Self service

[bobfather]

I consider myself a reasonably competent car mechanic, I carryout all mechanical work on my Chim, clutch, brakes, suspension, 5 stud upgrade, replaced the diff. I carryout service work for friends and family on their daily drivers. The issue I have is that I still pay for indie services on the TVR because I believe it supports the sale value of the car. I generally rework much of what is done and often find that, as a perfectionist, I would have done things differently.

Is there a way to demonstrate that a self service is not a negative and in many ways could be a positive attribute of a cars sale value.

When doing services for others I always fill in the details in the service book and sign the page, I also gather the receipts and hand them over as proof that work was done but somehow that doesn't have the value of a dealer service stamp.

[QBee]

Unfortunately the world seems to prefer to see a main dealer stamp.

We all actually know that all this proves is that some incompetent acne-ridden 18 year old with his mind on girls, fags, Saturday nights and the contents of his trousers has had his oily mitts, fag butts and arse all over your pride and joy for three hours, prior to writing a list of £1800 of work that the dealership would like to do if you, the poor owner, are stupid enough to ok it.

Just bought a 96000 mile Volvo XC90 off a guy from Cornwall, and was pleased to see no stamps for the last 50,000 miles, just the explanation that his haulage yard manager had seen to it personally.

Probably the only downside with older by expensive machinery is that the indie doesn't usually have the expensive main dealer diagnostic kit, but on the other hand he does have the knowledge to understand when something needs doing and how to do it. I love my local garage for that reason - two guys with 30 years experience each, who know when to say "take it to a specialist" and otherwise really look after me.

[TVR Beaver]

When selling put it up with full service history (which it has)... As you say, sign the book and keep every receipt... I've load more info on my car now than when I got it... what does a stamp show as being done??.. quite often there is no detail.... TBH honest id prefer one without as I've seen some horrific dealer work!!

[QBee]

With a TVR give me a detailed description of what has been done, who has done it, and the receipts for parts/work done. An occasional documented visit to a good TVR indie doesn't hurt, but someone who is closely involved with his car sees the things as they go wrong or need doing.

Now I have one, if I was getting another I would invest in an hour or two of my TVR indie's time prior to handing over the cash (bit like an RAC 128 point check).

[andy-w]

I have had my chim for 9 years now. I have done about 40k and use it nearly every day for work.
In that time it has never once been to a main dealership or garage for a service. I bought the car with no history and during my time of ownership i have lifted the chassis off and replaced the outriggers, changed the brakes pads discs and converted the exhaust to a straight thru.

I have just finished getting rid of the points and distributor and replaced with Megasquirt and edis.

Its still does not have any history and i dont think i have kept any receipts but i know what has been done to the car and i dont think there is a single nut or bolt that i have not undone at some point. I dont know if this is as good as service history but i would rather buy Bobfathers car over one that has had a string of owners over a few year period as i know Bobfather has had his car for a long time like myself.

Just my point of view.

Also does it matter about full service history on a car thats 20 year old...?

[Julesprivate]

i just write down what I have done, when it was done and the mileage. I keep all the receipts and they are in a file folder that's growing with my ownership. If/when I sell I will just put all that info into the advert and let the buyer make their mind up.

Personally, I'd rather have a conversation with the guy I am buying from and make my own mind up whether he knows what he's doing than look at a lot of stamps in a book and not be able to tell what they did.

[Dave 500]

Just my view, but it wouldn't make any difference to me.

Just keep a really good record of all work done and keep all the receipts for the parts.

If/ when you come to sell, hand over the folder of paper work and offer a service/ inspection at a well known dealer as part of the deal.

[bobfather]

I'm very pleased to see the general consensus is that a well documented self service is okay. I'm sure some will have an alternate view but I've been less than pleased with the quality of work on my last two services and so I felt it was time to make the change. I've owned it for 11 years and I have no desire to sell it so it certainly feels right to me.

[s p a c e m a n]

I would always choose a pile of receipts and random photos over dealer stamps, stamps in a book on a 10 year old car mean little and buying a car from someone who does their own maintenance is preferable as you know they won't have let any issue deteriorate. Obviously the quality of their work will show, so if a few things look bodged I will walk away.

I bought my car with little main dealer history, but a pile of random receipts and spare parts. The thing that really sold it to me was stalking the previous owners facebook after an email from him and seeing 4 years worth of pictures of him doing work to the car, the thing was mechanically perfect.

I sold my audi in the same way, I bought it with 3 folders worth of receipts after the dealer history and kept on adding to it along with photos every time I did something a bit more interesting than routine maintenance. I had my arm bitten off for that car, as soon as I posted up some of the photos and a couple pics of the history it was gone within a day.