How much does a "full" service history matter to you?
Discussion
I'm on the hunt for a VW Caddy.
After quite a lot of research, I've found one in exactly the spec I'm after, at a good price, from an actual VW van dealer and therefore with a VW check, 6 month VW warranty etc.
The catch? It's a late 2015 van, it's done 64k miles and didn't have its first service until 40k miles. It has, however, been serviced twice since then, seemingly in accordance with the maintenance schedule.
The question is should I let this put me off what is otherwise exactly the van I'm looking for? It's only 3 and a bit years old, and the engine does seem to get a fairly good name in terms of reliability.
To me, a decent service history not only tells you the vehicle has been maintained properly but also reflects a certain standard of care in a broader sense. I've bought quite a few used cars before and I generally apply this rule when I look; I've never bought a van before.
After quite a lot of research, I've found one in exactly the spec I'm after, at a good price, from an actual VW van dealer and therefore with a VW check, 6 month VW warranty etc.
The catch? It's a late 2015 van, it's done 64k miles and didn't have its first service until 40k miles. It has, however, been serviced twice since then, seemingly in accordance with the maintenance schedule.
The question is should I let this put me off what is otherwise exactly the van I'm looking for? It's only 3 and a bit years old, and the engine does seem to get a fairly good name in terms of reliability.
To me, a decent service history not only tells you the vehicle has been maintained properly but also reflects a certain standard of care in a broader sense. I've bought quite a few used cars before and I generally apply this rule when I look; I've never bought a van before.
if it genuinely wasn't changed for 40k miles that's an awful lot on the same oil. Even if it was all motorway miles, I wouldn't want to take the risk. The intervals are probably 15-20k(?) so 25k miles between wouldn't be so bad but that's going to be double or more. There's other things I'd rather take a gamble on than missed oil services due to the potential for increased wear and big borkage (and bills!) as a result.
I'm surprised VW are retailing it - normally main dealers won't touch anything that hasn't got FMDSH let alone warranty it.
I'm surprised VW are retailing it - normally main dealers won't touch anything that hasn't got FMDSH let alone warranty it.
Does it have an electronic service card like Mazda do? (will prove service record)
Maybe the first service was done, but book not stamped?
For me a service record is important, many will say not....if you like it, it looks and sounds ok .....but there are loads of vans out there, is it a rush to buy? Buy in haste repent at leisure ?
Maybe the first service was done, but book not stamped?
For me a service record is important, many will say not....if you like it, it looks and sounds ok .....but there are loads of vans out there, is it a rush to buy? Buy in haste repent at leisure ?
I enquired about a car last week I found on ebay.
It was a 10yr old car with low miles, 26k iirc The car was nearly 100k new so you would think it should have been looked after. I enquired as to it’s service record, hopeful of main dealer service stamps, but wouldn’t be put off if it came back with some Indy services later in life.
What came back was it hadn’t had a service until 22months (it isn’t on a long life schedule) then another couple main dealer, then no service at all for 4 years then one from a back street garage last year.
This was unexpected and really put me off. Car was priced at 40k, looked amazing and the mileage was right, but I just couldn’t pursue it knowing about the service gaps. The guy sounded like a right arrogant to55er as well so I was damned if I was going to make the trip to see it.
It was a 10yr old car with low miles, 26k iirc The car was nearly 100k new so you would think it should have been looked after. I enquired as to it’s service record, hopeful of main dealer service stamps, but wouldn’t be put off if it came back with some Indy services later in life.
What came back was it hadn’t had a service until 22months (it isn’t on a long life schedule) then another couple main dealer, then no service at all for 4 years then one from a back street garage last year.
This was unexpected and really put me off. Car was priced at 40k, looked amazing and the mileage was right, but I just couldn’t pursue it knowing about the service gaps. The guy sounded like a right arrogant to55er as well so I was damned if I was going to make the trip to see it.
