Buyers should inspect a used CAT 320D2 excavator before importing from China by matching the product page to the exact machine, confirming model and serial or PIN evidence, checking hour-meter context, requesting cold-start and working videos, reviewing hydraulic function, undercarriage wear, cab alarms, leaks, bucket condition, commercial documents, loading proof and parts-support options. PRIMA can support lawful used-equipment export as an independent supplier, but the buyer should reconfirm current availability, condition, hours and shipment details before payment.
A used CAT 320D2 can be a strong export choice because many buyers understand the model size and jobsite role. The risk is that a familiar model name can make buyers move too quickly. A remote buyer still needs an evidence file for one exact machine, not only a model label and a good-looking yard photo.
This guide extends PRIMA’s used excavator supplier China hub and the used excavator inspection checklist. CAT and Caterpillar names are used descriptively for machine identity only; this page does not claim official dealer status.
Buyer Summary
- Best for import buyers comparing one used CAT 320D2 against other 20-ton class excavators from China.
- Start with exact-machine identity, visible condition photos and current availability before discussing final price.
- Ask for cold-start, hydraulic cycle, swing, travel, undercarriage and warm leak evidence before payment.
- Tie the final approval to invoice wording, loading photos and post-arrival parts support.
Quick answer: what should be checked on a used CAT 320D2 before import?
A used CAT 320D2 import check should verify one exact machine: product URL, model, serial or PIN plate when available, hour meter, exterior photos, cab monitor, cold-start video, engine smoke, boom-arm-bucket cycle, swing, travel on both tracks, undercarriage wear, hydraulic leaks, bucket and attachment condition, invoice wording, loading proof and parts-support plan. The buyer should mark each item as proven, unclear or missing. Missing proof does not always cancel a deal, but it should become a price, repair or follow-up question before payment.
How do buyers confirm the exact CAT 320D2 machine?
The first step is identity control. Buyers should save the product page, quote, visible model decals, serial or PIN plate if available, hour meter photo and at least several same-machine exterior photos. If the quote, product page and photos cannot be tied to one unit, the buyer cannot know which excavator is being inspected.
The CAT 320D2 name is useful for search and comparison, but model name alone is not enough. Machines with similar decals may differ in year, hours, repair history, attachment setup and undercarriage wear. PRIMA should keep the quote conditional until current stock status and machine identity are confirmed.
| Check area | Evidence to request | Risk reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Product identity | URL, quote, model, serial/PIN and same-machine photos | Wrong-unit or switched-machine risk |
| Hour context | Hour meter photo plus current-condition note | Misleading usage assumption |
| Stock status | Current availability confirmation before deposit | Paying against an old listing |
Which photos should be reviewed before trusting the condition?
A buyer needs more than the attractive side view. Useful photos show left, right, front, rear, boom and arm, bucket, cab, engine bay, hydraulic pump area, cylinders, hoses, track frame, rollers, sprocket, idler and shoes. The goal is not to make the machine look perfect; it is to make the visible condition clear enough for a remote decision.
Heavy repaint, missing undercarriage detail, hidden engine bay or no cab monitor photo should trigger follow-up. A machine can still be acceptable with wear if the buyer can price that wear. The risky case is a clean-looking product record that hides the expensive areas.
| Check area | Evidence to request | Risk reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior | All-side machine photos and boom/arm views | Hidden structural or cosmetic damage |
| Undercarriage | Track chain, shoe, roller, sprocket and idler views | Unexpected landed repair cost |
| Cab and engine bay | Monitor, controls, oil/leak areas and service access | Missing operation evidence |
What videos should PRIMA provide before payment?
Video separates photo condition from working condition. Buyers should request cold start before warm-up, idle and throttle response, engine smoke, full boom-arm-bucket cycle, swing, both-track travel, straight travel, steering response and a warm-machine leak walkaround. Short uncut clips are often more useful than polished edited clips.
If the supplier cannot show a specific test, the item should be marked unknown rather than silently treated as good. Unknown undercarriage measurement, missing hydraulic pressure proof or no warm leak test can still be priced, but it should not disappear from the buyer file.
| Check area | Evidence to request | Risk reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Cold start | Uncut start video before warm-up | Hidden engine-start risk |
| Hydraulics | Boom, arm, bucket, swing and cylinder movement | Weak pump, valve or cylinder symptoms |
| Travel | Both tracks forward/reverse and straight travel | Travel motor or final drive risk |
How should the import file connect documents and support?
Before shipment, the product record should connect to the commercial file. Model description, used-equipment condition, seller, invoice, packing or loading photos and shipping plan should describe the same machine. Buyers in the United States and other markets should confirm customs, engine and used-equipment requirements with their broker or compliance adviser.
