Dealer service before used car purchase

Pops_20

Hi all, quick question here about car service expectations when buying a used car from a dealer. I'm used to buying 20+ year old cars but not nearly new cars so apologies for a somewhat simple question.

I recently purchased a 3 year old car from a main dealer for a family member. I was told before purchasing that the car would come fully serviced, valeted etc. I also pointed out that the car needed new tyres, which I was told would be sorted. A price was agreed and a collection date set.

Upon collecting the car, the tyres had been replaced and everything was in order. After taking the car home, I noticed that the sticker on the window stated next service due on 30th August 2020, or xxx kms, which ever came first.
There are approximately 7k kms left to go, but we are nearly at the end of the month.

I dipped the oil and found that it can't have been changed in at least the last year. The outside appearance of the filter also confirmed that it hasn't recently been changed.

Am I right to assume that the dealer should have done a basic service (oil and filter) before delivering car to the customer, even though it was a bit before the deadline?

I may be picky, but I think a car should be service yearly, regardless of the mileage. By my standards, the car needs to go back for a service in less than 3 weeks time. Shouldn't the dealer have just serviced it before sale, so the customer doesn't have to worry about it for another year?

bazz26

How do you know from looking at the oil that it hadn't been changed in at least the last year?

greasepalm

Rusty oil filter is a dead give away,take a whiff into the engine as rotten oil stinks.

Diesel cars will have black oil with a new oil and filter change.

bazz26

If that's the case then I'd be back onto them. If they cannot prove it was serviced then I'd expect them to service it if that was the original agreement as part of the sale. If you only got a verbal agreement then that tricky.

greasepalm

Is the handbook stating anything as ya never know as could be ticked and somebody needed your oil filter.Is air filter handy to be checked Filthy or clean?

Pops_20

bazz26 wrote: »

How do you know from looking at the oil that it hadn't been changed in at least the last year?

The oil is very dark brown. I change my own oil every 5k kms so I know what new oil looks like. The last record of service in the car is August 2019, I have the invoice. As per the sticker on the windscreen, the next service is due August 2020.
The car was transferred to a dealer first week of August 2020. If the oil was changed, then it got very brown very quickly in only a week.

greasepalm wrote: »

Rusty oil filter is a dead give away,take a whiff into the engine as rotten oil stinks.

Diesel cars will have black oil with a new oil and filter change.

The car is a petrol so the oil should be golden if changed recently. The oil filter is dusty on the outside so hasn't been touched recently.

bazz26 wrote: »

If that's the case then I'd be back onto them. If they cannot prove it was serviced then I'd expect them to service it if that was the original agreement as part of the sale. If you only got a verbal agreement then that tricky.

It was a verbal agreement. Maybe it was a genuine mistake that they forgot to service it, but if not, I think its a bit much to expect the customer to come back 2 weeks after purchase for the next scheduled service. My family member who purchased the car doesn't know any better, and would just follow what is says on the windscreen sticker.

punisher5112

Pops_20 wrote: »

The oil is very dark brown. I change my own oil every 5k kms so I know what new oil looks like. The last record of service in the car is August 2019, I have the invoice. As per the sticker on the windscreen, the next service is due August 2020.
The car was transferred to a dealer first week of August 2020. If the oil was changed, then it got very brown very quickly in only a week.



The car is a petrol so the oil should be golden if changed recently. The oil filter is dusty on the outside so hasn't been touched recently.



It was a verbal agreement. Maybe it was a genuine mistake that they forgot to service it, but if not, I think its a bit much to expect the customer to come back 2 weeks after purchase for the next scheduled service. My family member who purchased the car doesn't know any better, and would just follow what is says on the windscreen sticker.

5k km you change oil? Is it a Evo or something?

Pops_20

punisher5112 wrote: »

5k km you change oil? Is it a Evo or something?

Nissan 180sx, but I also do trackdays so it gets changed more often than normal.

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is if it's normal for a car to be serviced before purchase, if the next service is due in a couple of weeks anyway.

Want to make sure I'm correct before telling my family to go in all guns blazing

Calahonda52

Pops_20 wrote: »

Nissan 180sx, but I also do trackdays so it gets changed more often than normal.

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is if it's normal for a car to be serviced before purchase, if the next service is due in a couple of weeks anyway.

Want to make sure I'm correct before telling my family to go in all guns blazing

wont help

punisher5112

Pops_20 wrote: »

Nissan 180sx, but I also do trackdays so it gets changed more often than normal.

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is if it's normal for a car to be serviced before purchase, if the next service is due in a couple of weeks anyway.

Want to make sure I'm correct before telling my family to go in all guns blazing

Few that's ok.... Was thinking it was a Micra or something similar high powered speed machine

Pops_20

Calahonda52 wrote: »

wont help

OK, that was an exaggeration
I should have said, before they call up and ask for a "free" service when that isn't the norm!

