Private servicing history?

[fomb]

I've a car which my brother looks after for me. He's a qualified mechanic etc and runs his own workshop, however, he looks after my cars privately (doesn't go near his business).

Question is though, when it comes to service history what should we do? It seems people only trust dealer stamps, but it seems silly to penalize the value of the car given that it's fully serviced.

Any thoughts?

[tbc]

i suggest getting a stamp made for him

if he's worth his salt and he's a good mechanic then he should have his own stamp

could even be worth it when someone sees his stamp on their book they might give him some work

[fomb]

He has a stamp, he does this work privately.

[sinizter]

Why doesn't he stamp your book ?

[mwcr85]

sinizter said:

Why doesn't he stamp your book ?

tax reasons? Keep an invoice for all the parts, and you can show them to potential buyers.

[Locke]

Get it stamped by your brother and keep all the receipts for the parts you buy oil, filters etc, and it should roughly (give or take a few days) match the date on the service history stamps.

[IanMorewood]

Keep a copy of the invoices for all the bits and bobs in a folder, date order sorted.
i.e. new oil filter/5 litres of Castrol GTX

That’s what I would expect to see if a home serviced car was being sold to me as having FSH.

[chris7676]

Stamps are usesless.
Just print out what has been done at what mileage and keep the invoices for parts.

[V8s ONLY]

I buy a small book from a stationers,A6 size for every car and list everything that is done to it and what parts have been replaced with date and mileage noted and who did work if it wasn't me . When I come to sell the car I show this to prospective purchasers and they are always much more impressed than by a stamped service book.

[Azur]

Depends on the age / value of the car. If its a newer, higher value car you have more to lose if buyers are concerned.

I maintain my golf 16v myself and keep recipts / parts invoices and keep a list of work done, but I get a mechanic to do the more valuable Subaru. (they are pigs to work on due to the drivetrain configuration).

Buyers with no knowledge of car mechanicals usually prefer to see a silly little stamp, even though this isn't necessary a sign that its been well looked after - thats just the way it is.