Buying a car with no or late service history
Discussion
Hi all, just rang up a main dealers (not a Ford one) to enquire about a car - 2018 Fiesta 1.5 diesel 120bhp version. Guy says the last owner hasn't supplied the history record yet but it was serviced once (at 3 years old and 26k miles). These cars, from checking require a service every 2 years/18k miles. If (and it is an if) the car has any SH at all then it was done a year late and 8k miles late. Could this have done any long term damage to the car? Car is at full retail price, salesman was confident they'd get proof of the SH but in any case it looks long overdue.
Normally I'd run a mile but finding a decent car at the minute with the market in the state it's in is proving very tricky!
Normally I'd run a mile but finding a decent car at the minute with the market in the state it's in is proving very tricky!
Similar discussion here FYI https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing//topic.asp?h=0...
A 26k gap vs 18k schedule is pretty much 50% longer.
Issues are (a) possible engine wear without an oil change on a turbo engine and (b) may be harder to sell on in due course.
A lack of servicing also suggests a lack of care in other areas.
While it's probably fine, if it's up for full price then I'd be inclined to keep looking for one that's been better looked after, peace of mind and easier to sell on.
A 26k gap vs 18k schedule is pretty much 50% longer.
Issues are (a) possible engine wear without an oil change on a turbo engine and (b) may be harder to sell on in due course.
A lack of servicing also suggests a lack of care in other areas.
While it's probably fine, if it's up for full price then I'd be inclined to keep looking for one that's been better looked after, peace of mind and easier to sell on.
ninjag said:
If it were a petrol then possibly ok, but a diesel with no proof of regular oil changes then no chance. That oil could have been full of lubrication robbing diesel for all those years.
Even a modern petrol with be turbocharged these days (mostly) so having regular oil changes is just as important.Unless its under priced to account for the risk and drama of trying to sell on in future without full service history, I would look elsewhere.
Personally I pay extra to have an oil change done in the year between the CBS services on any turbocharged car we own.
Wagonwheel555 said:
Even a modern petrol with be turbocharged these days (mostly) so having regular oil changes is just as important.
Unless its under priced to account for the risk and drama of trying to sell on in future without full service history, I would look elsewhere.
Personally I pay extra to have an oil change done in the year between the CBS services on any turbocharged car we own.
For me frequent oil changes is more about looking after the timing chain, but even if belt I'd still be doing it every six months. These extended services you see are crazy in my opinion. Unless its under priced to account for the risk and drama of trying to sell on in future without full service history, I would look elsewhere.
Personally I pay extra to have an oil change done in the year between the CBS services on any turbocharged car we own.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff