DIY service history or stamped?

[New POD]

- Shite has no undertray

- Shite has no service history

 

Anything else shite doesn't/shouldn't have?

Real cars, don't have cup holders (Or it might have them, but they are shite and don't work)

 

As far as Service History goes, it's nice to have, to back up the mileage claims, but it doesn't tell you anything about the previous owner or what they know about the car.

 

Bloke I worked with had an immaculate 1.8 Sierra Saphire which had "only" 35K on the clock and a full service history to back it up.  In actual fact it had done 160K, but he'd serviced it 3 times between each dealer service, before which he'd turned the clock back.  I'm not sure how he kept it looking so good, but throwing time money at it probably.  He also had a Maestro Rally car which did about 3 mpg.

[Hendry]

I keep a full service history on my cars and wouldn't buy one without it, regardless of age/price, but only if it has the receipts to back it up and not just fort servicing but other work too, no point buying a car which has been dealer serviced with a full history but everything else skimped on maintenance wise, as such I keep the service invoices to back up the stamps, plus invoices for all other repairs, tyres etc suffice to say whoever gets my Clio after me is likely to have the most meticulously mainted 6 year old small French hatch ever and both my previous Astra's had everything down to the Vauxhall recall letters stamped by the dealer to confirm work carried out so stuff most buyers wouldn't even be aware of, my 8 year old mk4 had a full ring binder folder full of receipts, even for main dealer invoices for 20p trim clips.

 

Main dealer servicing however can FRO, as long as genuine parts used, and I'll either insist the independent buys them in or I'll supply them myself, most places all use genuine stuff now and supply it without you even asking.

 

Not sure how these "digital service records" work or those cars without service books, the Clio has the service book built into the owners manual which is strange enough but I nearly bought a Mazda 3 and the dealer said it was all stored on computer but he'd speak to a Mazda dealer and get me a copy printed off, not sure how it works when the car gets older and serviced independently,can't see Mazda being happy to keep a record of independent servicing on their database.

[Honey Badger]

Dealer Service history just means that you will find it easier to sell on, it's certainly no guarantee of quality work or a great amount of care being taken over the cars life, my Accord Coupe had almost a full Honda history upto 90k yet my mechanic said the bare minimum had been done and a lot of areas had never seen any kind of lubrication such as the hinges, locks and handbrake mechanism.

 

I think your better off with a list of bills from the owners trusted local garage who you can talk to get an idea of how a cars been looked after, at the price we tend to buy at I'd be happy to just to evidence of an oil and filter change once a year.

[HH-R]

I just take the risk with cambelts, got my Rover 45 done but it passed the time and mileage in my ownership. Buying non interference engines FTW as an alternative.

[cort16]

There is a point in a cars life it doesn't matter . I notice on wuvvum 250 quid t4 for sale saver on rr there was some asking if it had service history.

It's 250 quid ffs you couldn't get a decent push bike for that .

[retro820rover]

Times i ve heard people say this that and the other have been fitted but crucial evidence like receipts mislaid.

Another trick often used is seller saying they have mislaid the mot and its only ten pounds to replace

Aside from the tenner the buyer takes the car in good faith and gets a replacement mot only to find it full of advisories.

However like members say in our world its a case of if it looks ok it is ok and if its survived this long someone somewhere must have serviced it 

Often the one who says yeah great motor dont burn oil and you check the dipstick and its nearly empty.

Or the obedient girl friend / wife etc nodding in agreement as chav mechanic reels of work completed like when i repurchased a 4x4 of some dick id sold it to tries telling me all the modifications fitted were done by him with wife dutifully nodding and how he uprated this that and the other when the only constructive thing he ever did was change the wiper blades

You just cant buy that entertainment outside of our car world. Service History / jury is out on that one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!