Value of Full Service History

jos_kel

Hi,
Just wondering what peoples opinion on this is.
Went to view a 2nd hand car and was quite happy with it.
Then I asked for the full service history.
Salesman said that it didn't have a full service history.
He said that they don't mean anything.
The rationale he gave was that he could buy a car brand new, drive it for 25000 miles, then get it clocked down to 10,000, then get a service and hey presto, everything looks fine as the full service history backs it up.
He said a good mechanic's opinion is much better than the full service history as they will just know if the state of the engine matches the odometer reading.
Opinions please.
Should I insist on full service history or get a good mechanic's valued opinion?
Jos

biko

jos_kel wrote: »

The rationale he gave was that he could buy a car brand new, drive it for 25000 miles, then get it clocked down to 10,000, then get a service and hey presto, everything looks fine as the full service history backs it up.

Lol, what a guy.

He has a point in that you should get a mechanic to check the car out anyway.

FSH is more important for newer cars. For a 10yo car with 4/5 owners not many expect to see a FSH.

jos_kel

biko wrote: »

Lol, what a guy.

He has a point in that you should get a mechanic to check the car out anyway.

FSH is more important for newer cars. For a 10yo car with 4/5 owners not many expect to see a FSH.

car is 2007 and he said it had 1 previous owner. Sign on car said 2 previous owners which he said was incorrect.

I'm just starting to small too many rats.

coolisin

I'd always be happier to see a bit of history with a car, no matter what the age.

Gives you an idea of the previous owner if there is a record of oil changes, and general maintenance.
Not necessarily a full dealer history but any idea of maintenance gives you slight piece of mind.

The guy does have a point with getting it checked by a mechanic.

Although, anyone getting overly defensive about service history I'd be inclined to walk away, would be my personal opinion.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

I would estimate (especially on more tempermental cars) that a FSH adds 8-10% to the price.

I mean, if you buy a car like an alfa, a new era BMW, any modern diesel, etc etc, you need to know if the service intervals were maintained with correct spec oils and all routine parts (belts, pump etc) have been done.

All too easy for someone to go to the likes of Atlas, get a €99 service with cheapo oil and call it done.

biko

Ask for all previous receipts for work done. Sometimes this will have extra info like mileage or what spec oil was used etc.
To me a thick folder with receipts is gold as you can see everything that has been done to the car.
I prefer to buy old cars privately as I can interrogate ask the previous owner about the car.
A salesguy just wants it off the lot and will say anything to make that happen..

CiniO

The problem with full service history is that it's just a stamp in the book.
Usually it doesn't list the jobs done, and unfortunately even main dealers don't do all the jobs that should be done.

So IMO full service history is not worth that much.
Surely it's better when you have it than not.
But I would prefer to buy a car from someone who really looks honest about history (f.e. has receipt from motorfactors for serciving part for services he did himself), than a car with just stamped service book.

Collibosher

I sold a nine year old car last week.

Sold it for asking as I had a folder full of detailed itemized receipts and bills mostly from the indy garage I use. I'm not obsessed with that sort of thing, just got into the habit of shoving the receipts in with the handbook in the glovebox.

The buyer said he'd seen several others before mine and had always had to factor in getting timing belt replaced because none of the ones he'd seen previously could show that the work had been done.

JohnBoy26

CiniO wrote: »

The problem with full service history is that it's just a stamp in the book.
Usually it doesn't list the jobs done, and unfortunately even main dealers don't do all the jobs that should be done.

So IMO full service history is not worth that much.
Surely it's better when you have it than not.
But I would prefer to buy a car from someone who really looks honest about history (f.e. has receipt from motorfactors for serciving part for services he did himself), than a car with just stamped service book.

The thing is though most places that stamp the book usually keep a record on their computer of what work was carried out on that particular car. It should be no hassle to get an itemised service record of them.

Henry Ford III

A stamped book, with detailed invoices to back it up.

lomb

Its a good check on mileage though, without assume the car is clocked with twice the miles or more and price accordingly.
Obviously check the garages to confirm the services were carried out and its not just a stamp.
The test of whether a car is ok is not the invoices, but how it drives( no noises, smooth, clutch , gearbox and engine are smooth), oil and coolant are clean, brake fluid appears fresh, steering smooth.
A invoice with a timing belt/water pump adds 400 quid to it.
Brakes can be checked through the wheels ie condition of disks and outer pads. If you want to be clever jack up each corner and see if the wheels turn smoothly binding calipers are common and cost quite a bit to change or just drive on a slight incline and see if it rolls back without friction. Check the tires are a European brand etc.

I was in a main Audi dealer in Kildare a little while ago and the mechanics were wheelspinning an A6 out of their garage after a service. I dont put a lot of faith in quality of main dealers service.

ironclaw

Doesn't add any financial value to a car for me. Easily falsified and as has been said, one garage could be infinitely worse than another in the quality of the service or parts used. A service history is a piece of the puzzle to help ease your mind but its no replacement for a decent mechanic to give a car the once over.

I looked at an A3 for a friend, perfect history and all checked out, but the oil in the car was empty. So the owner hadn't a breeze. But if you went on the value of service history, that car is more 'valuable' Utter nonsense.

You'd be mad to hand someone more or expect more money just because a car has a glovebox full of receipts.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

ironclaw wrote: »

Doesn't add any financial value to a car for me. Easily falsified and as has been said, one garage could be infinitely worse than another in the quality of the service or parts used. A service history is a piece of the puzzle to help ease your mind but its no replacement for a decent mechanic to give a car the once over.

I looked at an A3 for a friend, perfect history and all checked out, but the oil in the car was empty. So the owner hadn't a breeze. But if you went on the value of service history, that car is more 'valuable' Utter nonsense.

