How to use this checklist
Work through the questions once you have a shortlist, not before; the guide to choosing a machine helps you get there. Send them by email so the answers come back in writing, and keep the replies with the quote. Where a supplier says something is included, ask for it to be listed on the quote itself.
Each question below explains why it matters and what a good answer looks like. You won’t get a perfect answer to every one from anyone, including us; where MET hasn’t yet confirmed a value, our pages show Awaiting approval rather than a best guess. What matters is that the answer is specific, sourced and the same everywhere you look.
The machine and its paperwork
Which model and revision is this, and is the manual for that revision?
Machines change between production batches, and older brochures and manuals often stay in circulation. A good answer names the model and revision, offers a photograph of the rating plate, and sends the current operating manual before you buy. If the manual describes controls or features the machine doesn’t have, ask which one is right.
What conformity marking does it carry, and can I see the declaration?
A logo on a brochure is not evidence. A good answer is the declaration of conformity for that model and revision, naming the marking it carries. Be wary of invented or mixed-up marking names, and of wording that changes from page to page.
Where do the specifications come from?
Capacity, weight, materials, power and air figures for the same machine can differ between a shop page, a comparison sheet and a manual. A good answer gives one set of figures and says which document, drawing or rating plate they come from. If two figures disagree, ask which one the supplier will put in writing on the quote.
Fit with your filters
Will it take my largest filter, connected and secured?
A filter that fits the chamber may still not fit once the adaptor and hose are connected and the filter is secured. A good answer comes after the supplier has asked for part numbers or measurements of your largest filters, and says how those are held in place in the machine. Better still, they show one being loaded.
Which adaptors are included, and what happens when one doesn’t fit?
The adaptor seals the machine to the filter outlet so the water goes through the filter rather than around it. A good answer lists the adaptors in the kit, explains how an unusual filter is connected (some adaptors need modifying), and gives the cost and lead time of extra ones.
Which component types is this model confirmed for?
DPFs, catalysts, SCR units, EGR parts, intercoolers and radiators are different jobs. A good answer lists the types confirmed for that model and any limits, rather than the whole range’s marketing list. If a second service is part of your plan, get it confirmed in writing.
Results and evidence
Can I see it clean filters like mine?
A demonstration on your own filters, at the supplier’s site or yours, answers more than any brochure. A good answer is a date. Watch the whole job: inspection, loading, the wash, drying and unloading, not only the moment the dirty water appears.
How is the result measured, and what doesn’t the measurement prove?
Removal percentages without a stated method, filter and test conditions can’t be compared or checked. A good answer explains what the machine measures, such as back-pressure before and after, under what conditions, and is honest that a reading is a record, not proof that a filter is serviceable or as good as new.
How are filters dried, and which ones won’t dry in the machine?
Machines dry with heated air, with compressed air only, or both, and some filters need finishing on the vehicle. A good answer says which applies to this model, which filters are likely to need more drying, and how that fits your workflow if filters go back to other garages.
Running and owning it
What does a clean cost to run, and what’s in that figure?
Running-cost figures vary widely because they include different things. A good answer breaks the figure down into water, cleaning product, power, filter consumables and waste disposal, and says whether technician time is counted. Our profit calculator uses MET’s current running-cost figure on that basis.
How often is the water changed, and where does the waste go?
In a closed-loop machine the wash water is filtered and reused for many cleans, then removed with the captured sediment. A good answer explains that cycle for the model, says what affects it (heavily contaminated filters load the water faster), and names the waste route: an approved disposal method, never ground, surface water or an ordinary drain.
What maintenance does it need, and which parts wear?
Filters, seals, hoses and pumps all need attention over time. A good answer points to the maintenance instructions, such as how the bag or sock filter is changed safely, and says which parts and consumables are stocked and how quickly they arrive.
Installation, training and warranty
- METClean E warranty
- 12 months, parts only
- METClean S warranty
- 12 months, with an engineer to site where self-help isn’t possible
- METClean V warranty
- 12 months, parts and labour at the MET factory
- METClean XL Multi+ warranty
- 12 months, with an engineer to site where self-help isn’t possible
- METClean DPF Lite warranty
- One-year parts-only warranty for business buyers
- METClean WashPRO warranty
- 12 months, parts only
Who installs it, and who trains my team?
Most early problems come from installation and handling rather than the machine. A good answer says who connects and commissions the machine, what you must have ready beforehand, who is trained, on what, and whether training is on site. For METClean, it depends on the model: some are fitted and commissioned by MET, others are set up by the buyer with remote onboarding.
What does the warranty cover, for how long, and who comes out?
Warranty terms differ between models and suppliers, and a single sentence covering a whole range rarely tells you enough. A good answer is the written terms for your model: parts, labour, call-out, exclusions and what voids it, such as skipping the maintenance instructions. Every METClean warranty depends on following the safety and operating instructions, and extended plans are available.
The price, and the answers to be wary of
Ask exactly what the price includes: VAT, delivery, installation, training, the adaptor kit and any first consumables. Ask whether a deposit secures the order and what happens if delivery slips. If you want to spread the cost, ask for the finance terms in writing. For METClean, MET introduces you to Kennet Leasing, which arranges the finance and quotes its own terms.
Some answers should make you look harder. Precise removal or efficiency percentages without a test method, claims to be unbeatable or unique in the market, payback or profit figures presented as what you will earn, and printouts described as certificates all deserve a request for evidence. A supplier with good answers will be glad to show their workings.
Ask us these questions
Send us the checklist and we’ll answer it in writing with your quote.