In The Shop Archives - European Automotive Specialists Fri, 10 Feb 2023 17:45:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://blackforesttechnik.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/favicon2-150x150.png In The Shop Archives - 32 32 B8 A4 SoloWerks Coilover and Rotiform Wheel Install https://blackforesttechnik.com/b8-a4-solowerks-coilover-and-rotiform-wheel-install/ Fri, 10 Feb 2023 17:39:51 +0000 https://blackforesttechnik.com/?p=4865 Add Your Heading Text Here B8 A4 SoloWerks Coilover and Rotiform Wheel Install What’s that? You wanted to see more after shots of suspension installs and wheels and tires? We got you covered. This time around we applied the KISS method to one of our own vehicles. Morgan, our service advisor, has very patiently been […]

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B8 A4 SoloWerks Coilover and Rotiform Wheel Install

What’s that? You wanted to see more after shots of suspension installs and wheels and tires? We got you covered. This time around we applied the KISS method to one of our own vehicles. Morgan, our service advisor, has very patiently been awaiting the day that we could get his B8 A4 daily driver sitting right, and that day has come. And being that it is a daily driver he chose the less is more route and the results speak for themselves. Noticeably yet functionally lowered on Solo-Werks coilovers, with a set of Rotiform KPS wheels, the looks have instantly transformed. The wheels are finished in silver and run 19×10″ all the way around. And while those wheel dimensions might sound aggressive the photos don’t lie, the fit is spot on. Driving mannerisms are still very reasonable and perfectly well suited for urban roads. And to add just another subtle, yet classy touch, Morgan was gifted a Black Forest Industries GS2 shift knob to replace the less than ideal factory automatic shifter.

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]]> 4865 Audi Q7 OEM Style Wheel Upgrade https://blackforesttechnik.com/audi-q7-oem-style-wheel-upgrade/ Fri, 10 Feb 2023 17:31:48 +0000 https://blackforesttechnik.com/?p=4851 In The Shop Audi Q7 OEM Style Wheel Upgrade Our recent customer wanted the OEM+ look without the OEM price tag for their Audi Q7. We were glad to oblige by mounting and installing this set of 22″ factory styled wheels.

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In The Shop

Audi Q7 OEM Style Wheel Upgrade

Our recent customer wanted the OEM+ look without the OEM price tag for their Audi Q7. We were glad to oblige by mounting and installing this set of 22″ factory styled wheels.

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]]> 4851 Porsche Cayman Borla Exhaust Install https://blackforesttechnik.com/porsche-cayman-borla-exhaust-install/ Fri, 10 Feb 2023 17:17:34 +0000 https://blackforesttechnik.com/?p=4834 In The Shop Porsche Cayman Borla Exhaust Install Such a huge part of the driving experience is audibly hearing your vehicle, and a great sounding exhaust system enhances that experience tenfold. It doesn’t hurt that this Borla exhaust system also frees up a couple of extra horsepower as well as improves fuel economy to boot. […]

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In The Shop

Porsche Cayman Borla Exhaust Install

Such a huge part of the driving experience is audibly hearing your vehicle, and a great sounding exhaust system enhances that experience tenfold. It doesn’t hurt that this Borla exhaust system also frees up a couple of extra horsepower as well as improves fuel economy to boot. The extra growl from the rear of this Cayman really brings it to life. Always an enjoyable and satisfying job for both us and the customer.

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]]> 4834 Porsche 996 Track Inspection and Coolant Leak Diag https://blackforesttechnik.com/porsche-996-track-inspection-and-coolant-leak-diag/ Fri, 10 Feb 2023 17:06:32 +0000 https://blackforesttechnik.com/?p=4805 In The Shop Porsche 996 Track Inspection And Coolant Leak Diag Unlike the street car version of the 996 that we shared yesterday, this 996 C2 is all business. Öhlins suspension, Forgeline wheels, and a host of other track focused upgrades leave little doubt what the owner of this car uses it for. We had […]

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In The Shop

Porsche 996 Track Inspection And Coolant Leak Diag

Unlike the street car version of the 996 that we shared yesterday, this 996 C2 is all business. Öhlins suspension, Forgeline wheels, and a host of other track focused upgrades leave little doubt what the owner of this car uses it for. We had it in to diagnose a coolant leak, as well as a track inspection and it still isn’t the last 996 of the week.

