Incomplete service history

Michael8000

What would your cut off point in terms of price for buying a car with an incomplete service history?

I am looking at a car in the 15k price range that has only 3 stamps in it's service history in 2008, 2011 and 2012. The car is a 2007 model. It has about 90k miles on it and is a diesel. I am very keen on the car but the sporadic service history concerns me. I have been in contact with the main dealer who carried out the servicing and they have confirmed what is in the book.

Any opinions?

djimi

What is the mileage between the 08 and 11 services? 3 years is a long time for a car to go unserviced, especially if it is in regular use.

Michael8000

djimi wrote: »

What is the mileage between the 08 and 11 services? 3 years is a long time for a car to go unserviced, especially if it is in regular use.

The KM's according to the main dealer who performed the work was as follows.

2008 Oil service 35k KMs
2011 Brakes 85k KMs
2012 Oil service 124k KMs

CiniO

Michael8000 wrote: »

The KM's according to the main dealer who performed the work was as follows.

2008 Oil service 35k KMs
2011 Brakes 85k KMs
2012 Oil service 124k KMs

I wouldn't buy a modern diesel car which had oil changed at 89k kilometres interval (4 years).

What about other servicing items? Air filter, pollen filter, fuel filter? Gearbox oil possibly? Brake fluid?

What make and model is it?

MuppetCheck

Call the dealer that did the work, ask do they have records of any other work. I've lost count of the number of times that I have had to ask garages to stamp the book after a service.

If there is no record, try another of the same franchise nearby (or the county/area it was bought and used). If nothing shows up I would look elsewhere. A lot of Irish cars are perceived as not having a service history and this is true, but a lot of the time it's down to simple things as the book not being filled in. We're not as bad as we're made out to be with regard to looking after cars. A little bit of digging is often required, it's a pain but it can pay. Also ask them for copies of invoices if they can provide them and keep them with the cars manuals.

djimi

Its entirely possible that the history was not stamped in the book, but its really up to you if you want to take that chance. 50k km and 3 years is a long time to go without servicing. If there was no history at all after 2008 then Id say the owner probably went to a local indy or something to get servicing, but if the 08 and then 11 and 12 services are from the same dealer then it looks more dodgy to me.

Michael8000

CiniO wrote: »

I wouldn't buy a modern diesel car which had oil changed at 89k kilometres interval (4 years).

What about other servicing items? Air filter, pollen filter, fuel filter? Gearbox oil possibly? Brake fluid?

What make and model is it?

It is a BMW 520D

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Call the dealer that did the work, ask do they have records of any other work. I've lost count of the number of times that I have had to ask garages to stamp the book after a service.

If there is no record, try another of the same franchise nearby (or the county/area it was bought and used). If nothing shows up I would look elsewhere. A lot of Irish cars are perceived as not having a service history and this is true, but a lot of the time it's down to simple things as the book not being filled in. We're not as bad as we're made out to be with regard to looking after cars. A little bit of digging is often required, it's a pain but it can pay. Also ask them for copies of invoices if they can provide them and keep them with the cars manuals.

This is what I'm thinking. The fact that the service history is not filled in doesn't necessarily mean that the servicing hasn't been done. I have spoken to the service department and that is the only three times that the car has been with them.

CiniO

Michael8000 wrote: »

It is a BMW 520D



This is what I'm thinking. The fact that the service history is not filled in doesn't necessarily mean that the servicing hasn't been done. I have spoken to the service department and that is the only three times that the car has been with them.

It works the other way as well. If there is every single stamp in service book, it still doesn't mean that services were really done.

F.e. car I bought had first 4 stamps from main dealer and last 2 stamps from Halfords autocentre.
Last one (at 75k miles) was meant to be major service including all filters and gearbox oil.

I serviced the car just after purchase, and there is no chance gearbox oil was ever changed. Pollen filter was all black from dirt, and fuel filter was original OEM part, which I don't believe could be fitted by halfords autocentre. It also had a tiny bit of rust on it, so surely it was in the car for few years at least. Possibly from the beginning, as changing it gave noticable difference in performance.

So generally as others said - try to find out what was actually done on this car in oppose to looking into service stamps, as they say very little.

Anan1

CiniO wrote: »

F.e. car I bought had first 4 stamps from main dealer and last 2 stamps from Halfords autocentre.
Last one (at 75k miles) was meant to be major service including all filters and gearbox oil.

I serviced the car just after purchase, and there is no chance gearbox oil was ever changed. Pollen filter was all black from dirt, and fuel filter was original OEM part, which I don't believe could be fitted by halfords autocentre. It also had a tiny bit of rust on it, so surely it was in the car for few years at least. Possibly from the beginning, as changing it gave noticable difference in performance.

So generally as others said - try to find out what was actually done on this car in oppose to looking into service stamps, as they say very little.

Funny you should say that, I once had a very similar experience with a Subaru Forester I was looking at. The car had the 60k mile service stamped in the book, which should have included differential and ATF fluid changes. When I rang the main dealer to check, they told me that the owner had told them to just change the oil and filter and stamp the book.

