Automotive Consulting Engineers Ltd Reviews 

I commissioned ACE to inspect my vehicle after a main dealer over-tensioned a timing belt, causing progressive metal fatigue and a fractured camshaft. ACE's inspecting engineer initially produced a report that completely agreed with my independent specialist,confirming the belt was over-tensioned.
However, the company then executed a total U-turn, issuing a heavily revised second report.
This contradiction completely stalled my active vehicle dispute,leaving me stranded without a car for 4 months and causing severe financial and emotional distress.
When challenged, ACE Management issued a 100% refund of my fee and explicitly admitted to me in writing: 'It is never good business to provide an inaccurate report, but occasionally this will occur...' citing their corporate job volumes!
A company that openly admits to writing inaccurate technical reports due to high volume cannot be trusted as an independent expert. While they refunded my fee to escape legal liability, the consumer detriment they have caused is massive. Avoid this company if you need reliable,independent evidence.

I instructed Automotive Consulting Engineers (ACE) to carry out an independent inspection of my commercial vehicle following a dispute over the quality of accident repairs.
I was particularly impressed with the thoroughness and technical detail of their report. The engineer conducted a physical inspection, identified significant structural issues that had previously been overlooked, and provided clear explanations supported by sound technical reasoning.
The report was comprehensive, balanced and professional. It was reassuring to see that the engineer had taken the time to investigate the issues properly rather than simply accepting the conclusions of previous assessments.
My only criticism was that the report took longer to arrive than originally anticipated, which was frustrating given the ongoing nature of my dispute.
Nevertheless, having now received and carefully reviewed the report, I genuinely feel that the £900 fee was money well spent. The quality and depth of the investigation justified the expense and gave me confidence that my concerns had been properly examined.
Despite the delay, I would have no hesitation in recommending ACE to anyone requiring a thorough and genuinely independent vehicle engineering assessment.

worst company i’ve ever used told them i had a deadline for a report for my finance company and they required payment straight away and then took way longer than the deadline i gave them. i ended up having to pay for another inspection and report from a different company because of how long ace took. do not use this company.

Poor experience. Paid for a check and report. Waited beyond the waiting period, had to keep chasing. it was finally shared by email late on a Friday- for the website to be down, with no one to answer my calls to discuss this until Monday.

I am very happy with the way this company operates yes it does take a little time but they all do there jobs properly the women/men who speak to you are very polite and i couldn't be more happier with there service 10/10

ACE inspected my Ford Focus on behalf of Moneybarn. The report identified a turbo underboost fault code, wastegate noise and a fuel smell in the engine oil, suggesting possible over-fuelling. It expressly confirmed that the vehicle was not fault-free.

Crucially, ACE recommended further workshop investigations into the injectors, turbocharger, wastegate and fault code. Yet, without those further diagnostics establishing the cause, the report concluded that the faults would not have been present at sale, relying on elapsed time and mileage.

That is my biggest concern: how can the report confidently rule out a developing fault when it acknowledges that further investigation is needed to establish what is wrong?

The report also failed to address my concern about oil contamination inside the wiring loom/connector. Its recorded road test covered approximately five miles, leaving me unconvinced that it adequately investigated the intermittent loss of power I experience under motorway conditions.

Moneybarn has used this report to reject my complaint, despite these unanswered questions. I am challenging that decision through the Financial Ombudsman Service.

In my opinion, this was an incomplete investigation with an inadequately explained conclusion. I expected technical reasoning supported by completed diagnostics—not a conclusion reached while important checks remained outstanding.

Shocking service and have been given the runaround for a couple of months, we employed this company to do a report on a vehicle we purchased, to confirm that the engine was not the original, the inspector missed and forgot to mention that in the report, after a month they correct this mistake but still had other things to amend and after 2 months still haven't done it, we needed the report for the ombudsman, so now it's to late, totally wase of time and money, so incompetent

Brilliant service from start to finish. I filled the online form out and was called the next day to arrange appointment. Would definitely recommend , engineer was very helpful and knowledgeable thank you ACE 👍

The arrangement of the inspection and the politeness of staff including the inspector was very good.
However, after the inspection ACE strictly adopted the position that they have 14 days to provide the report despite acknowledging in writing that the matter was urgent. Needless to say the report did not appear and even on the 14th day were adamant is could happen. It was actually delivered 2 days late and only after I asked the MD to intervene.
The challenge for ACE is to better manage customer expectations and rather be defensive, be proactive and advise clients, before they ask, of any expected delays.

Highly recommend this company, from start to finish they have been reliable.

I had a desktop review done and had a deadline of an ombudsman case against my finance company.
They worked to my deadline and was accurate on the information provided.

Thank you so much for your help money well spent

Great service, great communication and delivered exactley what I needed.

Unfortunately for me I have had to use ACE twice now, luckily they were at hand to really help with both of my cases. Once a time slot is booked they go to work getting to the bottom of the issues with the car. They give a thourough report at the end and a summary for the non mechanical minded people. A bit slow in publishing results but to be expected with work loads. My experience is a good one. Thanks

Very professional

The report was comprehensive but it took a long time for the appointment to be booked and for the engineer to view the car

Great service reasonable price and thorough inspections

I found them to be professional and able to explain the process well.

Couldn't fault the team. Konner Clare - the engineer who visited us was very professional and knowledgeable. He was always ready to help and answer any questions we had. The ladies in the office were always willing to help with emails required for the issues we had with third parties and timeframe issues. Would definitely recommend and use again.

From start to finish I’ve had amazing experiences, the admin staff over phone were lovely and special thanks to Graham, these people are very good people. I’ve had issue with a finance deal so they have sent out Ivis for inspection but my workers have gone out to lunch and they wouldn’t wait a few minutes for them to get back so Finance comany said it was my liability as missed the appointment with no on day notice however when I called these people up I have explained my situation and they let me bring the van to them for inspection for NEXT DAY usually that would be unrealistic from any other company but these people truly understood what we were going through and helped us out with providing the report which has helped us fight with the finance company against claimant.
Thank you we highly recommend you guys - DREAM DRIVE TEAM

quite a long process but sorted it out in the end

The engineer’s report appears to contain a significant contradiction.

On the one hand, the report states that the root cause of the problem requires further investigation. However, on the other hand, it concludes that the faults were already developing at the time of sale.

If the root cause of the fault has not been established and requires further investigation, it is unclear on what basis the engineer can conclude that the faults were developing at the point of sale.

In my view, these two conclusions are difficult to reconcile. Without identifying the root cause and establishing how and when the fault developed, there does not appear to be sufficient evidence to determine with certainty that the fault was present or developing at the time the vehicle was sold.

I would therefore question the evidential basis for the conclusion that the faults were developing at the point of sale, particularly given the report’s own acknowledgement that the root cause requires further investigation.