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]]> 4805 Porsche 996 Fluid Service https://blackforesttechnik.com/porsche-996-fluid-service/ Fri, 10 Feb 2023 16:58:26 +0000 https://blackforesttechnik.com/?p=4792 In The Shop Porsche 996 Fluid Service It’s always strange how cars come in groups. We’re not complaining when those cars happen to be well sorted versions of the first water cooled Porsches. This cherry example (and we mean that in every sense of the word) was in for some routine service and we’re glad […]

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In The Shop

Porsche 996 Fluid Service

It’s always strange how cars come in groups. We’re not complaining when those cars happen to be well sorted versions of the first water cooled Porsches. This cherry example (and we mean that in every sense of the word) was in for some routine service and we’re glad to contribute to keeping it on the road.

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]]> 4792 Black Forest Technik Year In Review 2022​ https://blackforesttechnik.com/black-forest-technik-year-in-review-2022/ Fri, 30 Dec 2022 17:43:30 +0000 https://blackforesttechnik.com/?p=4498 In The Shop Black Forest Technik Year in Review 2022 This has been yet another wild ride, full of surprises and challenges. We couldn’t be more thrilled with how things have been going, and we are carrying quite a bit of momentum into the new year. These last few months have been our busiest ever. […]

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In The Shop

Black Forest Technik Year in Review 2022

This has been yet another wild ride, full of surprises and challenges. We couldn’t be more thrilled with how things have been going, and we are carrying quite a bit of momentum into the new year. These last few months have been our busiest ever. With the increased work load we are making sure that we maintain our quality and service standards though, and we are proud of the team that we have built. That said we know that there is always room for improvement and we are constantly evaluating our processes and our procedures to ensure that we truly do provide “highly engineered service.”  We’re grateful for all of our loyal customers who trust us with their vehicles, and we’re grateful for all of our friends in the industry and the community as a whole that we get to learn from every single day.  We attend as well as host as many events as possible each year not only to have fun, but also to ask questions and gain experience from our peers. We have a lot more planned for 2023 and we are very excited to see what’s in store! 

Remembering Phil Pinto

Early this year, one of our favorite people showed up at our shop asking us to install a CAE shifter in his absolutely amazing Mk2 Jetta Coupe with a VR6 swap. If you’ve ever met Phil Pinto, you know that he was one of the most humble and genuinely kind human beings. Despite Phil working at, and for many different shops in the industry, there was never any bad blood that he spread his love around. Starting out at Eurowise, eventually working at Eurofed, and others, finally winding up at DAP. Phil is one of those people you were always excited to run into at a car show, or even just try to help source a part because you knew he was going to be grateful for your time and that he had a great understanding of what things were like behind the scenes. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I fully expected him to be working for us one day. We joked about it all the time and honestly if we were an hour closer I think it would have already happened. Phil was one of the OGs, and he’s owned and built pretty much one of everything, all while doing it with taste. Going to shows will never be the same without his incredibly friendly and welcoming personality. He will be sorely missed.

HAVE MURCI

It’s always a pleasure having this Murcielago in the shop. This time it was here to address some oil leak concerns. Even though this one gets driven a lot now, in it’s former life it was pampered a bit too much. Cars are meant to be driven and the current owner takes this to heart.

Porsche Macan Lowering Springs

With the trend shifting towards lifting anything and everything, it’s fun to go the other direction and drop something as good looking as this #PorscheMacan. With less than 1000k miles on the odometer we installed a set of H&R Special Springs, LP. 1.5” lowering springs, and while this thing may not look slammed, it’s definitely significantly lower and handles much tighter than before. Of course we also performed a complete alignment after the installation to make sure everything is tracking straight, an absolute necessity with any suspension job.

