obtaining lost service history

[dunchayton]

I've recently bought an 86 500SEC. Although it has some bills for service items from the last owner, it has no other history.
It had the same owner for the first 12 years of its life and it was sold in 98 when it reached 100K. At this time it wore the plate JRB 5 and belonged to a chap who lived at an address in Sunningdale, Ascot. I'm 99% certain he has moved as I think Nick Faldo's ex-wife lives at this address now..
I reckon its a racing certainty that if you can afford a huge house in Sunningdale, a private plate worth about 10K and a new Merc SEC, then you get it serviced by the main dealer?
I've spoken to my local dealer in Kent, but their computer records only cover the garages in their little group.
Is a central computer database held by Mercedes?
Anyone managed to obtain a missing service history for their car in the past?

Thanks

Duncan

 

[cubicincubi]

records will be lost mate.

i've tried in the past.

 

[Steve O]

For £5, DVLA will give you details of all previous owners, thats how I'm hoping to trace the service history for my car. If you know where the first owner lived, phone the Merc dealers closest to that address. I traced some history that way, the service dept just told me the details over the phone.

 

[DAVECLK]

Duncan
When I purchased my CLK in 2005 I had an issue with the previous service history. The MB dealer was able to obtain info from the MBsystem on my cars history, warranty work etc that was carried out 250miles away.
DAVECLK

 

[cubicincubi]

granted in your case but the database didnt exist until the late nineties I believe. most of this cars service history will have been on paper and since binned.

you can try ringing MB HQ, they did manage to trace a couple of bits for me and a chap there was helpful, a water pump and few other bits and bobs. it all depends if the dealerships started transferring stuff to computer.

 

[996jimbo]

Each garage holds its own servicing info but as a rule the info is not pooled. You might find the odd bit of info centrally but this will be by luck.

As above - I'd look up the nearest dealership to Sunningdale (think there's one in South Ascot if not Sunningdale itself) and ask. I did the same with my car to see if there was any further information.

Unfortunately in 1986 they probably only had ZX-81's so I would guess there'll be slim chance of any computer records. Plus as dealers come and go the info is further lost.

 

[Brett]

For £5, DVLA will give you details of all previous owners, thats how I'm hoping to trace the service history for my car.

Interesting - I can't find anywhere on their website that indicates that they'll do this. I'd be interested though - do you have contact details of the appropriate department?

 

[panason1c]

My understanding is that...............

All servicing records are held solely by the MB dealership that carries out the work...the details are not pooled.

However, any WARRANTY work carried out by any MB dealership IS pooled and readily available on record.

 

[Steve O]

Contacting previous owners

Brett,

www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/relinfo.htm

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to the heading 'enquiries by letter' or to save you the trouble of looking it up, write to

'Vehicle Record Enquiries, Vehicle Customer Services, DVLA, Swansea SA99 1AJ'

telling them your reg number and reason why you need the details of previous owners. Don't forget the £5

 

[Stulc]

It's absolute pantaloon's that you cant check for lost service records, I mean look at all the info fraudster's can get and that's realitively easy and yet you cant get hold of thing's like that....hellish that's what it is.

 

[Craneboy]

Lost Service History

Hi,
I too went through this scenario last year, when i bought a 3 owner 1989 107 300 SL.
I had some history for the car, and did make contact with the supplying dealer when new, and would seem that they changed or were taken over by another group, but after having written to them explaining the that i was trying to track down history, i was told they would not hold history going back this far. The same kind of response from MB UK.

Good Luck. Tony

 

[Brett]

Brett,

www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/relinfo.htm

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to the heading 'enquiries by letter' or to save you the trouble of looking it up, write to

'Vehicle Record Enquiries, Vehicle Customer Services, DVLA, Swansea SA99 1AJ'

telling them your reg number and reason why you need the details of previous owners. Don't forget the £5

Thanks Steve, appreciate your help