[vijay.s]

Is there any such service available in Hyderabad? I googled Zekardo and found that they weren't operating in Hyderabad.

[atluri_rkc]

Originally Posted by satya_ip

What is the best time to do PDI (personally or from Zekardo) during the car booking-to-delivery timeframe?

I did get a call from Zekardo when I was going through their site and was understanding the booking/PDI process and there I shared my mobile number. Zekardo person told me to do it 2 days before the delivery date. But I think it would be very late in the game as most of the formalities would have been completed by that time and dealer might have shared the details with RTO for registration.

It would be better if PDI is done when car is allotted to you with VIN shared and before the invoicing/financing/disbursement and other related things are done.

But, would dealer agree to allow PDI with third party at stock yard?

PDIs are done post allotment and before you give a go-ahead (read signing of documents) to the dealer to proceed with plans for delivery, which will include insurance, paying road tax and getting registration done.

While some dealers say that they dont allow PDI, just asking them put that in writing and this is doing the trick to get the PDI scheduled. Most OEMs (if not all) are in favour of allowing PDIs to be done - just to rule out any in-transit damages or anything which missed in-plant QC.

At the same time, OEMs have stopped allowing PDIs to be done in stockyards. So, you need to ask dealer to get the car to the dealership and some might insist on paying 2L to ensure you dont backoff even after everything is cleared on PDI. Its upto you on paying this 2L or pushing the dealer to wait for PDI to happen.

One thing which some are overlooking is understanding the plans to park/store the car in the intervening time between PDI and delivery as there will be atleast a gap of 3-4 days. Please get clarity on this and car should not be allowed to stay in dealership OR service area. Some dealers have a different parking (usually close to dealership) for cars waiting for registration and delivery while some send these back to stockyard. So, please understand these plans.

[satya_ip]

Originally Posted by atluri_rkc

At the same time, OEMs have stopped allowing PDIs to be done in stockyards. So, you need to ask dealer to get the car to the dealership and some might insist on paying 2L to ensure you dont backoff even after everything is cleared on PDI. Its upto you on paying this 2L or pushing the dealer to wait for PDI to happen.

I had a very pleasant experience with Zekardo. I booked PDI for my Creta from Zekardo on 27th March around 5pm through their website and PDI was scheduled on 28th March, the very next day.

I did not have any hopes that I would be lucky enough to get some engineer to do the PDI. So, I took a print out of the PDI checklist from team-bhp and asked one of my friend to accompany me for PDI.

Surprising thing is that dealer was ready to do the PDI anywhere (at stockyard or showroom). I opted for showroom as it was very near to my office in Pune.

To my surprise, I got a call from Zerkardo at around 8:30pm saying that engineer is available for PDI and we agreed to do the PDI at 12:30pm next day. I got a whatsapp message within 15 mins mentioning the details of engineer who would do the PDI. Got a call from the engineer in about 20 mins to confirm the time for PDI and the address of the dealer's showroom.

The person reached sharp at 12:30pm on the date of PDI and he immediately started his work. He was checking all the things and simultaneously explaining the meaning of each test and its significance.

He took around 1 hour 20 mins to finish his job. We went inside the showroom and he generated the PDI report within 5 mins. Explained all the tests/checks that were performed and how the car has performed against them.

I logged in into Zekardo's site and downloaded the report PDF. I was really happy to see my car scored 10 in Overall Vehicle Reliability Score.
Sharing the screenshot of it at the below.

Originally Posted by atluri_rkc

One thing which some are overlooking is understanding the plans to park/store the car in the intervening time between PDI and delivery as there will be atleast a gap of 3-4 days. Please get clarity on this and car should not be allowed to stay in dealership OR service area. Some dealers have a different parking (usually close to dealership) for cars waiting for registration and delivery while some send these back to stockyard. So, please understand these plans.

I asked the dealer where would they keep the car till it is delivered. The SA informed me that it would be sent back to the stockyard. They have a separate parking near the showroom for the cars which would get delivered in next 2 days. They bring all such cars to that parking area which are going to be delivered in next 2 days.

[vikeva027]

Kia Crystal Auto, Baner has vehemently denied a PDI by a third party. Anyone else has faced the same?

[Love4Cars]

I also had a pleasant experience with Zekardo in Gurgaon. The engineer was sharp on time and very knowledgeable. He took ample time going through each and every corner of the car and shared the report immediately after the inspection.

If the dealer allows this then it is a great service especially if you are spending upward of 15 Lacs on a car or even lower in case the stock is older than 2-3 months.

[TSS]

I always thought that it would be great to have a professional to do your car's PDI. Never knew about Zekardo till I came across this thread.
I have a few questions:

(1) I am sure dealers would be able to identify that the PDI is being done by a professional and not a layman. They might object. Therefore, does it make sense to ask the dealer beforehand if they allow Zekardo guys to do the PDI. If they agree, only then book PDI Service with Zekardo. On the contrary, if I do not ask and simply take the engineer for PDI and at that stage the dealer refuses, then Zekardo might ask for some payment since their engineer spent time and fuel.

(2) Since they check the car for its software, electronics, electricals, etc. I assume it is all done with handheld devices that do not require electricity (since the car might be parked away from an electrical socket).

(3) Can one expect a nexus between the dealer and Zekardo wherein the dealer might nudge the Zekardo engineer to give a perfect or near-perfect score to a defective car?

[RROD]

I have very high regards for WheelsWisdom.

They provide used car inspection, not sure for PDI. But I am fairly sure you could avail their services for a PDI as well, if you could request.

