FSH. My arse.....

[LC Torana]

Because despite buying cars at the bottom of the market, people on this forum demand a fully-stamped service passport, plus receipts for every pound spent.

 

Otherwise you'll be called a mouth-breather, a twunt or even worse.

[Parky]

Mum worked at a print shop for a number of years, and was frequently asked to make up rubber stamps for Laidlaws or Allen Fords. Usually from folks who had no connection whatsoever with either company.

 

it happens - lots!

[Lacquer Peel]

You can't beat a pile of invoices.

My Volvo has a lot of stamps, but no invoices for the bigger jobs.

[sierraman]

I've spent half hour today trying to prise bonnet open on a mk4 Astra. Last oil change? 5 years ago... It's now got a leak. I'm surprised really as the oil is now the consistancy of a paste.

[dollywobbler]

Because despite buying cars at the bottom of the market, people on this forum demand a fully-stamped service passport, plus receipts for every pound spent.

 

Otherwise you'll be called a mouth-breather, a twunt or even worse.

 

I still like good history, even with a clunker. I'm not that fussed though. Several vehicles last year had sod all. The Sirion had tons of history. Didn't stop it rusting to pieces. The Nippa is so well covered with history that even though I'm doing the work myself, I still write it all in the service book.

[richardmorris]

It depends what you've paid I suppose. Absolute bargain with no history fine, top of the market though you'd expect something.

 

As for servicing yourself, well I like playing with the cars, but don't do serious stuff like brakes and engines. I could kill someone-me!

[dollywobbler]

As for servicing yourself, well I like playing with the cars, but don't do serious stuff like brakes and engines. I could kill someone-me!

 

Hmmm. Any mechanic could balls something up though. Only difference is you'd have someone else to blame. Brake systems are not rocket science after all, and nor are engines. 

[Sealtainn]

A mate had a Mk2 Golf GTi in the late 90s and had done all the servicing & repair work himself so the service history book had a lot of blank spaces. He came to part-ex the car and the garage offered him a price and said it was reduced due to the lack of stamps in the book. A trip to a Stationers later, he had a fully stamped up book. Took the car to another garage and was offered £900 more than previously (after spending £10 on a printing kit and a biro) and an hour of his time.

[HH-R]

Come to think of it, some of the best, most reliable cars I've had have come with absolutely no history whatsoever.

 

I still take it to a garage because even the most contempt-filled, hungover, disinterested apprentice would still do a better job than I could myself.

[JohnK]

Generally the cars I've had with wads of history have been the worst condition body wise.

 

I prefer to do it myself so I know what's what. I do keep receipts for everything though and I tend to write the mileage onto the receipt as well.

 

A pack of receipts says more to me than a fully stamped book!

[Pillock]

My neighbour had a 2 year old Hyundai. As it was under warranty he took it to the dealership for servicing.

Left the dash cam on and after few hours came to pick it up.

Paid the invoice for full service and went home. Checked the recording which showed the car's bonnet opened for two minutes (air filter) and that's it.

 

Trust no one.

Although when I last serviced the daily Touran, I looked to see what VW would do on each service:

 

Oilchange: change oil.

Interim: Change oil and filter

Major: Oil, filter, air filter.

 

Then there's a list of extras that don't apply to one service or another, but a specific mileage so 40k or three years, brake fluid. 20k is pollen filter I think. So they sometimes fall on an interim, sometimes major etc.

 

Hence on a "major", aside from the checks to report back to sting you for brakes and exhaust etc, yeah the bonnet is only open to refill the oil and change the air filter so 5 minutes max. A major service is almost nothing on a modern.

[Pillock]

Remember taking a works Fiesta for its first service at 12,000 miles. It consisted of CHECKING the engine oil. Not replacing it. They still charged a bloody fortune.

On my Vauxhall, the first service and oil change appear to be two separate events. It needs a service at 20k, however it also has an "oil life" indicator which at 16k is showing only 10% left. So that will hit zero at about 18k which means I need to call the lease company to book an oil change. Will they sensibly book it in for a service? Will they balls. 2,000 more miles for that laddo