PRE-PURCHASE VEHICLE INSPECTIONS

Buying a performance vehicle, modified vehicle or daily driver can involve problems that are difficult to identify during a quick walkaround.

Black Market Racing offers three levels of Pre-Purchase Inspection based on the vehicle and the amount of testing requested. Each inspection is a limited, non-destructive, point-in-time evaluation of conditions that are visible, accessible or reproducible during the appointment.

Inspection results and photographs are documented through our ShopMonkey digital inspection report.

STANDARD 70-POINT PPI: $195

Includes:

  • Applicable 70-point visual inspection
  • Inspection of accessible engine, drivetrain, suspension, steering, brake, tire and underbody components
  • Inspection for readily visible leaks, wear, damage, rust and prior repairs
  • Basic operation check of accessible interior and exterior systems
  • Computer scan of accessible vehicle modules
  • Basic battery and charging-system evaluation when applicable
  • Brief road test in the immediate area when authorized by the owner and when the vehicle is registered, insured and safe to operate
  • Photographs and digital ShopMonkey inspection report

The brief road test may identify readily apparent engine, transmission, drivetrain, braking or handling concerns. It may not reveal intermittent, heat-related or condition-specific problems.

Price: $195

EXTENDED ROAD-TEST AND FUEL-TRIM PPI: $390

Includes everything in the Standard 70-Point PPI, plus:

  • Road evaluation targeted at approximately 30 minutes
  • Additional opportunity to observe engine, transmission and drivetrain operation as operating temperatures and heat soak increase
  • Vehicle datalog focused on available fuel-trim and related engine-operating information
  • Additional documentation of concerns observed during the extended road evaluation

Actual driving time and mileage vary based on traffic, weather, road conditions, fuel level, vehicle condition and safety.

The extended road evaluation and datalog may help identify problems that appear as the vehicle reaches operating temperature. They cannot reproduce every operating condition and do not guarantee detection of all existing, intermittent, developing or heat-related problems.

Not every vehicle reports conventional fuel-trim data. Available data may be limited by vehicle design, modifications, communication access or scan-tool compatibility. Datalogging is observational and is not a complete diagnosis, fuel-system test or calibration review.

Price: $390

MODIFIED/PERFORMANCE-VEHICLE PPI WITH DYNO: $585

Includes everything in the Extended Road-Test and Fuel-Trim PPI, plus:

  • Visual inventory of modifications that are externally visible, accessible or identifiable through available documentation
  • Observations regarding readily visible installation, fabrication, wiring, plumbing and component condition
  • Baseline chassis-dyno power-pull session when Black Market Racing determines the vehicle is compatible and safe to test
  • Dyno graph
  • Vehicle datalog during dyno operation when compatible equipment and vehicle access permit

Black Market Racing will make a reasonable effort to document the vehicle’s modification list. The inspection cannot verify hidden or internal components without disassembly.

The inspection does not verify internal engine or transmission components, camshaft specifications, displacement, compression ratio, internal strengthening, software calibrations, advertised horsepower, part authenticity or who manufactured or installed a component.

Dyno operation places the engine, transmission, drivetrain, tires, wheels, cooling system and related components under elevated load. Testing may expose or accelerate failure of a worn, damaged, improperly assembled, improperly tuned or inadequately modified component.

Black Market Racing may refuse, limit or stop dyno testing because of vehicle condition, tire or wheel condition, leaks, temperatures, noises, scan or datalog information, vehicle behavior, compatibility or another safety concern.

Price: $585

ADDITIONAL TESTING

Compression and cylinder leak-down testing are not included in any PPI package.

These services may be quoted separately based on the vehicle, engine configuration, component accessibility and required disassembly.

Other vehicle-specific diagnostic testing may also be available upon request.

WHAT THE 70-POINT INSPECTION COVERS

Unless specifically described as an operational test or measurement, all component inspections are visual and external only. The standard inspection does not include removing wheels, brake drums, covers, shields, panels, spark plugs or mechanical components.

  • Engine oil level and visible condition
  • Engine air filter
  • Accessible air-intake tubes and check valves
  • Battery condition and cables
  • Charging-system and alternator operation
  • Accessible belts
  • Accessible coolant and vacuum hoses
  • Windshield-washer fluid and operation
  • Brake-fluid level and visible condition
  • Power-steering fluid and system, when equipped
  • Coolant level and visible condition
  • Cooling-fan operation
  • Radiator, condenser and visible cooling-system condition
  • Transmission-fluid level and visible condition when accessible
  • Starter operation
  • Readily accessible ignition components or spark plugs
  • Road-test observations
  • Visible fluid leaks
  • Dashboard warning and indicator lights
  • Accessible-module code scan and readiness status
  • Horn
  • Interior lighting
  • Heating and air-conditioning operation
  • Front wipers and washers
  • Rear wiper and washer, when equipped
  • Window and mirror controls
  • Door locks
  • Power-seat operation
  • Basic accessible seat-belt operation
  • Parking-brake operation
  • Cabin air filter when readily accessible
  • Front exterior lighting
  • Rear exterior lighting
  • Windshield and accessible glass
  • ABS warning and system observations
  • Front disc-brake pads: visible condition where accessible
  • Front rotors or brake drums: external visual condition only
  • Rear disc-brake pads: visible condition where accessible
  • Rear rotors or brake drums: external visual condition only
  • Brake calipers: external visual condition
  • Wheel cylinders: inspected only when externally visible without drum removal
  • Brake backing plates and externally visible hardware
  • Left-front tire condition and tread
  • Right-front tire condition and tread
  • Left-rear tire condition and tread
  • Right-rear tire condition and tread
  • Tire age and DOT dates when readable
  • Visible wheel condition

Brake drums are not removed during the standard Pre-Purchase Inspection. Brake shoes, wheel cylinders, springs, adjusters and internal drum braking surfaces are not inspected unless drum removal is separately requested, quoted and authorized.

  • Ball joints: externally visible condition and observable play
  • Wheel bearings: observable play or noise
  • Control arms and bushings: externally visible condition
  • Shocks and struts: externally visible condition
  • Coil springs, leaf springs and torsion bars: externally visible condition
  • Front steering components and tie rods: externally visible condition and observable play
  • Other accessible suspension components: externally visible condition
  • Alignment quick-check and obvious tire-wear or tracking indicators
  • Exhaust system: externally visible condition
  • Driveline, CV axles and driveshaft: externally visible condition
  • Transmission: external visual condition and road-test operation
  • Transfer case: external visual condition when equipped
  • Front differential: external visual condition when equipped
  • Rear differential: external visual condition when equipped
  • Engine and transmission mounts: visible condition where accessible
  • Fuel-system components: externally visible condition
  • Frame or unibody: visible external condition
  • Visible rust and corrosion
  • Exterior body and paint condition
  • General interior condition
  • VIN comparison to the vehicle and supplied documentation
  • Other notable observations

REQUEST A PPI

Call or text the shop to set up an inspection, or send a request with the form below and we’ll get back to you.

WEBSITE DISCLAIMER

A Pre-Purchase Inspection is not a warranty, guarantee, appraisal, certification of safety or prediction of future reliability. Conditions may be concealed, intermittent, inaccessible, recently cleared or inactive during the inspection. Additional diagnosis may be required to determine the cause or severity of a concern.

The completed ShopMonkey inspection report controls what was actually inspected. A listed category may be marked not applicable, inaccessible or not inspected based on the vehicle and conditions present.