Does 'Part service history' put you off?
Discussion
I'm always interested classifieds looking for my next purchase. Have noticed that there seems to be more cars listed with part service history.
I enquired about one recently - car was 14 years old, but only had history for the last 4.
Would the missing 10years put you off buying?
It seems dealers are less co-operative these days in providing historic service records due to GDPR,so may not be that simple to find it
I enquired about one recently - car was 14 years old, but only had history for the last 4.
Would the missing 10years put you off buying?
It seems dealers are less co-operative these days in providing historic service records due to GDPR,so may not be that simple to find it
No it wouldn't me,
I've always thought it strange that a FSH carries so much value - Yes it might matter on a Ferrari, and Yes, you might want to know if the E46 M3 had it's first proper running in service. But beyond that (and on a 10+ yr old car), you want to know has it had the last few issues dalt with, and is it in good nick.
No amount of paperwork from 8 years ago is going to tell me whether this is a currently a good car or not.
I've always thought it strange that a FSH carries so much value - Yes it might matter on a Ferrari, and Yes, you might want to know if the E46 M3 had it's first proper running in service. But beyond that (and on a 10+ yr old car), you want to know has it had the last few issues dalt with, and is it in good nick.
No amount of paperwork from 8 years ago is going to tell me whether this is a currently a good car or not.
I take a different view to the two posters above ^. I won't bother looking at a car unless it's got a proper FSH. And that doesn't just mean its MOT history, as some sellers seem to think; for me it means a documented and (if relevant) digital history over the life of the car. It doesn't have to be perfect, and I'm happy to see services done at specialists - if anything, they're better than franchised main dealers.
However, some dealers throw away all past paperwork and say "Sorry sir, GDPR I'm afraid" when asked. They could just redact any personal details, I'd have thought, but seem to prefer the 'bin it' option.
However, some dealers throw away all past paperwork and say "Sorry sir, GDPR I'm afraid" when asked. They could just redact any personal details, I'd have thought, but seem to prefer the 'bin it' option.
Hants PHer said:
I take a different view to the two posters above ^. I won't bother looking at a car unless it's got a proper FSH. And that doesn't just mean its MOT history, as some sellers seem to think; for me it means a documented and (if relevant) digital history over the life of the car. It doesn't have to be perfect, and I'm happy to see services done at specialists - if anything, they're better than franchised main dealers.
However, some dealers throw away all past paperwork and say "Sorry sir, GDPR I'm afraid" when asked. They could just redact any personal details, I'd have thought, but seem to prefer the 'bin it' option.
Well having someone go through the paperwork and cut our or marker men over the names ect would cost at least £3 in man hoursHowever, some dealers throw away all past paperwork and say "Sorry sir, GDPR I'm afraid" when asked. They could just redact any personal details, I'd have thought, but seem to prefer the 'bin it' option.
Straight in the bin is just penny's
Was watching some mechanics videos, I’d at least want to see it had oil and filter changes as planned. Can really reduce the life of an engine running a car on old oil that is out of spec.
Just had an engine go around 80k miles on a VW Golf. Allegedly FSH, but in its early life, the first owner pushed service intervals past the spec of the long life oil. The first two services were done past the 18k mile maximum manufacturer recommended interval and past the 22k mile marker suggested as an absolute maximum for fully synthetic oils on youtube tests.
In the last 30k ish miles of its life, the car was serviced to the book. It had 8 services vs 2 services in its first 50k miles. It didn’t make a difference though. I think once the damage is done, its done. Talked to a couple of VW specialist mechanics, who confirmed the engine was gone, they said the BSE 1.6 is tried and tested and they very rarely see failures if properly serviced.
I’m guessing running the engine with the oil out of spec for 10-14k miles will do that to a car. That is ‘just’ 1 missed service, but with the long intervals a lot of cars have these days, it can be really quite significant.
Just had an engine go around 80k miles on a VW Golf. Allegedly FSH, but in its early life, the first owner pushed service intervals past the spec of the long life oil. The first two services were done past the 18k mile maximum manufacturer recommended interval and past the 22k mile marker suggested as an absolute maximum for fully synthetic oils on youtube tests.
In the last 30k ish miles of its life, the car was serviced to the book. It had 8 services vs 2 services in its first 50k miles. It didn’t make a difference though. I think once the damage is done, its done. Talked to a couple of VW specialist mechanics, who confirmed the engine was gone, they said the BSE 1.6 is tried and tested and they very rarely see failures if properly serviced.
I’m guessing running the engine with the oil out of spec for 10-14k miles will do that to a car. That is ‘just’ 1 missed service, but with the long intervals a lot of cars have these days, it can be really quite significant.
