Need good shop for pre-purchase inspection

I am seriously considering buying 91 560SEC in the Los Alamitos, CA area. Private party sale and the car has 110K miles on it. As this area is about 100 miles from where I live, have no clue as to who to take it to for pre-purchase inspection. Does anyone out there know of a good shop in this area? Also, besides the usual A/C and rear suspension check, is there anything in particular that I should be sure the mechanic looks into?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

PS - No service records available on car but visually (engine, interior, exterior) car is in pristine condition.

[Tom400e]

This may still be a little far for you depending on which direction the 100 miles is, but ...

Pacific Motors
Pico Blvd. at 10th Street
Santa Monica

310.450.8129

Talk to Rick. They are VERY, VERY thorough, recommended by Simonson, the dealer in S.M. The shop is about a half an hour, maybe 40 minnutes from Los Alamitos. The charge should be about $85. They saved me from purchasing 2 cars wherein the owners (private parties) had gone to great lengths to mask some serious but tough to detect problems. They are the best I have ever had look at a car for me. Worst case, if you can't take it to them, is they may refer you to someone more convenient.

The following I have NO EXPERIENCE with, but they were recommended to me. I almost bought a car from them.

Tilo's European ********
5300 Katella Ave.
Los Alamitos, Ca

800.799.TILO (8456)

By the way, they just happen to have a '91 560 SEC with 110K on it for sale. Could it be they have it on consignment from your PP? What are the odds of 2 560sec's with 110k being in the same city? Hmmmmm.

Any competent shop will cover all the bases and probably knows the idiosyncrasies and weak points of the specific model. Do ask them to check the body for replaced or repaired body panels.

Good luck. My wife still hates me for not getting an sec or ce instead of the 4 door.

Tom

Tom,

Thanks for the advise but Santa Monica I think will be a bit too far.

I went to Tilo's website after your reply and viewed their car. Seems to be in very nice condition. But different car as Tilo's is white and the on I was looking at is black and the 110K was just a round figure -- it actually has almost 113K miles on it (but whose going to sweat about a 3K difference). I would actually prefer white. Maybe I will look into this car.

What was your experience with Tilo's? Can they be trusted? Do they deal on price or is the price you see is the price you get. Price on their car seems a little high?

For anyone else out there that knows of a shop in Long Beach-Los Alamitos-Cerritos area, please reply and let me know. It would be greatly appreciated.

[Tobias MB]

By doing a 'Forum Jump' maybe you can locate a reputable shop close to where you need a car inspected at 'Good MB Shops' This is what the forum is for...
TobiasMB
4 MBs

[Tom400e]

Tilo's started as an idependent repair facility. They were so successful at that (and still are)they started retailing a few cars for customers. It then grew to what it is today, but they are still first and foremost a repair shop. I would not hesitate to have them do the inspection for you. I just don't have first hand experience with them on that level.

When I was talking to them I was looking at a BMW 750il they had. Yes, they are on the high side mostly on the back of a belief they offer superior cars with documentable backgrounds. I found them willing to negotiate a bit. But, again, I didn't buy the car. So I am really relegated to [passing on 3rd hand what I was able to find out about them.
Tilo has been there a long time and I have only heard good things.

Good luck

Tom