Vehicle Inspection Management System (VIMS) try out.

Vehicle Inspection Management System (VIMS) is AucNation Synergy Sdn Bhd new and innovative solution for the used vehicle industry. It is a comprehensive vehicle inspection service that is powered by Automobile Inspection System (AIS) and supported by Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) through their training facilities. AIS is a top inspection company in Japan for brands such as Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Nissan and Mazda. AIS is also one of three inspection brands approved as official grading for consumers by the Automobile Fair Trade Committee (AFTC)

VIMS has two types of analyses – Visual Analysis and Diagnostic Analysis. The Visual Analysis is conducted using a Pen Based Computer (PBC) board to inspect the vehicle’s main frame (Accident History; Repair or Replacement of Parts), basic mechanical components (Oil Leak; Abnormal Noises; Excessive Exhaust Smoke), as well as the exterior (Cracks & Dents; Sheet Metal Paint; Panel Replacement) and interior of the car (Smell; Seat Condition; Condition of Accessories). The Diagnostic Analysis uses the On-Board Diagnostic 2 (OBD 2) tool to do the health check of the vehicle’s subsystems such as the engine and transmission.

Results of the 2 analyses are sent to AIS in Japan to obtain an accurate and fair scoring. Data collected will be stored on a web server and retrieved as needed. Inspection is conducted by a qualified inspector who have undergone rigorous training with AucNation Synergy’s counterpart in Japan.

Each VIMS inspection takes about 30 – 40 minutes to complete and customers will receive a VIMS Certificate of Inspection, issued within 48 hours and valid for 90 days. VIMS will not only provide an in-depth analysis of the condition of a used and reconditioned car but also able to identify any tampering, modifications or additions that may compromise the car’s overall durability and safety. On top of that, VIMS is able to pinpoint if the car is a half cut, if it was involved in an accident or even if it is simple too old.

VIMS is not here to replace Puspakom but is more towards educating consumers, workshops and the used cars industry on the needs to have safe and quality used and reconditioned vehicles.

VIMS recently came and did an inspection on my 2007 Mahindra Scorpio 2.5 Diesel Turbo. The reason I choose this “Challenging” vehicle for them to inspect is because the Mahindra is considered “extinct” here in Malaysia and very few workshops are willing to take in this vehicle to repair. So, it would be interesting to see how the whole process of inspection goes and the results it is going to generate.

The inspector took less than an hour to do the visual inspection using the PBC. However, the inspector could not locate the Mahindra’s OBD socket although he did research it over the internet and found that this model does have an OBD socket. The Mahindra has gone through some electrical hardness modification before but I was not aware that the mechanic took out the OBD socket. Without the OBD socket, the Diagnosis Analysis could not be done.

My vehicle evaluation report came not long after the inspection and it is indeed accurate as to the condition, both interior and exterior of my Mahindra Scorpio. But the remark or comments made are rather general and not very specific. For instance, in the Main Frame Condition column, it was written that “Visible replacement mark, replaced mark and physical impact on the designated area” but it did not specifically state where is the mark is nor where the designated area is and what, if any, were the items / parts that were replaced. The diagram on the report is also not very user friendly as it takes quite a bit of back and forth reading to get a better understanding on the report. I was also confused with the Damage Scale and the Star Rating which are both in Numerical form and it kept me wondering which is it that is indicated in the diagram.  The report reading can be a bit of a challenge for the average vehicle owners. These are the few things I hope AucNation can improve on.

VIMS is currently available only in the Klang valley but will soon expand to the Northern and Southern regions. Inspection teams are mobile, meaning they will go to the customers which is a great convenient. There are 10 trained inspectors to kick off VIMS and each inspector is able to check up to 8 cars a day. Rates start from RM175.00 for a basic visual check to RM350.00 per vehicle.

For more information, call +603 6206 2782 or email service@aismsia.com