Service History?

[John77]

As a lot of people on here do their own servicing of their cars, where do you go with service history when it comes to selling. I personally will buy a car without service history and have for the last 40 years and have not had a problem yet. I did buy a car with full service history from a dealer and within 2 months the suspension collapsed, but was covered by the dealer guarantee and fixed. You can normally tell to an extent if a car has been looked after, but even with full service history you do not know how a car has been driven, which is just as important. So my question is again. With people servicing of their cars, where do you go with service history when it comes to selling, as I service my own cars and now want to sell one.

 

[s5tuart]

As you say, it's usually possible to tell a car that's been looked after without the need for a service history.
The very first things I look for are quality tyres and nice and clean inside and out.
Hopefully you've kept receipts of all the work you've done and can present a full maintenance folder to any interested buyer.
Personally I'd collate everything into a spreadsheet that you can email out.
If you've not kept receipts then it might be hard to convince a buyer.

 

[John77]

As you say, it's usually possible to tell a car that's been looked after without the need for a service history.
The very first things I look for are quality tyres and nice and clean inside and out.
Hopefully you've kept receipts of all the work you've done and can present a full maintenance folder to any interested buyer.
Personally I'd collate everything into a spreadsheet that you can email out.
If you've not kept receipts then it might be hard to convince a buyer.

Thank you

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

As you say, it's usually possible to tell a car that's been looked after without the need for a service history.
The very first things I look for are quality tyres and nice and clean inside and out.
Hopefully you've kept receipts of all the work you've done and can present a full maintenance folder to any interested buyer.
Personally I'd collate everything into a spreadsheet that you can email out.
If you've not kept receipts then it might be hard to convince a buyer.

That’s exactly what I do for normal servicing ie, oil change and the various filters etc but I also fill-in a genuine service book which can you purchase on eBay. Obviously some jobs require more experience and knowledge so important to find a good MB Independent for those.

 

[noonboots]

The service history should be the last thing you look at after making sure that the car is something you might consider buying. No service history at all doesn't mean it's a bad car. A massive folder of receipts and "history" could mean it's a bad car or one that's had hard use.

 

[DSK]

Similar view as you can tell a good car from a bad car especially the older they are. As for diy servicing/repairs, I’d have no issues with that so long as I could see that the owner had the decency to keep most, if not all the invoices for the parts used and stuff was visually spot on and no signs of Jeremy clarkson style repairs.

If there are no invoices to evidence the work but, the car seemed ok, I’d be making an offer accordingly lower due to the lack of evidence, as the history is part of a car. However we are all different and you may get someone for whom paperwork does really not matter.



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[ajlsl600]

I buy on condition and opinion made of seller I have little evidence but no car of mine does 12 month without oil and filter change at my current low miles its nearer 2 on stupid heated fuel filter. When I get a replacement workshop I will find a way to deal with that. All under oils checked yrly too and luckily near unmarked on body despite recent Portsmouth ballache.

 

[Mark Q]

That’s exactly what I do for normal servicing ie, oil change and the various filters etc but I also fill-in a genuine service book which can you purchase on eBay. Obviously some jobs require more experience and knowledge so important to find a good MB Independent for those.

Same here, at least there is proof as to what filter oil etc you bought rather than what some garage/dealer might have used.

 

[00slk]

I've just sold a car with no service history.
Don't think I have ever lost a sale because there was no service history.

 

[Albee]

I truly believe that having 'manufacturers' service history does not impact the resale price these days. There are so many reputable 'indy' outlets that can access the vehicles 'software' platforms and therefore update the electronic service records.
Having owned several BMWs and Mercs, I have always used an Independant for servicing, and have never been questioned on service history origin when selling on.
However, I would not buy a car without history.
Rule of thumb, any service history is better than none!!

 

[Mr Greedy]

I keep the parts receipt.
Just serviced Mrs Greedy's 12 year old VW over 2 weekends. I wrote and circled in different colours what was done on what dates plus the mileage.
All parts can be seen and dates tie up.
I would personally prefer to see this, rather than a stamp in a book from a garage and as @Mark Q said it would be my preference because you can see exactly what has been used.

 

[John77]

The service history should be the last thing you look at after making sure that the car is something you might consider buying. No service history at all doesn't mean it's a bad car. A massive folder of receipts and "history" could mean it's a bad car or one that's had hard use.

Yes I agree with that