Buying with no service history

niall mc · 22-07-2007 3:27pm #1

Hi,

im looking to buy a used car and i saw a really nice 02 Uk import Golf Gt TDi.
the car looks amazing and drives perfectly. I've driven a few tdis and this was much better than any of them.

the car was imported in Jan of this year and there are 98000 miles on the clock which seems fine.

The only thing worrying me is that it doesnt come with a service history and a log book (the black binder with the cars instructions). the seller says he never got one when he bought the car.
Will this cause problems for me when I go to sell the car? Ill probably be trading in the car at a dealers when I get my next car.

Im going to get a HPI check done to make sure the milage is alright.

Any help would be great!

Cheers

bazz26 · 22-07-2007 3:35pm

Doesn't the HPI check also give details of the car's service history?

yayamark · 22-07-2007 3:39pm

i'd be wary of one without a fsh given how easy it is to clock a car.

For peace of mind i'd buy one with a fsh and makes it easier to sell on

thats just my opinion

colm_mcm · 22-07-2007 4:20pm

I'd avoid too, uk import and no service history spells trouble

JHMEG · 22-07-2007 4:55pm

Too many horror stories on here recently, especially regarding VW diesels imported from the UK that have been clocked.

No service history = no sale

rebel.ranter · 22-07-2007 5:38pm

I would avoid it unless you can trace the service history. If you can find out the UK reg & VIN (chassis) number & also find out where the car was serviced you may be able to call the service department to get an account of the service history. Check for stickers in the engine bay, rear windscreen, driver's door jamb, etc, for any garage names.

TBH Golf TDIs are not exactly rare so don't jump in and buy this one unless you are certain of the history. It's easy enough to go over & find your own UK import too. I hink nearly all of the regular posters to this forum have done it at one stage or another. See the sticky & the many other posts relating to the topic of importing from the UK.

Seth Brundle · 22-07-2007 6:51pm

Don't forget that a service history (to an extent) can be forged or altered.

Anan1 · 22-07-2007 7:31pm

The short answer is don't buy it. There are plenty more Golfs out there.

Gary ITR · 22-07-2007 7:37pm

If you knew a very good mechanic get him to check it out, judge the car for what it is and if you do buy it make sure you buy it for a knockdown price

Del2005 · 23-07-2007 3:37pm

As Onkle said, once you do the HPI and get a good mechanic/AA/RAC to check it out, you should be fine. How many Irish cars are sold without servive history. If the car is clean and milage is verified by the HPI use the no FSH to get a deal off the seller.

deckie27 · 23-07-2007 8:37pm

Whats a service history bar a few stamps in a book
Look for the other odometers. ie drivers seat steering wheel. drivers door etc.
Is it under the market value?

Anan1 · 23-07-2007 11:31pm

deckie27 wrote:

Whats a service history bar a few stamps in a book

Those stamps can be verified by calling the garages, thus showing that the car has been properly maintained. They also help to substantiate mileage. This is why clocked cars 'lose' their service history.

loyatemu · 25-07-2007 10:20am

its a 5 year old car and its got 98000 miles on the clock.

If I was clocking a car, I'd show a bit more ambition than that....

Anan1 · 25-07-2007 10:43am

loyatemu wrote:

its a 5 year old car and its got 98000 miles on the clock.

If I was clocking a car, I'd show a bit more ambition than that....

Depends on the car. If the real mileage is, say 230k then 98k strikes me as a reasonable figure to clock back to.

Buying with no service history

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