Technik Thursdays

Over the course of the year we hosted many monthly get togethers where we saw a huge variety of cars and owners show up simply to enjoy each other’s company. We loved not knowing what each week would be like, and seeing the cars and coffee-like vibe progress. Everyone was very respectful and well behaved and we’re pleased to be able to continue this tradition on in the new year. Our parking lot is a great place to congregate and we will continue to offer it to the community. 

New Hires!

We’ve expanded our staff to meet our increased amount of business this year.  We could not be happier with how our team has worked together to efficiently service the growing number of vehicles we see. This streamlined group has an immense amount of experience and the quality of work shows!

 

Jaron Brown

Originally from the New Jersey area, Jaron has been a lifelong fan of the VW / Audi brand. He grew up around the VW show scene attending shows since 1996. Says Jaron, ” I Always knew I wanted to have and work with VW/Audi as a brand, as well as in the performance & aftermarket world.” His formal training began at UTI in PA, graduating in 2008. From there Jaron went on to work at Volkswagen, rising through their apprentice program and eventually attaining the rank of “Brand Expert Level”. In early 2017 he set his sights on Volkswagen’s sister company, and with so much knowledge overlapping, he was able to quickly excel at Audi where he became “Brand Master Certified”.
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After 13 years of work at the dealerships Jaron was ready for a new adventure. His passion for the aftermarket, coupled with his expertise for service and repair made him a perfect fit for our shop. We are grateful to have him and look forward to seeing him excel further in this new environment!

MOrgan Wilson

Morgan has long since been involved in the automotive world locally, as well as nationally in a variety of mediums. Formerly employed both in auto sales, and also in vehicle graphics and vinyl wrapping, Morgan is maybe first and foremost known as a European car enthusiast. From that enthusiasm, and his excellent verbal and written skills, Morgan was a regular contributor to the media outlet ‘Fatlace’ where he wrote many articles over the years. Morgan has taken to the new position exceedingly well, and we’re confident that your experience with him will be smooth, and above all communicative. 

Jadon Locklear

Jadon has honed his skills at another local shop where he was able to further his knowledge with not only OEM, but also the large variety of what the European aftermarket has to offer. This unique background made him a perfect fit for our automotive service shop, and we were just waiting for the ideal time to bring him aboard. So far his youthful energy and can-do attitude has slotted in perfectly with the team. And if you happen to hear any slightly off-key singing coming from behind the shop doors when you’re here…that would be him. 

Sonoma Green Audi RS5

Heat is always the enemy of making good power. Fortunately Wagner Tuning makes some incredible parts to help keep intake temps cool on these newer Audi platforms. We installed their replacement heat exchanger and air to water intercooler on this Sonoma Green Audi RS5 recently. The fit and finish was top notch and now this thing is prepared for the upcoming summer months ahead.

Southeast Eurofest 2022

We had an amazing time at this first year of the new format for Southeast Eurofest. The weather had nothing on us and getting to show off our cars in the warm dry Jim Graham building was the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon. We enjoyed seeing a bunch of familiar faces as well as meeting lots of new ones. Look forward to doing it again next year

Technik Treffen 2022

Wow. We couldn’t have asked for a better turn-out for our first annual event. Such a cool variety and diversity of cars and people, and perfect weather for enjoying it all. The Tiguan live-build went super smooth too! Check out just a quick little video recap of the day. Can’t wait to host more events like this!

All the Porsches

We are seeing more and more Porsches come through the doors here. From GT4s to Caymans, to Macans and Cayennes. Tons of Boxsters and everything in between. We love working on these unique vehicles.  In fact, we love them so much we’ve even purchased two new Porsche projects of our own- a 2005 911 C2S as well as a 2014 Cayenne Diesel Overland project.  We look forward to seeing even more in 2023!

