"Full Service History"

[Nezquick]

I'm currently looking for a car (ideally an EP3 Type R or an S2000) as a bit of a weekend runabout and have been studying PH and Autotrader trying to find a suitable car.

During my extensive searching, it amazes me how many adverts say "Full Service History" when they clearly don't have.

I've seen numerous 2005 EP3's with that in the description and then it says something like "4 stamps in service book" or "serviced at 10500, 26000, 42000, 52000"

It clearly doesn't have a full fking service history then does it! Muppet!

[Bennet]

If it were only a 55000 mile car and Honda's guidelines say it should be serviced at around the mileage intervals you've listed then I think that would count as full service history.

[RTaylor2208]

I have to agree with this one, a full service history should mean its serviced at the right mileage \ age, most people skip the whatever comes first part thinking that if they only do 3K miles per year and the car is on a 10K PA \ 12 Months service schedule they only service it every 3 and a bit years.

[btcc123]

When someone advertises a car with full service history to me that should mean full correct service history,all MOTs,all invoices such as new battery,even bulbs etc,anything else relavent to the car and old tax discs when we had them.

[Gallen]

btcc123 said:

When someone advertises a car with full service history to me that should mean full correct service history,all MOTs,all invoices such as new battery,even bulbs etc,anything else relavent to the car and old tax discs when we had them.

I see your point (and that's how I/we keep our cars), but I think a "Full Service History" (to me at least) means that the book is fully stamped up and all checks out.

Anything else really is a nice to have.

[generationx]

As a second-hand car dealer friend of mine used to say:

"Full service mystery"

[btcc123]

Gallen said:

btcc123 said:

When someone advertises a car with full service history to me that should mean full correct service history,all MOTs,all invoices such as new battery,even bulbs etc,anything else relavent to the car and old tax discs when we had them.

I see your point (and that's how I/we keep our cars), but I think a "Full Service History" (to me at least) means that the book is fully stamped up and all checks out.

Anything else really is a nice to have.

I see your point as full service history relates to service only and guess I would look for a full car history with all the items I mentioned.

[Nezquick]

RTaylor2208 said:

I have to agree with this one, a full service history should mean its serviced at the right mileage \ age, most people skip the whatever comes first part thinking that if they only do 3K miles per year and the car is on a 10K PA \ 12 Months service schedule they only service it every 3 and a bit years.

That's exactly my point and it drives me mad.

For instance, S2000's need servicing every 9000 miles or 12 months, whichever is sooner. That doesn't mean it needs servicing once every 2 years if you only do 4500 miles a year.

[was8v]

Would you feel misled if I advertised my car as FSH and you got here and found I'd done the servicing myself (with receipts for everything)?

[VinceM]

RTaylor2208 said:

I have to agree with this one, a full service history should mean its serviced at the right mileage \ age, most people skip the whatever comes first part thinking that if they only do 3K miles per year and the car is on a 10K PA \ 12 Months service schedule they only service it every 3 and a bit years.

This, plus brake fluid as well as that's also a service item (usually every 2 years).

[culpz]

Glad you mentioned this as i'm seeing this alot myself. Some say "Full service history" and then it has a list of when it was serviced but clearly doesn't add up and has 1 or 2 missing.

What i find hilarious is things like "great service history" as an alternative. If it was great it would be full surely? Alot of adverts themselves are more than enough to put me off on how they are worded.

[justanother5tar]

When I view a car, I just go on condition and how well it looks like its been maintained. Quality parts, matching decent brand tyres etc.

FSH is often a complete lie, and is very rarely manufacturers history anyway so could very easily be an eBay stamp and one oil change in 50k.

Whilst its nice to have, I don't think it should put you off. Have a thorough look around the car, take a mechanic etc. Possibly have it checked over after you've bought it if you're still worried.

[Piersman2]

justanother5tar said:

When I view a car, I just go on condition and how well it looks like its been maintained. Quality parts, matching decent brand tyres etc.

FSH is often a complete lie, and is very rarely manufacturers history anyway so could very easily be an eBay stamp and one oil change in 50k.

Whilst its nice to have, I don't think it should put you off. Have a thorough look around the car, take a mechanic etc. Possibly have it checked over after you've bought it if you're still worried.

This. Do people think that having a little booklet with a set of stamps in it means the car has been looked after?

A "service" these days is not much more than a basic oil change, occasionally a brake fluid flush.