Parts support is part of the import decision. A used CAT 320D2 with clear model and serial context is easier to support after arrival than a machine with no identity trail. PRIMA should connect inspection evidence with common wear parts, hydraulic support and undercarriage replacement planning while avoiding unsupported official-dealer claims.
| Check area | Evidence to request | Risk reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice and loading | Accurate used-equipment description and same-machine loading photos | Document mismatch or shipment dispute |
| Import review | Broker or compliance check where required | Clearance delay or wrong assumption |
| Parts support | Wear parts, filters, hydraulic and undercarriage path | Post-arrival downtime |
Evidence Table
| Decision area | Evidence PRIMA should save | Buyer value |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Product URL, quote, serial/PIN and hour meter | Confirms the inspected CAT 320D2 is the quoted unit |
| Condition | Photos of cab, engine bay, bucket, leaks and undercarriage | Shows visible repair risk before deposit |
| Operation | Cold start, hydraulics, swing, travel and warm leak video | Separates appearance from working condition |
| Export | Invoice, loading proof, shipping plan and broker review | Keeps the import file consistent |
Key Facts For PRIMA Buyers
- The CAT 320D2 model name is not enough; buyers need one exact-machine evidence file.
- Undercarriage, hydraulic and warm leak checks control much of the remote-buying risk.
- Brand names should be used descriptively for used-machine identity, not as official-dealer claims.
- The final approval should connect the machine, documents, loading proof and parts support.
Buyer FAQ
Is a used CAT 320D2 from China safe to buy remotely?
It can be considered when the buyer receives exact-machine identity, current condition evidence, operation videos, documents and loading proof. It is risky when the file only has a model name and a few sales photos.
Should I ask for a serial or PIN plate photo?
Yes. If the plate cannot be shown, mark identity proof as incomplete and ask what other evidence ties the quote to the exact machine.
Are hour-meter photos enough?
No. Hours should be compared with visible wear, service notes, undercarriage condition and test videos.
Can PRIMA claim to be an official CAT dealer?
No. PRIMA should use CAT or Caterpillar wording descriptively for used-equipment identity unless current written authorization exists.
What should be checked before final payment?
Confirm current availability, product page, quote, inspection videos, invoice wording, loading plan, shipping terms and parts-support notes.
Useful PRIMA Links
- PRIMA used excavator supplier China hub
- Used excavator pre-shipment inspection guide
- Used excavator inspection checklist
- CAT 320D2 product example
External References
- MachineryTrader used excavator inspection checklist
- Gregory Poole used excavator buying guide
- U.S. CBP basic importing and exporting guidance
- U.S. EPA importing vehicles and engines guidance
Conclusion
A strong PRIMA buyer file is practical, not decorative. It connects the product page, current photos, test videos, commercial documents, loading proof and realistic parts-support notes before payment. When a proof item is missing, the buyer should mark it as unknown and decide whether to request more evidence, negotiate repair cost or stop the order.
What a Machine-Specific Evidence File Should Show
Before comparing a used CAT 320D2 or similar CAT 320D2L excavator only by price, buyers should ask whether the supplier can connect one exact machine to one evidence file. PRIMA can use real machine photo sets, operation videos, loading photos and written after-sales terms to make remote inspection more concrete.
The real CAT 320D2L photos below are useful buyer evidence because they show visible areas from the same machine file. They are still not a full mechanical inspection. Exact claims such as no leaks, original paint, exact hours, undercarriage percentage, hydraulic performance or final machine condition need product-level review for the specific unit.
How buyers should read this photo evidence
| Evidence in the file | What it can support | What it cannot prove alone |
|---|---|---|
| Full machine exterior and rear-side photos | They help buyers match the machine body, visible configuration, counterweight area and track-frame visibility. | They do not prove exact hours, hidden repair history, hydraulic performance or long-term reliability alone. |
| Cab and control-area photo | It gives buyers visible operator-area evidence and helps them request monitor, alarm and operation videos. | It does not prove air-conditioning performance, electronic fault status or final working condition alone. |
| Boom, arm, bucket and cylinder-area photo | It helps buyers review visible attachment, pin-area and cylinder-area condition before asking for video checks. | It does not replace warm hydraulic testing, leak checks or product-level inspection notes. |
| Opened service-compartment photo | It shows visible cooling and service-bay areas so buyers can ask more precise engine-bay questions. | It does not prove oil pressure, overheating, leak-free operation or maintenance history by itself. |
| Warranty and after-sales boundary | PRIMA can state the order-file warranty scope: whole machine one year with video after-sales support; original parts one year except bucket teeth; non-original parts six months. | The exact order file should still confirm applicable terms, excluded wear items and product-specific findings before payment. |
For a live order, buyers should connect these photo roles with cold-start video, hydraulic and travel video, hour-meter and serial/PIN evidence where appropriate, invoice wording, packing list, loading photos and the final warranty boundary. Related PRIMA reference pages: used excavator supplier inspection and shipping hub, used excavator pre-shipment inspection guide, used excavator inspection checklist.
This evidence file helps reduce remote-buying risk, but it should not be treated as a blanket guarantee. Buyers should still confirm the exact machine record, inspection notes, shipment documents and after-sales support terms before payment.
2026-06-26 update: compare brand, model and work condition before choosing a used excavator
PRIMA added a buyer guide for comparing CAT, Komatsu, Hitachi, Volvo, SANY and XCMG excavators by jobsite, size class, condition proof, parts-support route and export evidence.
Read: how buyers should choose a used excavator brand and model for their jobsite.