Uncategorised Archives | Rockpoint BMW Specialists

Motorhomes and campervans have enjoyed a huge surge in popularity in recent years.
More people than ever are discovering the joys of owning a small home on wheels.
Rockpoint in Staffordshire has seen interest in its campervans soar including specially converted models.
Among its most popular makes are the VW (Volkswagen) Transporter and Crafter, Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Citroen Relay, Renault Master and the Fiat Ducato.
Along with a range of bigger used motorhomes.
Rockpoint owner James Hoe said: “People love them for everything from a quick night away to a two-or-three-month retreat to Europe.
“Some people like to convert them themselves but If you do it on a budget you lose all the quality, you are better to buy one already done.”

Are you buying a motorhome or campervan for the first time?
Here is our motorhome and campervan guide for beginners.

First off, what is the difference between a motorhome and campervan?
Motorhomes tend to be bigger and are more comfortable to live in whilst campervans are for shorter trips and can also be used as your main vehicle as they aren’t too difficult to park.
In a camper van there is not usually a divide between the cab and the living part unlike a motorhome.

What do you need to consider when buying a motorhome or campervan?
1. How much storage do you need?
2. Do you want to stay on large campsites or in smaller areas and villages?
3. What facilities do you need? If you will be staying on campsites you won’t need so many.
4. What size vehicle will you be confident driving and what restrictions and extra costs do bigger motorhomes have?
5. Where will you keep/store your vehicle and how much will this cost?
6. Do you want a dual-purpose vehicle that you can drive every day and also holiday in?
7. Will you be travelling with children or other people? Some campervans only have seats and seatbelts suitable for two people to drive in.
8. How many people does it need to sleep and do you want fixed beds or will you make them up every night to make way for more room?
9. Check the size of the beds too as they vary a lot.
10. Do you need a bathroom or can you make do with a portable toilet or using campsite facilities?
11. What kitchen and dining facilities do you need, do you need an oven, hob and microwave or will you not be doing much cooking?
12. Check your driving license and the date it was issued to discover the size of the vehicle you are allowed to drive.

Rockpoint
When buying a used vehicle, choose a reputable, trusted dealer like Rockpoint in Tamworth, Staffordshire.
Visit our website to see all the latest quality stock or call 01827 283496.
Please get in touch with any other questions you would like us to answer, email sales@rockpointbmw.co.uk

MOT and service history guide when buying a new car

When you buy a used car, you will want to know it has an MOT and a good service history.
A reputable dealer like Rockpoint in Staffordshire will make this part easier for you.
All their cars have an MOT. And they also check each car’s service history.
But if you are buying a car privately, you will need to do your own checks.

How to check if a car has a valid MOT
To check if a car has an MOT as well as to look back at its MOT history is very straightforward.
Go to this government website and input the car’s registration number.
You will be able to see MOT tests carried out on the vehicle in England, Scotland, and Wales since 2005.
You could find out if it passed or failed, the mileage recorded at the time, which parts failed or had minor problems and when the next MOT is due.
If you want to also find out where the tests were done, you will need the 11-digit number from the vehicle’s logbook (V55C).
This search is free.

Vehicle service history
Cars should be serviced to the correct standards and can vary depending on the manufactuer.
A car which has always had its services carried out, at approved service stations with an official stamp, has a full-service history (FSH).
Partial service history means it was taken to a non-approved service station at some point, missed a service or does not have all its stamps, for example.
FSH is best but not having it does not mean that anything will necessarily be wrong with the vehicle, it just means you may not have a full picture of its history.

Service history books
In the past, vehicles had a service history booklet with all the information about when and where it received its routine services.
Each entry would have a stamp from a garage plus details of work carried out and the car’s mileage.
Service books can easily get lost, or paperwork go missing.

With newer cars, digital service books often relace physical ones with the services recorded electronically.

Tracking down the service history in both cases can take some detective work.

How to find out the service history of a car or other vehicle
It can be frustrating to try to piece together the service history of a vehicle.
But there are several steps you can take:

1. If buying from a dealership, they may be able to help you – ask the question.

2. Manufacturers also keep an online record of a car if it’s serviced by a franchised dealer.

3. Contact the garage who usually services the vehicle as they should keep records and may be able to supply you with missing documents. If you don’t know which garage or garages have been used, then perform the MOT check mentioned above, from the government’s website. Look at the MOT test locations – they are likely to be the same garages used by previous owners for services. Contact them to see if they hold any service records for the vehicle.

4. Go to the DVLA’s website and fill out a V888 form here. It costs £5 and allows you to find the previous owner’s details, who may be able to help you.

5. For digital service books you must complete an online registration form to gain access.

6. For a car that’s three years or younger, the service records should be held on a central database with the manufacturer.

NB: You will often need to prove that you are the vehicle owner when researching its service history either by showing a payment receipt signed by the previous owner. Or by showing the vehicle’s log book (the V5C) and knowing the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Category: Uncategorised

Motorhome and campervan buying guide and top tips

MOT and service history guide when buying a new car