Define the buyer’s real question
Inspect cold start, warm operation and transmission behaviour under varied load rather than judging a stationary engine alone.
Record destination, intended registration, steering side, daily and long-distance route, passengers, luggage, charging access, accepted powertrain, new or used condition, budget and delivery point. A changed candidate or destination reopens affected checks.
Apply the model-specific test
Observe true cold start, warm idle, turbo delivery, cooling, leaks and shifts at crawl, acceleration and deceleration. Cleared codes or a stationary rev test are insufficient.
Evidence specific to this decision
Observe cold and hot engine operation plus DCT crawl, take-off, acceleration and deceleration under stated conditions.
Keep one VIN across the file
Inspection joins structure, paint, underbody, tyres, brakes, road behaviour, diagnostics and history to one VIN. PHEV candidates add battery enclosure, charging and high-voltage diagnostics; gasoline cars add cold-start and DCT tests.
Preserve original-language records beside translations. Connect photos, diagnostic output, charging or road tests, inspection, quotation and contract to the same VIN. Conflicts stop approval until resolved at source.
| Evidence | What to record |
|---|---|
| Identity | VIN, production plate, legal model, powertrain and version |
| Condition | Dated physical checks, history, diagnostics and test results |
| Compatibility | Destination consequence, limitation and responsible reviewer |
| Commercial | Seller, beneficiary, included work, validity and delivery term |
Inspection depth
Begin cold where applicable, then test low speed, cruise, acceleration, braking and uneven surfaces. Recheck leaks, warnings and diagnostics. iDD adds EV transitions and charging.
Record location, severity and repair consequence. Keep cosmetic, structural, mechanical, high-voltage and software issues separate.
Test an ordinary day and an adverse day
Use realistic passengers, luggage, weather, speed, gradients, traffic and energy availability. For iDD, include a failed charger and battery reserve. For gasoline, include local fuel, emissions and workshop constraints. A specification is context, not a guarantee of suitability.
Mark each conclusion green, amber or red with evidence date and owner. Amber needs a priced consequence or condition; red stops payment. Do not turn missing proof into a positive feature claim.
Preserve the approved vehicle to delivery
Carry VIN, version, condition and included work through quotation, contract, invoice, export records and loading media. Record odometer, fuel or charge state, keys, cables, accessories, faults and exterior condition at handover.
China-side work cannot promise destination tax, conformity, registration, charging access, software services, warranty, insurance or future reliability. Refresh local advice if vehicle, route or rules change.
Request a VIN-linked UNI-Z proposalDocuments that keep this decision usable
Create a candidate summary naming the VIN, production date, legal model, powertrain, version, odometer and seller. Attach original identity records, continuous dated media, inspection findings, diagnostic output, road-test notes and charging results where applicable. Each conclusion should identify its source, test condition, limitation, reviewer and expiry point.
Keep the commercial file separate but connected: dated quotation, included and excluded work, inspection conditions, contract entity, bank beneficiary, export responsibility, carrier acceptance and delivery boundary. The destination file records tax or duty advice, conformity, registration, insurance, energy access and workshop support. A changed input reopens the affected decision while preserving the audit trail.
Before loading, compare the approved summary with the physical vehicle and final documents. Record keys, cables, accessories, odometer, fuel or battery state, warnings and visible condition. This final comparison helps prevent a correct inspection being attached to the wrong car.
Buyer questions
How should a gasoline UNI-Z drivetrain be tested?
Inspect cold start, warm operation and transmission behaviour under varied load rather than judging a stationary engine alone.
Can an online listing prove condition?
No. Require VIN-linked inspection, diagnostics, history and road or charging evidence as applicable.
What must be resolved before payment?
Identity, seller authority, condition, powertrain compatibility, delivery boundary, beneficiary and destination feasibility.