Service history........Dealer Stamp vs DIY?

[Lordbenny]

I've just bought an 8 year old 30,000 VX220. It has a FVSH apart from one service that was carried out by a Lotus/VX220 specialist.Now, I'm a relatively competent amateur mechanic, as I am sure many of you on here are, and I can carry out an oil/filters/fluids service on a car like this with ease for well under £100. If I was to take it to Vauxhall/local garage It would set me back £250+ but I would get an 'official' stamp and an invoice for my records.

Im now thinking that Im going to do my own servicing, I will mark it in the service manual along with all receipts.

Is the saving of a couple of hundred pounds a year worth it to lose a stamp in the book and a FSH?

When did your car go from Official dealer - local garage - DIY?

[tegwin]

Both of my cars were full main dealer service history when I bought them...

Since then both have been serviced by me. I fill in the service book and keep all the relevant receipts etc.


I am sure, come re-sale time, some people may be put off by this, but likewise others may realise that the standard of care recieved by the cars would be far FAR higher than any "i dont give a monkeys" dealership could ever give..

The onle time one of my cars went into a main dealer, they stuffed up the job (put a cable in the wrong place so it jammed) and left some tools in the engine bay.... crazy!

[Deluded]

For me, stamps in a book mean nothing. They don't tell you anything about any of the work carried out and just because it's a main dealer, doesn't mean they did a good job. I hate going to see a car to find that the "full service history" is just a few pages of stamps and mileages. That means fk all.

What I like is a wad of independent receipts detailed with what work was carried out with the date, milage and the cost. Gives you a good idea whether all work was done on the cheap or done properly.

DIY is better than stamps imo. As long as they keep the receipts for any parts though. Promising they did that cam belt change 5k ago means nothing without a receipt for the belt kit. DIY receipts, to me, also shows that they have looked after the car, especially when you find receipts for expensive oil every 6-10k and receipts for random bits and bobs sorted as and when rather than once a year when its probably completely worn out etc.

I would much rather buy a car with DIY/independant service history rather than some stamps in a book.

[Shaw Tarse]

I'd be reluctant to buy a car which had been DIY serviced, ( unless it was a cheapo thing) I appreciate that it [i]may[/] be better cared for than by a main stealer, but it could be that someone had just ticked the service book. Or worse still be a numpty like me who has done the work

[DickyC]

We bought my wife's 1998 SLK in 2003 from a main dealer for a shade over £23,000. The car had full Mercedes Benz service history and it still has. Everything it has had done has been through MB. It is now worth less than £4,000. In 50 years' time when SLKs are a bit scarce, hers might be worth more than a DIY serviced example. Right now, though, it seems like a bit of an extravagance.

[busta]

Shaw Tarse said:

I'd be reluctant to buy a car which had been DIY serviced, ( unless it was a cheapo thing) I appreciate that it [i]may[/] be better cared for than by a main stealer, but it could be that someone had just ticked the service book. Or worse still be a numpty like me who has done the work

That's where receipts for parts come in- they show that the work has been done. As for wether a numpty did it or not, that's normally quite easy to tell just by lifting to bonnet- cables everywhere, liquid gasket oozing out of every join, bolts missing? Yup, probably a main dealer job

[Lordbenny]

Shaw Tarse said:

I'd be reluctant to buy a car which had been DIY serviced, ( unless it was a cheapo thing) I appreciate that it [i]may[/] be better cared for than by a main stealer, but it could be that someone had just ticked the service book. Or worse still be a numpty like me who has done the work

I think that some cars may lend themselves to DIY more than others. A VX220 for example, is more likely to be a lower mileage weekend car owned by an enthusiast. Compare that with say, a BMW 5 series, higher mileage, daily driver, more complicated to work on.

I think I'll DIY, as long as I keep all receipts for quality parts and log dates of work done I'll be fine.

[redtwin]

Deluded said:

Promising they did that cam belt change 5k ago means nothing without a receipt for the belt kit.

So buy a cam belt kit, log the receipt and mileage in my records, then flog the kit on Ebay before flogging you the car.

Just having a laugh. I buy on condition (of the car and owner). Service stamps and/or receipts are proof of absolutely nothing with regards to the service history of a car.

Edited by redtwin on Sunday 8th August 18:34

[kentmotorcompany]

I always say it depends how long you intend to keep the car, and its worth when you sell it.

If you intend to keep it a short time, in that time do one or two services, I would say have it serviced at a garage and keep the FSH, (main dealer if it already has complete main dealer history) as the saving you will make servicing it yourself, will not be worth the difference in value for not having FSH when you sell.

If on the other hand you will keep it many years, and its value when you sell is not important, then............well I guess you can see where I am going with this.


Now I'm not saying a main dealer will do a better job than an independent, or DIY, but when it comes to selling it, buyers trust that main dealer stamp.