A pre-purchase inspection, or PPI, is an independent check of a used car before you pay for it. A specialist puts the car on a lift, scans its computers, measures wear, road tests it and reports what they find, so you know what you are buying and what it will need next.
What a PPI actually is
A PPI is an inspection you arrange, done by a shop with no stake in the sale. The report is written for you, the buyer.
It is not the checklist a seller hands you. A flashlight and a quick test drive are not enough for a modern luxury car, so a proper inspection gets the car in the air, plugs in factory-level diagnostics and looks for the faults your specific model is known for.
Our pre-purchase inspection in Calgary covers 150+ points and ends with one question answered: would we buy it?
Why it matters on a European performance car
Buying a used European performance vehicle is a thrill, but hidden mechanical issues can quickly turn that excitement into an expensive regret.
Calgary’s extreme winters, sudden temperature swings and demanding road conditions take a severe toll on complex drivetrains and air suspension systems. Most of it does not show in photos or on a short drive.
- Known faults for your specific model: IMS, bore scoring, timing chains, water pumps
- Resprays and repairs the ad does not mention
- Signs of faults that were cleared before the sale
What a 150+ point inspection covers
Our inspection is split into six areas, with photos and video of everything we find, good and bad.
Engine and drivetrain
Compression and leak-down where warranted, bore scope, and known-fault checks for your specific model.
Body and accident evidence
Paint depth mapping on every panel, panel gap measurement, weld and seam inspection.
Suspension, brakes and tires
Wear measurement against spec, leak checks, bushing condition and remaining life estimates in dollars.
Electronics and fault memory
Full-system scan with factory-level tooling: stored and pending codes, module history and signs of cleared-before-sale faults.
Road test
Cold start and full operating temperature. Shifting behavior, tracking, noises and everything a seller’s five-minute test drive is designed to hide.
History and records audit
Service records cross-checked against odometer and wear, CARFAX review, open recall check and a maintenance-due forecast for your first year.
How a PPI works at our Calgary shop
Send us the listing
Book online or call. We coordinate directly with the seller or dealership to get the car into our Calgary shop.
We inspect
150+ points on a lift, with factory diagnostics and a road test. Photos and video of everything we find, good and bad.
Report, then a phone call
Your report lands within one business day. Then a technician walks you through it and answers the only question that matters: would we buy it?
What to do with the report
A good report leaves you with three clear options.
- Buy it. The car is what the seller says it is.
- Negotiate with numbers. Wear items come with remaining life estimates in dollars, so you can ask for a fair adjustment.
- Walk away. Some findings are not worth taking on.
If you buy, the maintenance-due forecast for your first year is the starting point for scheduled factory maintenance.
Questions buyers ask
Is a PPI the same as a safety inspection?
No. A safety or out of province inspection checks that a car meets the minimum standard to be registered. A PPI looks at condition, history and what the car is likely to cost you next. A car can pass one and still be a poor purchase.
Can you inspect a car that is at a dealership?
Yes. We coordinate directly with the seller or the dealership to get the car into our Calgary shop.
Does a clean CARFAX mean I can skip the inspection?
No. A history report only shows what was reported. Paint depth mapping, panel gap measurement and weld and seam inspection find resprays and repairs whatever the ad says. We review the CARFAX as part of the history and records audit.
How long does it take to get the report?
Your report lands within one business day. Then a technician walks you through it by phone.
Do you only inspect Porsches?
No. Alpine Autowerks is an independent specialist shop for European and performance vehicles. We use PIWIS, ISTA and VCDS to read all control modules, the diagnostic platforms for Porsche, BMW and Audi.
