I got too excited last month when I found a 2016 Dodge Charger Scat Pack at a decent price in Al Quoz, and I skipped getting a proper check because the seller seemed trustworthy. Two weeks later, the transmission started slipping and the rear diff was whining, so now I'm stuck with a hefty repair bill. I should have paid for a
Dubai Dodge Pre Purchase Check before handing over the cash, because it would have caught the stored fault codes and the worn diff fluid. Learn from my dumb move and don't trust a clean exterior or a smooth talker. Anyone know a good shop that can rebuild a ZF 8HP without charging a fortune?
Rough lesson to learn but honestly such a common one, a clean exterior tells you nothing about what's actually happening mechanically underneath. Stored fault codes especially would've been such an easy catch with even a basic scan before handing over the cash.
Sorry you're dealing with this, transmission slip combined with diff whine sounds like a rough couple weeks. For the ZF 8HP rebuild, definitely shop around since pricing varies a lot between shops, some specialize specifically in these and can do it for noticeably less than a dealer would quote.
Worn diff fluid is such an easy thing to catch beforehand, that's basically a five minute check for anyone who knows what they're looking for. Rough that it turned into a bigger issue, but at least now you know for next time that a smooth talking seller means nothing about actual condition.
This happens more than people think, urgency and a good price make people skip the one step that actually protects them. Hope the rebuild doesn't end up costing you more than a proper inspection would have upfront, that's the frustrating part about these lessons.
For a ZF 8HP rebuild, definitely get a few quotes before committing since prices swing wildly depending on the shop. Sorry this happened, but appreciate you sharing it honestly, this is exactly the kind of story that convinces people not to skip the inspection step next time.