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Pre purchase advice

3K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  aslowdodge 
#1 ·
I’m about to make a deal on a 2008 Gallardo coupe. The car has 19k miles. Is there any good/bad things I should know and be on the lookout for? The clutch snap is at 90% Any info or tips would be helpful and appreciated!
 
#2 ·
Color? Specs? Have original sticker?
 
#4 ·
*Gallardo E-Gear, 2D Coupe, 5.0L DOHC MPFI 40V V10, 6-Speed Manual with E-Gear Shifting, AWD, Nero Noctis, Nero Perseus w/Leather Seat Trim or Alcantara Interior, 3.08 Axle Ratio, 4 Speakers, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, ABS brakes, Adaptive suspension, Air Conditioning, Alcantara Interior, AM/FM radio, Auto-dimming door mirrors, Auto-dimming Rear-View mirror, Automatic temperature control, Branding Package, Bumpers: body-color, Callisto Titanium Colored Front 19 x 8.5/Rear 19 x 11 Wheels, CD player, Comfort Package, Comfort Suspension, Driver door bin, Dual front impact airbags, Dual front side impact airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Four wheel independent suspension, Front anti-roll bar, Front Bucket Seats, Front dual zone A/C, Front reading lights, Headlight cleaning, Heated door mirrors, Heated Seats, High-Intensity Discharge Headlights, Illuminated entry, Interior Carbon Package, iPod Interface, Leather Seat Trim, Low tire pressure warning, Navigation System, Outside temperature display, Passenger cancellable airbag, Passenger door bin, Power door mirrors, Power Heated Seats, Power steering, Power windows, Rear anti-roll bar, Rear-View Camera, Remote keyless entry, Speed-sensing steering, Spoiler, Sport steering wheel, Tachometer, Telescoping steering wheel, Tilt steering wheel, Traction control, Trip computer, Variably intermittent wipers, Voltmeter, Yellow Brake Calipers.Nero Noctis 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo E-Gear AWD 5.0L DOHC MPFI 40V V10
 
#7 ·
I did what I'd usually do for buying any car. Ask them to put the car up on a hoist. I was looking for any obvious leak, including checking shocks. Take a quick look at tires and brakes. Then, I check body panel - any obvious panel alignment which suggests body repair. BTW, I notice front bumper uneven gap on some cars that I've checked before - I don't know if it is typical Lambo build quality issue or those cars have had front bumper removed and not put back properly - seem pretty common.

Really, I rely on PPI to do most check. I just did the above brief checking to make sure I am not going to waste time and money on any PPI.
 
#9 ·
All good advice having a well qualified shop perform the ppi/VIN report-carfax are a bit useless for anything other than when the the title changed. AC compressor-common issue on these is the compressor bearing leak or fail and its really due to the heat, the compressor is very tightly packed in and does not matter if you use or not.
Also keep in mind most of the work done to the engine requires the entire rear bumer being removed which is standard and pretty simple-feel around the lower attachments and make sure there not damaged or broken.
 
#10 ·
I have to add- In my opinion PPI's are a bit overrated. While I can see some value in them, many people put full trust in them. I have seen several inaccurate PPI's over the years. Many things they point out can be easily observed. I've caught things that other PPI's have missed. I personally have never done one on a car I've purchased, but have meticulously looked over and drove every car I have purchased. I've owned 50 plus cars for personal use, many high end and sports cars as well. Also- NEVER trust Carfax.
 
#11 ·
Totally agree with jj33low, PPIs are over hyped. Not that they are completely useless but in my opinion just not worth the cost, especially if who's doing it is not intimately familiar with the make/model. There are stories on this forum of useless PPIs, where major issues are missed, even when done at the dealership.

Get a bunch of pictures and video, and ask a ton of questions. You'll be fine.
 
#12 ·
Do not completely disagree and most of this stuff can be done on your own however some can't like putting the car on lift to thoroughly look and check for leaks-electrical need the factory software to run a system check, just because there is no CLE does not mean there are not sensors or other electrical problems. I was looking at G a few years back, all checked out however when i drove it and hit the throttle hard a few times the dash lit up with all sorts of errors-none were detected in the PPI which did not check the software/electrical systems. Great car everything else was solid however i passed could have been a simple sensor or something far worse.
 
#13 ·
Definitely worth doing a PPI of the electrical system. My G was previously a garage queen in a Philly suburb. Car sat warm and toasty during the long, cold winters. Very clean gated 2006 Sypder with less than 4,800 miles. Did not do detailed PPI of electrical system. Electrical all seemed fine. Focused on hydraulics and rubber. Recently the convertible electrical system failed. When we opened the panel to check the wiring harness and fuses we discovered a rodent's nest. Appears rodents also liked the warm and toasty escape from Philly winters. Now sending the car to factory authorized service to run detailed check of electrical system to see if rodents chewed into any of the wiring. Not sure if pre-purchase deep dive on electrical system would have discovered irregular current fluctuations that may have lead to rodent discovery (assuming rodent did chew into any of the wiring), but it may have helped. No way a PPI will eliminate all risks, but with knowledge of the car's history it can certainly be a big help.
 
#14 ·
Was the previous owners storage in a garage attached to his house, or in an outbuilding? Just curious. It's hard to get rodents in an attached garage on a house as it's usually got 3 walls without many outside walls where they can get in from.
 
#18 ·
Billy, owner of HBI Auto has over 50k on his. [emoji3]
 
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