Service your own car.

AdamOHare

I was looking on youtube at servicing your own car, and I was just thinking, if you service your own car then how do you explain that later when you go to sell and the book is empty? I know if I was buying a car and somebody he did his own service I would be kinda dodgy.

Is it worth paying the garage just so you can fill the book and have better leverage when selling later down the line?

kasper

just keep the receipts for the parts used in a folder and show it to anyone interested in buying car

dgt

I don't bother explaining. I don't believe in stamps, history etc, it doesn't show what parts were used, how they were installed, how the car was minded or driven.

Too much faith placed in NCT and stamps when buying cars imo. I'm sure others will disagree but hey, that's the way I work.

And I don't get caught with my pants down too often

0ph0rce0

Just keep receipts to prove that all service parts were bought i'd imagine.

I'm not really any type of mechanic but i can service the basics myself, as in all the filters and plugs, and top up and or change oils and fluids, bulbs, wipers etc....

I do throw it into the garage every year though and tell them its been serviced by myself and for them to just check over the bits like tyres and under the car, like shocks and what not...They then stamp the book. Plus they give it a good check over for €50 or so as none of the service parts are needed

mickdw

Keep invoices for all service parts. Write on invoice date and mileage that parts were fitted.
Write service into service book and refer to attached invoices.
If you are careful enough to do all this througout ownership, anyone should be confident of you being a careful owner. Having said that, if its a newish expensive car, its worth letting main dealer do a basic service at set cost once a year. That way you have the stamps and the mileage verification that many would look for yet you keep costs down by doing all other works yourself such as brake discs and pads or any issues that crop up still keeping receipts.

CiniO

In addition to keeping receipts for parts, you might take some pictures showing that oil is being changed, filters out, etc..

Yawns

Told this story before, but it's worth mentioning again. Father traded in a car to a well known brand dealer. A "reputable" dealer. The father had his car for about 6 years and serviced it all those times himself. He had to bring it to a garage on two occasions when work needed doing that he couldn't do himself. No receipts and certainly no stamps. He had trouble with the turbo and he disclosed to the dealer that it was changed.

A few days after trading it in, he sees it's for sale with a full service history and never had problems. One lady owner etc. So myself and brother make separate inquires and both told the same story. Lady owner, no trouble and full service history. The manual was produced and was full of stamps which apparently the garage had carried out over the course of the vehicles life. SIMI was of course useless and after getting in touch with them, I don't think he bothered to pursue it much further. When the dealer was confronted about it, he denied any knowledge about it's history. The car was sold in a 'private sale' on done deal afaik.

JohnBoy26

dgt wrote: »

I don't bother explaining. I don't believe in stamps, history etc, it doesn't show what parts were used, how they were installed, how the car was minded or driven.

Too much faith placed in NCT and stamps when buying cars imo. I'm sure others will disagree but hey, that's the way I work.

And I don't get caught with my pants down too often

The garage that stamped the book should have a record on their computer of the parts that were used and what brand they were.

Yawns

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

The garage that stamped the book should have a record on their computer of the parts that were used and what brand they were.

The average joe motorist most likely won't ask if the book was stamped, let alone for records of parts used. If the dealer tells them the service was done and the book stamped, then most people would be happy just to see a stamp.

dgt

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

The garage that stamped the book should have a record on their computer of the parts that were used and what brand they were.

It still doesn't show how the parts were installed, what care was taken installing them or how the car was driven. Whos to say that a young apprentice wasn't working on the car? (no disrespect to apprentices learning but mistakes do happen when learning)

Or what if some old biddy had the car and ran it into every kerb and pothole under the sun but got it checked before the sale?

Which is why I trust no one but myself and a very select few to do work on my car. All inhouse

AdamOHare

Yawns wrote: »

Told this story before, but it's worth mentioning again. Father traded in a car to a well known brand dealer. A "reputable" dealer. The father had his car for about 6 years and serviced it all those times himself. He had to bring it to a garage on two occasions when work needed doing that he couldn't do himself. No receipts and certainly no stamps. He had trouble with the turbo and he disclosed to the dealer that it was changed.

