the front slam panel & below,if the seller seems full of bulls***e or if you have any doubts then walk away,there are plenty more to consider.

Check all windows to see if they all have ford stamped on them. If they aint it could be tell tail sign of being in accident.

7 hours ago, SpannerTheCat said:

I would get an HPI check to find out if it's ever been written off (assume your old diesel was?),if it's been reported stolen or has any outstanding finance or Police marker on it. There are other Companies that provide checks but i've always been happy with the service they provide & it comes with a £25,000 guarantee. You could enter the reg number into the Autotrader website as if you're selling it & it will automatically tell you if it's recorded cat C or D if you're a cheapskate!

Is there anyone you know that's a mechanic you could take with you for their opinion? Looking at the rear axle beam there's a cleanish looking product barcode sticker,has it had a replacement one? Just that it looks newer than the other rusty bits. Also look for even panel gaps & creases in the boot floor & around the front slam panel & below,if the seller seems full of bulls***e or if you have any doubts then walk away,there are plenty more to consider.

Thank you I will check that now on atuotrader , just checked doesnt not show could you check reg is VN56OJL

3 minutes ago, mikeyd1 said:

Check all windows to see if they all have ford stamped on them. If they aint it could be tell tail sign of being in accident.

That is perfect point will check all windows deffo 👍👍👍

Also check panel gaps for signs it has been repaired.

Another check is to use your fingers to measure the gap between the tyre and the arch. It should be equal each side of the tyre and the same for each front pair and each back pair.

8 hours ago, SpannerTheCat said:

I would get an HPI check to find out if it's ever been written off (assume your old diesel was?),if it's been reported stolen or has any outstanding finance or Police marker on it. There are other Companies that provide checks but i've always been happy with the service they provide & it comes with a £25,000 guarantee. You could enter the reg number into the Autotrader website as if you're selling it & it will automatically tell you if it's recorded cat C or D if you're a cheapskate!

Is there anyone you know that's a mechanic you could take with you for their opinion? Looking at the rear axle beam there's a cleanish looking product barcode sticker,has it had a replacement one? Just that it looks newer than the other rusty bits. Also look for even panel gaps & creases in the boot floor & around the front slam panel & below,if the seller seems full of bulls***e or if you have any doubts then walk away,there are plenty more to consider.

Good spot on the axle beam. Looks like the rear shock has also been changed? Would that have to be done when lowering a car? I literally know nothing about modding as it doesn't appeal to me.

I'd personally only ever buy a car as standard. And if I was so inclined, then modify it myself. At least I'd know exactly what had been done. With what tools and parts. And to what quality.

22 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

Also check panel gaps for signs it has been repaired.

Another check is to use your fingers to measure the gap between the tyre and the arch. It should be equal each side of the tyre and the same for each front pair and each back pair.

Thank you Its quite far away around 150miles 3hours hopefully will be worth it to drive all the way there, I be checking all what you said hopefully will be ok how can I check for cat c or d it did not show on autotrader ?

You can probably pay for a HPI check, however that relies on any accident being reported.

I got caught out by a car which would have been a write off, but had a shoddy repair to cover it up and was never declared, to HPI was clear.

1 minute ago, alexp999 said:

You can probably pay for a HPI check, however that relies on any accident being reported.

I got caught out by a car which would have been a write off, but had a shoddy repair to cover it up and was never declared, to HPI was clear.

Just entered the reg on autotrader showing. Colour as blue and its white ?

Check DVLA, see what colour they have recorded.

There is white bodywork under the bonnet, so it doesn't look it has been wrapped.

 

Also do this, to see what's been advised or failed in its history:

https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

Pay particular attention to any comments about chassis.

There's a clean barcode sticker on my Focus' beam as well, it hasn't been changed, that's just what a low mileage, garage stored sticker looks like out of the flow of road debris.    In fact, the sticker is even still there on my high mile ST, but that appears to have been offroaded as there is/was thick mud everywhere underneath when I got it lol.

The shocks would have to be undone to get the lowering springs in, but they seem a fairly common failure part on these mk6s anyway so most likely been changed at some point.

I don't bother with HPI checks, half the accidents don't get recorded anyway and it's easy to see crash damage if you know what to look for.  

Only thing I would point out from the underside photo's is that mine has a plastic cover over the auxiliary belt and yours doesn't - whether the earlier ones never got them or your's has lost is I don't know.

47 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

Check DVLA, see what colour they have recorded.

There is white bodywork under the bonnet, so it doesn't look it has been wrapped.

 

Also do this, to see what's been advised or failed in its history:

https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

Pay particular attention to any comments about chassis.

Checked the MoT all passed with not big faults only like tyres etc I need to ask him if its not wrapped

If you put it in this:

https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

What colour does it say?

49 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

Check DVLA, see what colour they have recorded.

There is white bodywork under the bonnet, so it doesn't look it has been wrapped.

 

Also do this, to see what's been advised or failed in its history:

https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

Pay particular attention to any comments about chassis.

Just checked the mots history again only once it failed and that because of tyres, and it says there that its white so is all good