BMp's MK4 R32 Revival

We had the pleasure of helping to get Autrey McVicker of BMP Tuning #MK4R32 ready for Wookies In The Woods yesterday. Autrey purchased the car from Humble Mechanic who recently installed KW V3 coilovers, new brakes, and other maintenance items. Short on time and without the ability to mount tires or align the vehicle, the Deep Blue Pearl hatchback made its way over to our shop for some last minute services. We straightened up the track, and swapped out the old tired rubber for some Falken Azenis, well suited for spirited mountain driving. Charles noted that the cooling fans were inoperable so we were also able to swap those out for new replacements and get them functioning to make sure the R32 stayed cool on its long trip to the NC mountains, and then ultimately all the way back to Texas. Here’s just a few shots of this modern classic while under our roof.

All Of The R8s

We have on staff the very first to be trained on the R8 formally by Audi themselves. In fact, we do not know of any other shops anywhere nearby that have any formal training on these vehicles. It makes sense that a large majority of them seem to find their way to our doorstep.  We love servicing and modifying these modern classics, and it doesn’t hurt that we have one of our very own that’s here every day! 

Alpine Volksfair

Not only did we attend Alpine Volksfair but we hosted a GTG for the famed Volkswagen Caddy / MK1 Pickup. In honor of that we brought not 1, not 2, but 3 Volkswagen Caddys with us, including a 2.5 5 cylinder swap that we did here at the shop. We ‘finished’ it just in time for its maiden voyage for the over 6 hour drive to the event. In addition we brought our carb’d all original low mileage truck as well as a dumped rat style truck with bed cap for good measure.  We also made this cool video!:

Some Stand Out BMWs

We also see our fair share of Bavarian metal here.  We cut our teeth on BMWs even though many know us as primarily a VAG shop.  We still have a tremendous amount of love for BMW though and we welcome any and all customers with a roundel. 

Ferrari FF Voodoo Design Exhaust Intake and Software

The shooting brake design of the Ferrari FF is often polarizing, however the sonorous exhaust note that comes out of the naturally aspirated V12 engine is unanimously adored the world over. While Ferrari spends copious amounts of time on the development of their parts, it’s unfair to say that there isn’t room for improvement. That’s where the guys at Voodoo Design LLC come in. Without much trouble we were able to install their Stage 2 upgrade on our client’s FF, yielding some noticeable performance gains and an undeniably wicked exhaust note!
 

Audi RS3 Unitronic Intercooler and Performance Parts

It’s always a pleasure installing parts that fit out of the box, and it’s even nicer when the parts themselves have the appearance and quality of the manufacturer. This @Unitronic front mount intercooler upgrade fortunately ticks all those boxes. With 71% more volume than the OEM unit, this will greatly help to reduce heat soak which is especially important on days like we’ve been having lately! Best of all this FMIC (and many other Unitronic parts) are on sale now through the 24th.

MK7 GTI Ohlins Suspension

We’ve installed pretty much every single suspension option under the sun on a MK7 GTI, but this was the first time having the pleasure of installing a set of Ohlins. You’ve likely seen this name on two wheeled vehicles, but their quality and reputation extend far into every aspect of motorsport. Suffice to say they are worth the hype and the value of these is immediately evident. While they do have a limited amount of adjustability in the ride height department, this is more to save you from yourself and your temptation to lower the car beyond functional performance. By leaving just the right amount of travel combined with their linear springs, these things deliver just the right combination of supple and control. 10 out of 10, would install again

Audi RS7 APR Software

This Audi RS7 came in to add even more power to this already powerful executive cruiser. If you only see a blur of gorgeous green paint whiz by, it’s thanks to APR software and the over 750 ft lbs of torque that this beast now has on just 93 octane.

Georgia Traverse Overland Outing

We recently had the pleasure of taking a trip to North Georgia and the surrounding areas to explore some of the wonderful trails and wilderness that part of the country has to offer.  Being relatively new to non paved excursions we were fortunate enough to have some experienced guides from Forge Motorsport Overland and 380 Industries leading the way for us. While more of the trails were not that technical, there were enough spots that demonstrated the vehicle’s capability, as well as some water crossings that just looked great  in photos (but again did not remotely challenge the vehicles) All in all it was an incredible time and the scenery and the company were absolutely top notch. We’re looking forward to getting our Touaregs, both the T2 and T3 TDI out again very soon for more adventures. 