A few days after trading it in, he sees it's for sale with a full service history and never had problems. One lady owner etc. So myself and brother make separate inquires and both told the same story. Lady owner, no trouble and full service history. The manual was produced and was full of stamps which apparently the garage had carried out over the course of the vehicles life. SIMI was of course useless and after getting in touch with them, I don't think he bothered to pursue it much further. When the dealer was confronted about it, he denied any knowledge about it's history. The car was sold in a 'private sale' on done deal afaik.

Jesus :eek: Do you know how much thats just freaked me out. Ive got the worst luck in the world. I just know id be the one that would end up buying a car like that I cant believe garages can get away with that crap. Is this kinda thing common?

biko

For me personally I'm well happy without a service history if the person selling the car has had it many years and serviced it themselves and knows the answer to every question I throw at them.

It really depends on if car is new or old and if you intend to sell it later.
Receipts for t-belt are more important imo than oil services if the person selling knows their stuff.
"A mate did my timing belt and didn't give me a receipt" doesn't really wash without any proof (and no, tippex on the cover doesn't really count).

JohnBoy26

Yawns wrote: »

The average joe motorist most likely won't ask if the book was stamped, let alone for records of parts used. If the dealer tells them the service was done and the book stamped, then most people would be happy just to see a stamp.

I agree that many people don't care about s/h in this country but if a buyer wanted to see what parts were used etc, they usually(dealer dependent) can get an itemized service history printed out for them without any bother.

JohnBoy26

dgt wrote: »

It still doesn't show how the parts were installed, what care was taken installing them or how the car was driven. Whos to say that a young apprentice wasn't working on the car? (no disrespect to apprentices learning but mistakes do happen when learning)

Or what if some old biddy had the car and ran it into every kerb and pothole under the sun but got it checked before the sale?

Which is why I trust no one but myself and a very select few to do work on my car. All inhouse

I agree you will never know, but if someone is that picky they would be better off to buy a new car and get the work done by someone they trust.

My point is, If a car looks to be in good nick, a s/h is a bonus as at least you will have some idea as to how it was maintained/serviced.

dgt

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

My point is, If a car looks to be in looks to be in good nick a s/h is a bonus as at least you will have some idea as to how it was maintained/serviced.

True.

It is a pain trying to undo years of damage done by poor driving though, guarantee the drivetrain has suffered extensively. I remember one such car I was opting to buy, a 406, that was minded quite well according to the paperwork. The minute I drove it was a different story though, it felt like it was fit for scrap.

I'd wager a bet that chap still has that car...

eringobragh

Further to keeping the receipts I also keep a google doc spreadsheet on any maintenance I carry out.

mickdw

dgt wrote: »

True.

It is a pain trying to undo years of damage done by poor driving though, guarantee the drivetrain has suffered extensively. I remember one such car I was opting to buy, a 406, that was minded quite well according to the paperwork. The minute I drove it was a different story though, it felt like it was fit for scrap.

I'd wager a bet that chap still has that car...

Ya, years ago I went to buy a 6 year old audi 80. 80k miles with stamps. Looked ok but driving it was a different story, Those cars could handle big mileages but it felt like crap. Id say it had closer to 200k miles on it.

peter barrins

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eringobragh

peter barrins wrote: »

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cheers, I started this with my last car, advantage of using the google docs is you'll never lose it.

when your selling your car print a copy of it and show the interested party, shows you kept an interest in keeping on top of everything.

mullingar

I too also service the cars at home.

I also fill in the service book, scribble the main jobs done in the stamp here box with the mileage, date and a scrawl that resembles some sort of abbreviated signature.

I also print one of these service schedule forms for the service required (sample attached), eg For a Ford from here: Ford ETIS system and staple the receipts to it.

That service schedule form from Ford clearly describes what MUST be done during a service, not just a quick oil/filter change, new wipers (at silly money) and maybe a wash if your lucky and leave it at that which is what the vast majority of dealers do.

I also keep old NCT reports which certifies the mileage

peter barrins

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BostonB

Of my 10 or 15 visits to Main Dealers over the years apart from the odd exception or two, I found main dealers services to be abysmal. Lack of care and lack interest was shocking tbh. So for me a book of stamps adds very little to a car. I would even be slightly negative about it.

Its all about condition and authenticity.