You'd be mad to hand someone more or expect more money just because a car has a glovebox full of receipts.

So a FSH is worth nothing?
You would assign the same value to a 150k km car with no history at all and to one with a full book?

If so, you are clearly mad.

lomb

Its only value is
1. A mileage check (without this as has been said the car could have twice the miles and must be valued as something with say 300000 km not the 150000 listed). Old Mot/Nct certs have the same effect so a pattern could be made out. Where these arent present I walk immediately as the seller wont sell to me If Im valuing it on double the miles. This for me makes most Irish cars unsaleable.
2. Resale value and price you pay and price vendor will sell for as it may be more valuable to someone else.
3. The vendor/vendors had an interest in maintaining their car with money no object servicing and you obviously will benefit from this and pay more for it. Receipts are a better guide than stamps in this case as you can see what was done.

DuckSlice

it is very important to me when buying a car. you have to know the history of the car. i always keep my receipts and keep them in a folder in the glovebox. i think it adds value to a car. it has to in my opinion, it lets you know more about the car and that is always a good thing.

in the uk it is very important its nearly the first thing you get asked when selling a car over there. problem is in ireland not many people go to main dealers and a lot are getting there car serviced by there friend or neighbour or friend of a friend. i have a 2008 car and considering going to main dealer. they arent that badly priced these days. a lot are using fixed price servicing.

ba_barabus

My last couple of cars have come with full main dealer service histories. My last couple of cars have given major engine trouble.

Some of my cars have come without service histories but have been in good condition and clearly been serviced by an independent. Only one caused hassle.

Go figure.....

lomb

etxp wrote: »

it is very important to me when buying a car. you have to know the history of the car. i always keep my receipts and keep them in a folder in the glovebox. i think it adds value to a car. it has to in my opinion, it lets you know more about the car and that is always a good thing.

in the uk it is very important its nearly the first thing you get asked when selling a car over there. problem is in ireland not many people go to main dealers and a lot are getting there car serviced by there friend or neighbour or friend of a friend. i have a 2008 car and considering going to main dealer. they arent that badly priced these days. a lot are using fixed price servicing.

It is indeed essential in the UK as they are a more regulated country therefore its population is more regulated mentally than the cowboy mentality of the Irish. A trusted Indi specialist is ok over there though on the value retention end of things on newish cars and Mot garages on older stuff.

lomb

ba_barabus wrote: »

My last couple of cars have come with full main dealer service histories. My last couple of cars have given major engine trouble.

Some of my cars have come without service histories but have been in good condition and clearly been serviced by an independent. Only one caused hassle.

Go figure.....

What cars/engines were they turbocharged? Sometimes you can be unlucky but sometimes they used the wrong oil/never changed oil filters/ didnt change all the oil/ previous owner screwed it/ unreliable engine etc.

Henry Ford III

ba_barabus wrote: »

My last couple of cars have come with full main dealer service histories. My last couple of cars have given major engine trouble.

Some of my cars have come without service histories but have been in good condition and clearly been serviced by an independent. Only one caused hassle.

Go figure.....

Down to bad luck I'd imagine.

Put it to you this way if you were looking at 2 identical cars, with only one of them having a full and verifiable dealer service history, which would you be more inclined to buy?

ironclaw

Cleveland Hot Pocket wrote: »

So a FSH is worth nothing?
You would assign the same value to a 150k km car with no history at all and to one with a full book?

If so, you are clearly mad.

It has no financial value to myself. Its another box to tick that helps build a picture of the car. Nothing more as I highlighted in my original post. Full Service history but the car was neglected from day one.

ba_barabus

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Down to bad luck I'd imagine.

Put it to you this way if you were looking at 2 identical cars, with only one of them having a full and verifiable dealer service history, which would you be more inclined to buy?

Absolutely I'd pick it up but with modern diesels I would love to see a car that has been serviced before its due. That would indicate proper car. I think service intervals have been pushed out to far.

I did have one car with a full specialist service history I imported from the uk and it was without doubt MINT.

ba_barabus

lomb wrote: »

What cars/engines were they turbocharged? Sometimes you can be unlucky but sometimes they used the wrong oil/never changed oil filters/ didnt change all the oil/ previous owner screwed it/ unreliable engine etc.

The Passat had a FVWSH but from what went wrong I'd imagibe the service intervals were too long and the wrong grade of oil was used.

September1

I noticed that most people like FSH and always prefer car with it. On other hand I never met someone who would be willing to pay extra.

Wossack

reckon the same salesman would be bigging up the service history if it actually had one..!

MuppetCheck

Has anyone ever been asked for theirs trading in? I think I was once ever.

discombobulate

I think a lot depends on where the car was serviced as noted already. A full service history from Fast Fit wouldn't be worth near the likes of a specialist independent. I bought my car in the UK and was told the timing belt and EGR had been done but they hadn't got the receipts. I rang the dealer with the reg and they were able to provide me with the details and sent me on screenshots from their IT system.

From how I see my brother in laws looking after their own cars and doing their own servicing etc. i'd trust their cars no problem also. They wouldn't have service histories when selling even though the cars never want for anything. I think they keep all receipts for parts and service items etc. though.

Henry Ford III

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Has anyone ever been asked for theirs trading in? I think I was once ever.

I sell my used cars privately, and produce the stamped book and supporting invoices/receipts as a matter of course.

ABajaninCork

I imported my car here from the UK. As a matter of course, I keep EVERYTHING - receipts, old MoT/NCT certs (which show the mileage when the car was done). And of course, it had a verifiable FSH. Then again - in the UK, NOBODY would dream of buying a (newish) car without one.

I sold the car here. Buyer did question the mileage as it was so low. I was able to prove it with the old MoT/NCT certs. Car sold for asking price. Job done.