Audi RS6 Eventuri Intake Install

Well the day finally came, and we were wondering how long it would be, but we finally had our very first Audi RS6 in the shop. There is no other way to put it, but these marvelous creations are nothing short of a spaceship. There is no doubt that this one of the best cars that Audi has every produced, without question. With their relative newness and obscurity there are not a huge variety of aftermarket parts, however we think the Eventuri carbon fiber intake that we installed is a huge upgrade for the fit and finish of this vehicle, which says a lot because the factory left little to be desired. And if there was ever any question about the vast amounts of air that these beasts suck in, just see the photo of the cigarette butt that was lodged in the factory intake. Not something we regularly see. This was a fun one, and look forward to more in the future!

One Day Tiguan OverlanD Build

As some of you may remember, last March we had an event here at the shop to celebrate one year under our new banner. During the event we wanted to give people something to spectate, so we decided to take a completely stock 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan and modify it into an adventure / overland vehicle in just one day. We added LP Adventure wheels wrapped in Falken Wildpeak AT3 tires, as well as a lift and camber correction kit from B2BFAB. In addition to that we added roof bars and a roof basket, with functional Hella auxiliary lighting all wired to a controller that is neatly tucked away in the cubby near the driver’s knee. We deleted the chrome above the rockers, as well as around the windows and along the rear bumper. We also deleted the chrome on the slats of the front grille, and then gave the fog lights a “french” treatment courtesy of Lamim-X. Inside we upgraded our shifter with a brand new custom green Black Forest Industries DSG/auto knob and alcantara shift boot. To give this Tiguan a bit more oompf to turn those larger tires, we added Stage 1 software from APR. For one day’s worth of work we think this transformation was very successful! This Tiguan gets thumbs up and comments from everyone when it’s out and about, and now we find every excuse to get out and about often 🙂

Cars and Coffee Morrisville

We had a killer time out at our second Cars and Coffee Morrisville event this weekend. We brought out our Audi R8, BMW M235i, 2 Volkswagen Touareg overland builds, and a Mk6 Golf R. Of course these paled in comparison to some of the shinier exotic metal that turned up, including the surprise star of the show Ferrari F40! Take a look a just some of Euros (and select random other) cars we saw.

Vegas Yellow TTRS

This Vegas Yellow TTRS came in for a post purchase inspection to see what all had been modified by the previous owner. While we normally suggest doing these inspections prior to purchase, we totally understand jumping on rare and unique color cars and figuring out the rest later. Fortunately this one was in great shape. 

All of the Suspension Jobs

For some inexplicable reason we had a rash of suspension work – all manner of vehicle and brand coilovers (even some air ride not pictured) to close out the year. Here’s just a few of what we had come in.

Voted One Of Raleigh's Best!

We’re incredibly thankful to all of our loyal customers for voting for us for Raleigh’s Best Auto Service Center. In our first year being nominated it’s a great honor to just be considered, let alone a winner. This is a testament to all of the hard work we’ve put in to make our customer’s experience here the best it can possibly be. While we are certainly not perfect we do our very best to make sure everyone that trusts us with their vehicle comes away 100% satisfied. Again, many thanks to all who support Black Forest Technik, and to all those who voted!
 