Michael8000

Anan1 wrote: »

Funny you should say that, I once had a very similar experience with a Subaru Forester I was looking at. The car had the 60k mile service stamped in the book, which should have included differential and ATF fluid changes. When I rang the main dealer to check, they told me that the owner had told them to just change the oil and filter and stamp the book.

Food for thought!

CiniO wrote: »

It works the other way as well. If there is every single stamp in service book, it still doesn't mean that services were really done.

F.e. car I bought had first 4 stamps from main dealer and last 2 stamps from Halfords autocentre.
Last one (at 75k miles) was meant to be major service including all filters and gearbox oil.

I serviced the car just after purchase, and there is no chance gearbox oil was ever changed. Pollen filter was all black from dirt, and fuel filter was original OEM part, which I don't believe could be fitted by halfords autocentre. It also had a tiny bit of rust on it, so surely it was in the car for few years at least. Possibly from the beginning, as changing it gave noticable difference in performance.

So generally as others said - try to find out what was actually done on this car in oppose to looking into service stamps, as they say very little.

It does seem from speaking to the main dealer that it was two oil services and the brake pads that were done. No record of a major service.

The dealer is offering a years bumper to bumper warranty on the car if that changes things??

adocholiday

OP be very careful buying a BMW if the oil was not regularly changed (at least every 10k miles IMO). They have a cam chain instead of a timing belt and if it breaks it is very costly to repair. Looking at €1500+

Edit: Meant to say that keeping good, clean oil in a chain driven engine is vital. A well maintained one should last at least 200k miles or more. There are lots of disaster stories about the cam chains, especially in some of the 2008 models. Do a google search on it to see what you should look out for with that particular car.

The oil used should always be a good grade. Not sure what it is for diesel models but for petrol should be the 5/30 stuff. I would say unless you can get some certified regular oil change history, avoid. There are loads of those cars on the market so it should be easy to find a well looked after model.

lifer_sean

Michael8000 wrote: »

Food for thought!



It does seem from speaking to the main dealer that it was two oil services and the brake pads that were done. No record of a major service.

The dealer is offering a years bumper to bumper warranty on the car if that changes things??

On a 2007 520D, I'd definitely be looking for a long warranty. For example, research timing chain problems.

Also, 15K sounds a lot for a 2007 520d ? 09's can be picked up sub 20k, depending on spec, and a 08 or 09 is a lot more valuable than an 07, due to the lower road tax. Nothing at all wrong with picking an 07 over an 08, but there should be a big price difference.

Back to your original question, another option might be to ring the previous owner and to ask them about the car ?

bazz26

If it's the 177bhp version then it will have the N47 engine which can develop timing chain problems. If it is the older 163bhp version then it has the older M47 engine. These two have their problems with blown turbos and swirl flaps but are a lot easier and cheaper to prevent than a timing chain problem. I'd buy neither without solid evidence of frequent oil and filter changes.

Michael8000

adocholiday wrote: »

OP be very careful buying a BMW if the oil was not regularly changed (at least every 10k miles IMO). They have a cam chain instead of a timing belt and if it breaks it is very costly to repair. Looking at €1500+

Edit: Meant to say that keeping good, clean oil in a chain driven engine is vital. A well maintained one should last at least 200k miles or more. There are lots of disaster stories about the cam chains, especially in some of the 2008 models. Do a google search on it to see what you should look out for with that particular car.

The oil used should always be a good grade. Not sure what it is for diesel models but for petrol should be the 5/30 stuff. I would say unless you can get some certified regular oil change history, avoid. There are loads of those cars on the market so it should be easy to find a well looked after model.

I think I will.

lifer_sean wrote: »

On a 2007 520D, I'd definitely be looking for a long warranty. For example, research timing chain problems.

Also, 15K sounds a lot for a 2007 520d ? 09's can be picked up sub 20k, depending on spec, and a 08 or 09 is a lot more valuable than an 07, due to the lower road tax. Nothing at all wrong with picking an 07 over an 08, but there should be a big price difference.

Back to your original question, another option might be to ring the previous owner and to ask them about the car ?

Should have mentioned that it is an M Sport and has the 163bhp version.

bazz26 wrote: »

If it's the 177bhp version then it will have the N47 engine which can develop timing chain problems. If it is the older 163bhp version then it has the older M47 engine. These two have their problems with blown turbos and swirl flaps but are a lot easier and cheaper to prevent than a timing chain problem. I'd buy neither without solid evidence of frequent oil and filter changes.

Thanks for that.

the culture of deference

Sorry to hijack op, i am in the same boat, went to look at a 2010 car today over 80k and no service history. No receipts but oil and filter done every 15k but no proof.

Michael8000

the culture of deference wrote: »

Sorry to hijack op, i am in the same boat, went to look at a 2010 car today over 80k and no service history. No receipts but oil and filter done every 15k but no proof.

No problem. I'm pretty much done here.

Thanks for all the help lads. Much appreciated. The search continues.