Edited by Edible Roadkill on Thursday 7th March 18:41
To me it’s important
Check with the dealer though the services might have been done! My first service wasn’t put in the service book as they forgot, luckily I’d checked the book a week after and they then filled it in and stamped it, I’ve keot mine full service history with main dealer as I think it affects value
Check with the dealer though the services might have been done! My first service wasn’t put in the service book as they forgot, luckily I’d checked the book a week after and they then filled it in and stamped it, I’ve keot mine full service history with main dealer as I think it affects value
Shrimpvende said:
if it genuinely wasn't changed for 40k miles that's an awful lot on the same oil. Even if it was all motorway miles, I wouldn't want to take the risk. The intervals are probably 15-20k(?) so 25k miles between wouldn't be so bad but that's going to be double or more. There's other things I'd rather take a gamble on than missed oil services due to the potential for increased wear and big borkage (and bills!) as a result.
I'm surprised VW are retailing it - normally main dealers won't touch anything that hasn't got FMDSH let alone warranty it.
This was my thought. But everything else is so good! VW website lists two different service schedules depending on usage but even then the longest is 18k. I'm surprised VW are retailing it - normally main dealers won't touch anything that hasn't got FMDSH let alone warranty it.
Do you mean it wasn't serviced at all for the first 40k miles? Many cars do (or used to) require an oil change after a very short interval as there will be a lot of wear in the engine as it runs in and hence a lot of metal in the oil initially. If it hasn't had this service then I'd be more worried than if it had simply missed a few services later on in life.
Means a lot to me and took me a couple of months to find a w211 E320cdi that had been serviced properly (lots out there had fake/incomplete history). However just because the previous owner paid to have the work done, doesn’t mean it has been! So far I have found on mine last week a fuel filter that was supposed to of been changed in 2016 with a date stamp of 2012.. Then automatic gearbox oil that looked like grey silt that again according to the invoices had supposedly been changed on schedule...
2Btoo said:
Do you mean it wasn't serviced at all for the first 40k miles? Many cars do (or used to) require an oil change after a very short interval as there will be a lot of wear in the engine as it runs in and hence a lot of metal in the oil initially. If it hasn't had this service then I'd be more worried than if it had simply missed a few services later on in life.
That's what the salesman told me. I should probably run for the hills... If is was something for £10k+ and/or something I intended to sell on at some point (presuming both apply in your case) then I would be picky about service history. However for something sub-£5k that I intend to run until it dies (which is generally what I do), I couldn't care less; if it looks right, sounds right and drives right then that's good enough for me.
Full service history means nothing in reality as you could have a vehicle with 100k miles & only one service invoice so that would accurately be described as its 'full service history'...
But when we say FSH what we really want to know is 'has it been serviced as per manufacturers recommendations / schedules' which in this case it seems it hasn't.
But when we say FSH what we really want to know is 'has it been serviced as per manufacturers recommendations / schedules' which in this case it seems it hasn't.
The guy told me the last owner was a painter and I'm not sure who owned it before that but I guess it would be very tricky to find out if it had been serviced under the radar. Whether or not it was done, the incomplete history also makes it harder for me to sell on in the future.
The "full" aspect of a full service history is a separate issue, while this vehicle was never advertised as having a FSH, I think the services it has had were on time and with recommended work carried out.
The "full" aspect of a full service history is a separate issue, while this vehicle was never advertised as having a FSH, I think the services it has had were on time and with recommended work carried out.
ghost83 said:
To me it’s important
Check with the dealer though the services might have been done! My first service wasn’t put in the service book as they forgot, luckily I’d checked the book a week after and they then filled it in and stamped it, I’ve keot mine full service history with main dealer as I think it affects value
Many cars do not have a service book as such nowadays. I would expect receipts to have been kept by the owner though.Check with the dealer though the services might have been done! My first service wasn’t put in the service book as they forgot, luckily I’d checked the book a week after and they then filled it in and stamped it, I’ve keot mine full service history with main dealer as I think it affects value
Yes, a service history would matter to me. Although I buy new and keep for at least ten years, then trade in (even if i know it is only scrap value).
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