Do I service it myself?

[stumpage]

I've now had my Chim for 4 years and every year I take it for an MOT and service to a TVR specialist who then empty my wallet of a good few hundred quid.

I have only done this to keep up a nice service history. However, over the years every other job that has needed doing to the car I have done myself and to be fair this is probably the least complex car in terms of mechanics that I have ever owned or tinkered with, so the need to pay a specialist when I am more than capable to service my own cars seems a waste of money or will the fact that I have serviced it myself be a problem when the time comes to say goodbye?

Your thought would be appreciated.

[phillpot]

Guess every potential buyer is different but to me, with a car of this nature and age, I would rather buy from a guy who obviously didn't mind getting his hands dirty and knew his car "inside out" than some one who's technical knowledge ran to topping up the washer bottle and "blindly" had it serviced by a TVR Specialist once a year.



Just beware of the ones in the middle, do their own servicing but haven't got a clue

[Alun450]

Mmmmm, its a tough one, I'd rather service it myself and spend the rest on petrol but you do then wonder what people will think come sale time.
Tvr power has done mine since I owned her and to be fair they don't just change the oil, most the issues I've replaced are because a good eye has been over her.

It does get to the point when you know enough about the car to save a fortune. Surely If you show receipts etc for the work and jobs you've done and maybe a written portfolio of when and where you did the work, that should satisfy most folk.

As Powers fettle a bit you tend to get one or two jobs done as they go,
A few dodgy connections etc all repaired and not charged for so then the service bill is very reasonable.

Swings and roundabouts.

[Chuffmeister]

- Do it yourself.
- Keep all the receipts.
- Take photographs of everything you've done/ whilst you are doing it.
- Look back in satisfaction/pat yourself on the back.
- Spend the money you've saved.
- Present any potential purchaser with a complete portfolio.

[stumpage]

Chuffmeister said:

- Do it yourself.
- Keep all the receipts.
- Take photographs of everything you've done/ whilst you are doing it.
- Look back in satisfaction/pat yourself on the back.
- Spend the money you've saved.
- Present any potential purchaser with a complete portfolio.

Perfect. Parts ordered and a happy day in my garage to look forward to.

[Mellow Yellow]

So, you're taking a car that has a full TVR/Specialist history and turning it into one that's been owner serviced. Whatever way you look at it, that's going to have an impact on it's value. Having said that, if you expect to keep it a good few years, the savings are bound to outweigh any loss in value, especially if you do as has been suggested and keep a good record with all the parts receipts. The fact that the MOT now lists five years of recorded mileage will help too.

[Malcster]

I kinda do a half-and-half:

I do a 6k oil, filter, and plugs, and general check over myself (filling in book, and keeping reciepts etc).

Then once a year take it for a 12k to a specialist for a full going over.