How important is service history?
Discussion
A lot of dealers seem to bin all history and bills, even on expensive cars, which is effing annoying in extremis. All you can do is buy on condition and do a little more checking - besides which dealer servicing isn't necessarily all that great (previous GLC we had, dealer forgot to properly tighten the sump-plug... with predictable, nearly disastrous, results. The next person to buy that wouldn't have a clue, FSMDH 
)
)I’d always judge on condition first, SH second, especially with old cars… basically with the OP. I’d also judge on number of previous owners. You can tell a lot from the colour of the oil, if it’s a cheap car it’s unlikely a small dealer would be bothered to change it. I’ve known people who have bought cars on the strength of FMDSH and got burned. A tatty car is a tatty car, service history or not.
If I were in the OPs position? Well, it’s a cheap car at a dealer so there’s one negative point for me. Prefer private for cheaper cars. A second negative point is the knackered ac pump, because once that’s fixed, it’ll be the condenser, then the evaporator. And 1000 quid is gone, or whatever. AC is a money pit, and also a litmus test for caring previous ownership. A third negative is “reasonable” condition. My worst purchases have been the ones I tried to convince myself were ok…
Good luck OP!
If I were in the OPs position? Well, it’s a cheap car at a dealer so there’s one negative point for me. Prefer private for cheaper cars. A second negative point is the knackered ac pump, because once that’s fixed, it’ll be the condenser, then the evaporator. And 1000 quid is gone, or whatever. AC is a money pit, and also a litmus test for caring previous ownership. A third negative is “reasonable” condition. My worst purchases have been the ones I tried to convince myself were ok…
Good luck OP!
if the bodywork has lasted that milage and kept its original paintwork , and the interior is nice still then almost no doubt they serviced it too
if its been painted all round , kerbed wheels etc then yeah i doubt it
id suggest many stamped up service books are faked anyway , bet £30 would get you a vw book full of stamps
if its been painted all round , kerbed wheels etc then yeah i doubt it
id suggest many stamped up service books are faked anyway , bet £30 would get you a vw book full of stamps
That sounds like a whole heap of trouble. Especially with the ac. Say you replace the compressor, regas it and by next summer it’s knackered again, then what? AC problems are usually a pain in the arse to sort, you might think it’s the compressor, but really it could be any part of the system that’s leaking, such as the condenser, dryer, piping, etc. It will annoy the hell out of you.
Also, on what authority do you know that the previous owner serviced themselves? Because they told you? There is a whole heap of bulls
t flying around with used car dealers and private sellers.
I bought an Audi A3 that hadn’t been serviced in 25,000 miles - after I had an oil change, I had lots of problems with oil leaks owing to it not being disturbed in so long.
Also, on what authority do you know that the previous owner serviced themselves? Because they told you? There is a whole heap of bulls
t flying around with used car dealers and private sellers. I bought an Audi A3 that hadn’t been serviced in 25,000 miles - after I had an oil change, I had lots of problems with oil leaks owing to it not being disturbed in so long.
HelterSkelter said:
Matt_E_Mulsion said:
Service history or not, at that mileage a big bill could be just around the corner - engine, clutch, gearbox etc.
Or at that mileage alot of the major concerns have already been addressed and its good to go well on past 200k. Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff