No service history - walk away?

[Viggers999]

Hi,

Looking for some advice from those that know a bit more about how cars work...

Found a lovely Audi TTS, and as you can imagine they aren't 10 a penny on autotrader. However this one has 45,000 miles on the clock, and a gap from 10k to 28k where it wasn't serviced at all.

My question is, is that a straight up walk away? Has the damage been done? Or is it a case of a good engine clean may well sort it out.

Thanks in advance!


edit: 10k to 38k - sorry for typo

Edited by Viggers999 on Sunday 12th September 10:12

[ZX10R NIN]

Viggers999 said:

Hi,

Looking for some advice from those that know a bit more about how cars work...

Found a lovely Audi TTS, and as you can imagine they aren't 10 a penny on autotrader. However this one has 45,000 miles on the clock, and a gap from 10k to 28k where it wasn't serviced at all.

My question is, is that a straight up walk away? Has the damage been done? Or is it a case of a good engine clean may well sort it out.

Thanks in advance!

Are you sue it hasn't been serviced? Contact Audi it may not have any paperwork but may have been serviced.

What year is the car? Is it high spec?

Is it particularly cheap because if it's not then I'd probably walk away.

[Welshbeef]

The question should be what was the service schedule?
18k miles ish or two years could be the condition based servicing.

What makes you think a service was missed/ did the owner state that ?

[Ussrcossack]

Are you sure it wasn't serviced at an indi.

What's the usual distance between services

18k milked doesn't seem excessive and it's got to 45k

[griffter]

This is not a hard and fast rule, but if there is a recent full (ie not just an oil change) service by a main dealer or reputable independent, and the car is otherwise “the one”, then I wouldn’t let it put me off.

[Viggers999]

ZX10R NIN said:

Are you sue it hasn't been serviced? Contact Audi it may not have any paperwork but may have been serviced.

What year is the car? Is it high spec?

Is it particularly cheap because if it's not then I'd probably walk away.

Its a 2016 TTS, so fairly high performance car. The price hasn't changed due to lack of servicing.

Ussrcossack said:

Are you sure it wasn't serviced at an indi.

What's the usual distance between services

18k milked doesn't seem excessive and it's got to 45k

Welshbeef said:

The question should be what was the service schedule?
18k miles ish or two years could be the condition based servicing.

What makes you think a service was missed/ did the owner state that ?

Sorry for typo - it was 10k to 38k with no service, so 28k miles without any work done. The owner used to work for the dealer apparently so they called him and he confirmed no service in that time.

[steveo3002]

griffter said:

This is not a hard and fast rule, but if there is a recent full (ie not just an oil change) service by a main dealer or reputable independent, and the car is otherwise “the one”, then I wouldn’t let it put me off.

how does the extra pollen filter /spark plugs /stuff make up for running for nearly 30k on the same oil?

[Monkeylegend]

In your position I would walk because you will always be wondering if you made the right decision and will probably have the same issue when trying to sell.

[Chrishum]

My car has 10k mile of 12 month service intervals. But the main dealer price for the interim one is £65!

I questioned what was actually done and it’s basically an inspection that keeps the warranty valid. So between anything being replaced etc it does 20k or 2 years so 18k without a service wouldn’t bother me on a modern car if it was priced correctly and didn’t look to have been treated to cheap tyres and no maintenance at all.

[Viggers999]

Monkeylegend said:

In your position I would walk because you will always be wondering if you made the right decision and will probably have the same issue when trying to sell.

Hadn't thought about the re-sale issue. I think I'm gonna have to agree with you. Real shame, it drove really nice!

Thanks all for the advice!

[macp]

I think if the price was right I would get an independent inspection.

[steveo3002]

macp said:

I think if the price was right I would get an independent inspection.

yeah they will tear down the engine and see if its got extra wear from the missed oil change

[macp]

steveo3002 said:

yeah they will tear down the engine and see if its got extra wear from the missed oil change

I think im detecting a certain level of sarcasm here. I doubt there is damage but in fairness its not my money and I cant guarantee it.
So long and thanks for all the fish.

[Drive Blind]

at the very least it needs to be cheaper than a similar example with FSH.

Even if the car runs perfect for the time you have it, the missing history will become an issue when you come to sell it.

[samoht]

I wouldn't be totally comfortable buying a fairly highly tuned turbo engine that's gone 28,000 miles without an oil change. I'd also be slightly concerned about the overall level of mechanical sympathy shown by an owner who'd do that - what else has been neglected / abused?

In your position, I'd buy one of the other 350 TTS's on Autotrader

[Captainfred]

£5000 off asking price to compensate is fair. You may find it hard to shift when you are done with it,

[av185]

Possible and likely low oil level and diluted oil during the 28k miles an issue with these and consequential engine damage is real e.g. stretched timing chain won't necessarilly show itself for some time would seriously concern me.

You will def get chipped on price at resale so unless the car is seriously cheap I'd walk.

Can't beat a car with a proper MDSH serviced on time thats why these constantly get the highest prices at auction and buyers will always pay more for quality and peace of mind as a consequence.

[Heaveho]

That would be a no from me. 28k on the same oil on a turbocharged engine?

[Heaveho]

av185 said:

Possible and likely low oil level and diluted oil during the 28k miles an issue with these and consequential engine damage is real e.g. stretched timing chain won't necessarilly show itself for some time would seriously concern me.

You will def get chipped on price at resale so unless the car is seriously cheap I'd walk.

Can't beat a car with a proper MDSH serviced on time thats why these constantly get the highest prices at auction and buyers will always pay more for quality and peace of mind as a consequence.

Agree with all of that except the main dealer servicing part. As an owner, a competent Indy is arguably a better friend to you than an Audi dealer.

[av185]

Heaveho said:

av185 said:

Possible and likely low oil level and diluted oil during the 28k miles an issue with these and consequential engine damage is real e.g. stretched timing chain won't necessarilly show itself for some time would seriously concern me.

You will def get chipped on price at resale so unless the car is seriously cheap I'd walk.

Can't beat a car with a proper MDSH serviced on time thats why these constantly get the highest prices at auction and buyers will always pay more for quality and peace of mind as a consequence.

Agree with all of that except the main dealer servicing part. As an owner, a competent Indy is arguably a better friend to you than an Audi dealer.

Been discussed at length many times.

Indies servicing can and often invalidate warranty and it is often difficult to determine if correct parts and e.g. oil etc is used thus giving dealer more wiggle room in the event of a claim.

Most buyers would select a car with FMDSH over one with spurious history for obvious reasons and that is why these cars always get the highest prices in the trade.