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]]> 4498 F80 M3 Eibach Lowering Springs – APEX Wheels and Carbon Side Diffusers https://blackforesttechnik.com/f80-m3-eibach-lowering-springs-apex-wheels-and-carbon-side-diffusers/ Wed, 21 Dec 2022 18:06:01 +0000 https://blackforesttechnik.com/?p=4474 In The Shop F80 M3 Eibach Lowering Springs – APEX Wheels and Carbon Side Diffusers We love when we get to do multiple things at once, especially on clean cars like this M3! This customer ditched the 20” wheels in favor of some smaller, more performance oriented 19” ApexRaceParts.com wheels. Their forged construction makes them […]

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In The Shop

F80 M3 Eibach Lowering Springs - APEX Wheels and Carbon Side Diffusers

We love when we get to do multiple things at once, especially on clean cars like this M3! This customer ditched the 20” wheels in favor of some smaller, more performance oriented 19” ApexRaceParts.com wheels. Their forged construction makes them incredibly light and their 11” width let the customer go from a 285 to a 305 / 30 Michelin tire for some extra 🥩. We also installed another set of @eibach_world springs (seems to be a popular choice) to give a more sporty ride and close up the fender gap. And to round things off, we also added a set of carbon fiber side diffusers for a subtle but sporty OEM+ touch. All in all quite the positive transformation!

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]]> 4474 8Y RS3 Eibach Suspension and BFI Spacer Install https://blackforesttechnik.com/8y-rs3-eibach-suspension-and-bfi-spacer-install/ Wed, 21 Dec 2022 17:46:57 +0000 https://blackforesttechnik.com/?p=4458 Add Your Heading Text Here Audi 8Y RS3 Eibach Suspension Install with BFI Spacers This 2023 8Y RS3 came in to get sitting right. We installed some @eibach_world lowering springs along with a set of wheel spacers to reduce the wheel gap and firm things up a bit. Of course no suspension install is complete without an […]

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Add Your Heading Text Here

Audi 8Y RS3 Eibach Suspension Install with BFI Spacers

This 2023 8Y RS3 came in to get sitting right. We installed some @eibach_world lowering springs along with a set of wheel spacers to reduce the wheel gap and firm things up a bit. Of course no suspension install is complete without an alignment to ensure a straight track and long tire life. This is just of of a few shiny brand new Audis in the door today

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]]> 4458 Audi RS3 in for Unitronic Upgrades https://blackforesttechnik.com/audi-rs3-in-for-unitronic-upgrades/ Wed, 21 Dec 2022 17:09:19 +0000 https://blackforesttechnik.com/?p=4438 In The Shop Audi RS3 in for Unitronic Upgrades This juicy RS3 came in for some Unitronic goodies this morning. We’re installing their upgraded and stealth looking intercooler along with their turbo inlet. Both of these modifications will improve air flow, as well as allow more dense air into the engine- making more power. In […]

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In The Shop

Audi RS3 in for Unitronic Upgrades

This juicy RS3 came in for some Unitronic goodies this morning. We’re installing their upgraded and stealth looking intercooler along with their turbo inlet. Both of these modifications will improve air flow, as well as allow more dense air into the engine- making more power. In addition to that we’re also installing some software as well, which will utilize different mapping to increase boost and adjust timing among other changes to your factory ECU to really wake your vehicle up. It’s amazing that anyone that anyone can own one of these and resist the temptation to modify it. You’ve certainly got more restraint that we do if you’re still driving stock, and if you are, just let us know when you change your mind 🙂

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]]> 4438 Audi TTRS Vegas Yellow https://blackforesttechnik.com/audi-ttrs-vegas-yellow/ Wed, 21 Dec 2022 17:00:22 +0000 https://blackforesttechnik.com/?p=4425 In The Shop Audi TTRS – Vegas Yellow We had the privilege to conduct a thorough post purchase inspection on this Vegas Yellow TTRS.  We’re able to check the vehicle over and determine if it is equipped with any of the software companies that we offer as well as suggest any potential repairs or issues […]

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In The Shop

Audi TTRS - Vegas Yellow

We had the privilege to conduct a thorough post purchase inspection on this Vegas Yellow TTRS.  We’re able to check the vehicle over and determine if it is equipped with any of the software companies that we offer as well as suggest any potential repairs or issues that we see. This is ideally something that we would recommend doing prior to purchasing, however we completely understand when there’s a certain spec vehicle that only comes up for sale very seldom. In this instance it is understandable to complete the checkover after the fact.

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