I'd rather buy from someone with a folder full of reciepts to show the car has been mended when it needed and decent money spent keeping it right.

[MattHall91]

Agree here.

I spent ages looking for a clean example of a car I wanted a few years ago. The one I bought said 'FSH' etc etc, yet the service book said otherwise! Only one service had been missed and the car had been garaged in between, so not the end of the world. However I kicked up a right fuss and got a decent discount as a result.

[B'stard Child]

was8v said:

Would you feel misled if I advertised my car as FSH and you got here and found I'd done the servicing myself (with receipts for everything)?

For me absolutely No - in fact if you came across as knowledgeable on the subject of maintenance and was able to clearly demonstrate that you went above the minimum requirements then I'd be more inclined to buy your car over one that just had dealer stamps and an owner who hadn't got a clue about the workings and maintenance requirements.

FSH is FSH to me it doesn't matter if it's dealer stamp or a thick stack of parts bills (OE or quality aftermarket) with annotated notes saying dates when fitted etc.

My LC hasn't seen a dealer since 19,000 miles - in fact it probably didn't see one before that as it was Lotus's own car - I have a service book that no stamps in at all but I have every bill for parts fitted in the 14 years since I purchased it and a detailed record of what was fitted why and when.

I wouldn't call it FSH but probably exceptionally well maintained when it goes up for sale.

[johnnyBv8]

was8v said:

Would you feel misled if I advertised my car as FSH and you got here and found I'd done the servicing myself (with receipts for everything)?

Yes, unless you'd disclosed that in advance. Then ok, depending on the car.

[C7 JFW]

was8v said:

Would you feel misled if I advertised my car as FSH and you got here and found I'd done the servicing myself (with receipts for everything)?

That's precisely what I do and I find it vastly more confidence-inspiring than a stamped book.

[culpz]

Piersman2 said:

This. Do people think that having a little booklet with a set of stamps in it means the car has been looked after?

A "service" these days is not much more than a basic oil change, occasionally a brake fluid flush.

I'd rather buy from someone with a folder full of reciepts to show the car has been mended when it needed and decent money spent keeping it right.

I think that certainly works for an older and cheaper cars. However, you try selling a newer and more expensive car without a documented FSH privately to a general Tom Dick and Harry and see what happens. They simply won't want to know. Even enthusiasts will know it will be struggle to sell on.

My dad always tells me his story about his old M3 that he bought (not sure which model) that was a few years old which he eventually had to get rid of a couple of years later. It was a daily for him and my mum to use but it frightened the hell out of her apparently. He had a mate that worked for BMW at the time who serviced it for him accordingly using genuine BMW parts.

However, he did it on the side at his own rate (cheaper than the dealership he worked for) but could not stamp it using a genuine BMW stamp. He just said when you come to sell it keep all the receipts and send him my way to explain it has been looked after properly but just doesn't have the stamp to officially prove it.

This was all explained thoroughly to everyone that came to view the car who were all keen on purchasing as it was immaculate. However, when the final question was asked "does it have a full service history ?", instant decline. It was an absolute deal breaker and that was that as far as they were concerned.

He ended up selling at a fair loss eventually. Take from that what you will.

[bakerstreet]

btcc123 said:

When someone advertises a car with full service history to me that should mean full correct service history,all MOTs,all invoices such as new battery,even bulbs etc,anything else relavent to the car and old tax discs when we had them.

Thats not realistic at all. To lots of people, It just means you have stamps in a book.

MOTs aren't a service and lots of old MOTs slips aren't relevant with newer cars, as you can just get a print out.

I keep every single item of paperwork . However not everyone does and I understand that. Having sold my wife's car earlier in the year, I now take full responsibility for servicing her car and all the paperwork that goes with it. She lost vital receipts, which was annoying

If you walk away from a car because it hasn't got every single item of papaerwork, then I think you are limiting your self.

[Craikeybaby]

When I bought my MR2 it was actually the opposite to what has been mentioned on this thread, it was advertised as "some service history", which actually meant it had missed one service, about 5 years ago, when it was SORNd for a year. All the other services were on schedule and backed up by receipts.

I'd say a FSH would mean full set of stamps in the books, based on milage/age, whichever came first - ideally backed up by receipts detailing exactly what was done.

I'm a bit pissed off with the Fiat dealer who did the first service on my girlfriend's 500, as they didn't stamp the book, I only realised after the second service, when the first box was stamped. Fortunately we have the receipt from that first service for reference come sale time.