Why are some traders reluctant to have mechanical checks performed on cars they are selling?

I'm looking to replace my E38 7-Series BMW with a 6-year-old 745. I've looked at a couple and phoned one trader to arrange to view the car, who asked what my plans were after viewing it. I said that I would like to pay for a mechanical check. He became somewhat offhand and said he'd had bad experiences with those types of checks and didn't want to meet me. Is this something that the trade doesn't like in general or should I treat his response as indicative of some issue with the car?

Asked on 19 July 2010 by bollenk

Answered by Honest John
Both. A mechanical check will be expensive and is bound to find as list of expensive problems with a car like this. Also, it creates a delay.
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