Edited by wyson on Thursday 7th September 16:30
For me FSH and copies of all receipts shows the owner cares about the car and has not skimped on stuff. If they are that careful with the routine maintenance then they have probably dealt with other stuff well too.
I'd not worry if a service was skipped during the covid year as most people barely did any miles then.
I'd not worry if a service was skipped during the covid year as most people barely did any miles then.
It depends on the car and the value.
For example I bought a z4 as a cheap summer car a few years ago and it had very good service history but there were a couple of gaps earlier on in its life (car was 18 years old at the time). However it had been looked after well enough for me to not be concerned.
However, if its 10 years old and its only got a record of a service 2 weeks ago by the seller and a reciept for some jinyu tyres last year id walk.
For example I bought a z4 as a cheap summer car a few years ago and it had very good service history but there were a couple of gaps earlier on in its life (car was 18 years old at the time). However it had been looked after well enough for me to not be concerned.
However, if its 10 years old and its only got a record of a service 2 weeks ago by the seller and a reciept for some jinyu tyres last year id walk.
fat80b said:
No it wouldn't me,
I've always thought it strange that a FSH carries so much value - Yes it might matter on a Ferrari, and Yes, you might want to know if the E46 M3 had it's first proper running in service. But beyond that (and on a 10+ yr old car), you want to know has it had the last few issues dalt with, and is it in good nick.
No amount of paperwork from 8 years ago is going to tell me whether this is a currently a good car or not.
Agreed - for a 'normal' older car I don't get what the fuss is about. I always think that if a car's got to a decent age and mileage and still looks right, sounds right and drives right then it can't have been looked after too badly. If it should have had something pricey like a cambelt change done recently then I'd like to know about that, but that's about it. People say how no service history is a tell-tale sign that other stuff might have been skimped on (like what?), but if you can't actually tell that from how the car looks, sounds and drives then I don't see how it matters. This is the approach I've taken anyway and I haven't been burned yet. I've always thought it strange that a FSH carries so much value - Yes it might matter on a Ferrari, and Yes, you might want to know if the E46 M3 had it's first proper running in service. But beyond that (and on a 10+ yr old car), you want to know has it had the last few issues dalt with, and is it in good nick.
No amount of paperwork from 8 years ago is going to tell me whether this is a currently a good car or not.
FSH for me. Oil change at least every 10k or thereabouts. When you start doing 20-30-40k miles without changing oil it starts turning into sludge and blocking galleries and lines etc.
I have seen a Golf R on 30k with part service history though. Probably wouldn't buy it if the oil hasn't been changed and it'd be harder to sell come the time.
I have seen a Golf R on 30k with part service history though. Probably wouldn't buy it if the oil hasn't been changed and it'd be harder to sell come the time.
hunt123 said:
i'd pick a vehicle with full service history over a part service history but part S/H wouldn't put me off buying something completely, i'd want to know details.
thing is i've found that alot of cars/bikes advertised with FSH aren't actually FSH on closer examination.
When I traded in my old BMW (with full BMW main dealer history) the Ford garage deducted money because it didn't have a fully stamped service book (all on the key) despite me having invoices for stuff during my care and printouts showing all the services done prior to my ownership (complete with what was done, date, mileage and which dealership). Apparently anyone with a computer could have made that up, which is a fair point, but I could probably buy a stamped up book on ebay too.thing is i've found that alot of cars/bikes advertised with FSH aren't actually FSH on closer examination.
Interestingly, when I spotted it up for sale again, it mysteriously had a full BMW service history again!
Chris
If the part history is more recent, that's more important.
Owners frequently buy high end or sports cars after they've depreciated substantially but do not have the pockets, or even care about its servicing.
So an RS Audi, Porsche, Mercedes, TVR whatever that has lots of history from its past but nothing for the last 5 years or so, I'd avoid, IMHO.
Owners frequently buy high end or sports cars after they've depreciated substantially but do not have the pockets, or even care about its servicing.
So an RS Audi, Porsche, Mercedes, TVR whatever that has lots of history from its past but nothing for the last 5 years or so, I'd avoid, IMHO.It depends on the car!
My Z4M had all the stamps in the book and I doubt I'd have bought it without evidence of the running-in service and Inspection services.
But my 13 year old 330i had a 6 year 27,000 mile gap between 2010 and 2016. It had 2 services after that before I bought it in 2019 so I figured it was no big deal, and 4 years later it's still performing fine.
My Z4M had all the stamps in the book and I doubt I'd have bought it without evidence of the running-in service and Inspection services.
But my 13 year old 330i had a 6 year 27,000 mile gap between 2010 and 2016. It had 2 services after that before I bought it in 2019 so I figured it was no big deal, and 4 years later it's still performing fine.
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