My first experience was bad with them, but they won me over by accepting their goof up and being completely transparent about it.
Now anything related to cars service/used car inspection, I always recommend these guys.

[TSS]

Thanks for your recommendation.
I checked-up their website WheelsWisdom. Their services are limited to Bangalore only.

[Sail]

Originally Posted by TSS

heir services are limited to Bangalore only.

Hi TSS,

For Delhi NCR, try Zekardo or PDI Boss.

Zekardo require 2-3 days notice, which was not possible for me due to lethargic VW Gurugram, (who did not knew when the car arrived at their stockyard).

Had to choose PDI boss, and they arranged the inspection with-in 20 hours.

Give it a try, they do justify the amount they charge.

Do inform the Dealers via email. In general they don't object, but they don't prefer checking car data / softwires etc with electronic tools.
For me, it was a hot & sunny day, I took the SA a little distance, and inside job was done in 8-10 mins. Though whole process lasted about 1 hr and 20 mins 2 persons did it. Avoid doing it at showroom, insist at stockyard it-self.

Brdgs
Sail

[TSS]

Thanks Sail

Just checked up PDI Boss website. They have a very high customer satisfaction level indicated by a 4.9 review rating.
I think when the time comes, I will certainly go for their services. For the analysis through the OBD port, I will try some 10-15 minutes distraction to give the engineer time to work.

Avoid doing it at showroom, insist at stockyard it-self

This too is a good suggestion but sometimes stockyards of Delhi dealers are located in some far flung and nondescript place, usually out of Delhi.

[NSEW-Compass]

I just did a PDI through Zekardo, for my newly purchased Jeep Compass.

I had gone for a 2023 model for getting some discounts and hence thought to outsource the PDI task for making sure there were no material fault(s). While the showroom guys were reluctant and said me personally visiting wasn't needed, I also visited at Jeep showroom during the PDI visit for experience sake. The PDI person had come from quite far and was on time.

I scheduled the PDI about 12 days before the delivery. The zekardo representative was on time, and for next hour or so did a through inspection (inside out) for the entire car. He didn't leave a tiny spot of paint chip from the car during inspection and reported all the issues. Found some minor 4-5 issues to fix. All were easy fixes and not material and hence it wasn't a deterrent for taking the delivery. Post the initial PDI, got a detailed report from zekardo with a sort of a quality score, which is quite good. Report is detailed and one can see that various aspects were seen through thoroughly.

Coming from Finance background, the checklist approach is always quite full-proof and ensures that nothing is left out (on a side note, one can read quite an interesting book called the checklist manifesto by Dr. Atul Gawande - its quite an interesting read )

After the fixes were done and confirmed by Jeep (couple of days' prior to the delivery), zekardo representative re-visited to check through and confirm that everything was fixed. To my surprise there was no additional cost for re-check.

Few things basis this experience:
1. External PDI is good, detailed and its not super expensive compared to cost of investment;
2. Inspection is more thorough and is done by a professional; and
3. I think one should also accompany the PDI professional just for an experience and also its good to have 2 sets of eyes instead of just 1.

[pmbabu]

Originally Posted by TSS

I always thought that it would be great to have a professional to do your car's PDI. Never knew about Zekardo till I came across this thread.
I have a few questions:

(1) I am sure dealers would be able to identify that the PDI is being done by a professional and not a layman. They might object. Therefore, does it make sense to ask the dealer beforehand if they allow Zekardo guys to do the PDI. If they agree, only then book PDI Service with Zekardo. On the contrary, if I do not ask and simply take the engineer for PDI and at that stage the dealer refuses, then Zekardo might ask for some payment since their engineer spent time and fuel.

(2) Since they check the car for its software, electronics, electricals, etc. I assume it is all done with handheld devices that do not require electricity (since the car might be parked away from an electrical socket).

(3) Can one expect a nexus between the dealer and Zekardo wherein the dealer might nudge the Zekardo engineer to give a perfect or near-perfect score to a defective car?

It is natural to have this reaction based on our real life experiences with all things in our country, but having experienced this in Bangalore, let me give you our view.

1. Dealers in Bangalore seem absolutely okay with an expert inspecting the car - at least that was our experience with a TATA dealer. They were already aware of such services. Zekardo person did a fantastic job identifying very very minor defects. I was impressed as to how the person knew how to activate and test any feature that is possible to be verified when car is stationary.

2. No electricity needed.

3. Possibility for such a thing exists, but there are so many dealers and so many car makers, it would be practically impossible for these folks to keep in touch. That said, when you see the person in action, all of your apprehensions will fade away fast.

It is the best 2.5K spent before registration of the car.

[vikeva027]

Originally Posted by vikeva027

Kia Crystal Auto, Baner has vehemently denied a PDI by a third party. Anyone else has faced the same?

I have finally bought the car from Aman Kia. They were very helpful and had no issues with a PDI.

[5252rpm]

Hi Cauvery tata is rejecting my friend's request for a professional PDI. Is this a Tata Motors SOP? Can anybody share their experience with any professional PDI with a Tata dealer in Bengaluru?

[TheM0nk]

Originally Posted by 5252rpm

Hi Cauvery tata is rejecting my friend's request for a professional PDI. Is this a Tata Motors SOP? Can anybody share their experience with any professional PDI with a Tata dealer in Bengaluru?

After Nexon TATA motors have been on a roll. Well built cars with zero niggles, sky high customer confidence and resultant sales. Extremly courteous dealerships & Professional, knowledgeable service centres. Even after all this if you want to carry out PDI on the vehicle they made for you, in a plant that they constructed with their own money, you should do a self introspection kind ser