Buying a used supercar like a Mercedes-AMG GT R always comes with a little fear. The car can look perfect, the dealer can be great, and it can still hide a problem nobody noticed. One buyer in Alberta found that out on the first day of his new car’s government inspection.
The owner behind @DailyDrivenExotics bought a 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R from a dealer in Vancouver. “I paid $163,000 Canadian,” he says, calling it one of the best performance bargains around. He plans to modify it, not keep it stock.
Why He Bought A Mercedes-AMG GT R
In his view, the GT R is a proper track car rather than a luxury Mercedes. He points to its twin-turbo V8, its rear-wheel steering and a traction control knob with ten settings. He also shows off the titanium exhaust and the carbon fiber pieces hidden around the car.
The car had about 20,000 kilometres on it, which he converts to roughly 12,000 miles. Because it came from British Columbia, it needed an out-of-province inspection in Alberta before he could register it. He expected it to pass easily.
But the drive to the shop did not go perfectly. An oil-level warning popped up on the dash on the way there.
An Inspection With No Shortcuts
The shop staff explain how strict these inspections are. They check lights, brakes and headlight aim, and they take photos in case an inspector ever asks for proof. The inspection itself costs 240 dollars, they say.
Under the hood, they spot a small leak near the vacuum pump. However, it is nowhere near the exhaust, so it is not a fire risk and does not fail the car.
The Leak Nobody Wanted To See
Then the car goes up on the lift, and the transmission is wet. Misha, a technician, explains that on this gearbox a failed internal seal can let two different fluids mix. If the leak comes from the weep hole, he says, it can wreck the transmission.
“It’s okay to see slight sweating. But when you see something like that that we see on yours, it’s bad,” Misha says.
The good news is that the fluid does not appear to be coming from the weep hole. On top of that, the crew notices that the engine mounts look newer than the rest of the car.
The owner takes it in stride. “It’s a 9-year-old vehicle that sat for a lot, so there’s going to be some things that come up,” he says.
Pass, Then A Plan
Meanwhile, the crew fits a set of snow tyres while the inspection wraps up. Then the verdict comes in. “It passed,” the shop owner tells him.
Still, nobody ignores the leak. The shop tops the fluid up and adds a small amount of UV dye. On the next visit, a UV light should show exactly where it is coming from. Registration takes the rest of the day, from about 9 a.m. until nearly 4 p.m.
What This GT R Teaches Used Supercar Buyers
His day at the shop is a good reminder for anyone buying a performance car from far away:
- A clean dealer history is not the same as a lift inspection. Get the car in the air.
- Know the difference between light sweating and an active leak, and ask where it is coming from.
- Low mileage is not always good news. Cars that sit can dry out seals.
- Budget for surprises, even on a car that passes inspection.
- Check your province or state’s rules before you buy out of the area.
Where Things Stand
The GT R is now registered and on the road in Alberta. The transmission leak still needs a source, and the dye test should find it. After that, the owner’s modification plans can begin.
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