Always take it as not done.

SmartinMartin

punisher5112 wrote: »

5k km you change oil? Is it a Evo or something?

I change oil around the same interval, it's the life blood of an engine.

punisher5112

SmartinMartin wrote: »

I change oil around the same interval, it's the life blood of an engine.

5k km on what though

SmartinMartin

Was a carina, now a 190. But I do the same on the family diesel estate. Probably 6k on that, so maybe twice a year.

punisher5112

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Was a carina, now a 190. But I do the same on the family diesel estate. Probably 6k on that, so maybe twice a year.

Over kill to be honest.

Do 10k miles on vRS and 20k km or more on megane diesel. Both big miles and no engine issues.
I even went close to 20k miles on the vRS once, still original turbo and clutch at near 200k miles

beauf

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Always take it as not done.

Exactly this.

I have such low expectations of dealers, big and small, I just don't trust them to stand over anything they say. There always some cheapskate thing they do that just just lets them down.

beauf

punisher5112 wrote: »

Over kill to be honest.

Do 10k miles on vRS and 20k km or more on megane diesel. Both big miles and no engine issues.
I even went close to 20k miles on the vRS once, still original turbo and clutch at near 200k miles

Older cars had much shorter intervals. Depends what you are doing also. If it was taxi going around the city all day, I'd shorten the intervals. Or what ever the scenario is.

boege

The service intervals are specified by the manufacturer. The only reason to break from them is if you do mainly short journeys. The reason for this is that the engine oil does not get up to temperature and this can lead to moisture build up. The moisture can be acidic and the attacks the engine parts. For Diesels this is one of the causes of DPF problems. All engines, and diesels in particular, need a 'good run' every few weeks.

Back to OP's question, the car was clearly not serviced. I bought a 2016 Passat last October and it was serviced with over 14,000 km until next service (service internal is 15km). I would go back and request a service per the verbal agreement. Surprised they did not do it already as this helps them to avoid warranty claims.

Mad_Mike

Pops_20 wrote: »

Hi all...

I recently purchased a 3 year old car from a main dealer for a family member. I was told before purchasing that the car would come fully serviced, valeted etc. I also pointed out that the car needed new tyres, which I was told would be sorted. A price was agreed and a collection date set.

All the talk of service intervals etc doesn't really matter
What matters here is the above.

You were TOLD it would be serviced, valeted and have new tyres
They didn't keep up their end of the agreement
I'd just bring it back and ask them to sort the service as agreed when buying

Pops_20

Called up the dealer. They said that it should have been serviced before sale and it was missed on their part. It's going back in for the service as agreed. Thanks all.

9935452

Pops_20 wrote: »

Hi all, quick question here about car service expectations when buying a used car from a dealer. I'm used to buying 20+ year old cars but not nearly new cars so apologies for a somewhat simple question.

I recently purchased a 3 year old car from a main dealer for a family member. I was told before purchasing that the car would come fully serviced, valeted etc. I also pointed out that the car needed new tyres, which I was told would be sorted. A price was agreed and a collection date set.

Upon collecting the car, the tyres had been replaced and everything was in order. After taking the car home, I noticed that the sticker on the window stated next service due on 30th August 2020, or xxx kms, which ever came first.
There are approximately 7k kms left to go, but we are nearly at the end of the month.

I dipped the oil and found that it can't have been changed in at least the last year. The outside appearance of the filter also confirmed that it hasn't recently been changed.

Am I right to assume that the dealer should have done a basic service (oil and filter) before delivering car to the customer, even though it was a bit before the deadline?

I may be picky, but I think a car should be service yearly, regardless of the mileage. By my standards, the car needs to go back for a service in less than 3 weeks time. Shouldn't the dealer have just serviced it before sale, so the customer doesn't have to worry about it for another year?

A lot of people agree with dealers that the car should be fully serviced before its collected.

The dealers reading of that is if the service isnt due it is full serviced. And then they dont bother doing anything .

We have also had times where on buying a car agreed with the salesman that certain extras were going to be done . On collecting the car their mechanic deemed them grand for another while

boomshakalaka

Pops_20 wrote: »

Called up the dealer. They said that it should have been serviced before sale and it was missed on their part. It's going back in for the service as agreed. Thanks all.

What does your gut say? Chancers or honest oversight?

In any case, good to hear it's being rectified.

Pops_20

boomshakalaka wrote: »

What does your gut say? Chancers or honest oversight?

In any case, good to hear it's being rectified.

I'm not sure to be honest. We called the service department as opposed to the sales guy to query it. They said it hadn't been done yet and as it was due in a few weeks, as per their policy it should have been done already. So I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

Either way I'm happy that they are sorting it out and it will be good for another year.

punisher5112

I'd look for what are they changing too....