Tracing Aston Service History from main dealers
Discussion
PopsandBangs said:
Hi all
Forgive my ignorance here (!) but is is a reasonably easy task to ask or even pay a fee to various AM dealers to supply the info they hold about work they've done?
For instance, say I'd like to compile/complete a file that has invoices/details of work previously done, but some of it, despite a stamp in the book, isn't currently evidenced with an invoice and itemisation.
Are AM dealers fairly helpful with this sort of thing... indeed would they share copies of reports and invoices with me as the new owner of a car they've worked on?
Cheers
I'm going to go out on a limb and say I doubt it, for a number reasonsForgive my ignorance here (!) but is is a reasonably easy task to ask or even pay a fee to various AM dealers to supply the info they hold about work they've done?
For instance, say I'd like to compile/complete a file that has invoices/details of work previously done, but some of it, despite a stamp in the book, isn't currently evidenced with an invoice and itemisation.
Are AM dealers fairly helpful with this sort of thing... indeed would they share copies of reports and invoices with me as the new owner of a car they've worked on?
Cheers
- The invoices will be unique to each dealer so each one would have to interrogate their system. This takes time and effort. You'd have to approach every servicing dealer.
- GDPR. The invoices would have the name and address of the owner who commissioned the work and they're not going to edit all the invoices for you. Even the V5 doesn't have the previous owner's address
I found that if you call the service manager and ask nicely they can have a look and tell you over the phone what's been done. They won't tell you who the owner was, but that doesn't matter really because you're only interested in the car. If there weren't invoices in the service history that's too bad.
The first thing I do with any new car is check it in with my friendly local garage to make sure it hasn't got anything horrible going on. They're not Aston bods but a disk brake is a disk brake, and it's good peace of mind.
The first thing I do with any new car is check it in with my friendly local garage to make sure it hasn't got anything horrible going on. They're not Aston bods but a disk brake is a disk brake, and it's good peace of mind.
I've also had a positive experience of just contacting the servicing dealers I found in the service history. Whilst they weren't prepared to send (even redacted) paperwork to me, they were happy to talk through what work they had previously done and their general views from "knowing" the car
I think the main purpose for me would be to complete the service history folder rather than for my own piece of mind, to be able to present a fully documented car as and when (or indeed if!) I come to sell it . But I haven't even bloody picked it up yet... maybe I should stop worrying about this for now 
I did this recently. My car has only been serviced by two dealers in its life so wasn’t as difficult as a car that’s moved around a bit.
First and most recent dealer couldn’t have been more helpful and answered all of my questions. Even went as far as to check the vehicle health check that was carried out and explain the whole service schedule to me.
The second dealer was very stand off’y and tried to tell me she couldn’t tell me if an air filter had been done or not due to gdpr. I shot her down though and eventually she gave me the info I wanted but it was like trying to get blood from a stone.
I don’t think some dealers actually understand what gdpr is and they use it as a get out clause of doing the work..
I doubt you’ll get anything in writing though. Not unless you can build a relationship with the dealer.
I really don’t see how difficult it would be to print this info off and omit the previous owners address ffs. Making a mountain out of a mole hill.
First and most recent dealer couldn’t have been more helpful and answered all of my questions. Even went as far as to check the vehicle health check that was carried out and explain the whole service schedule to me.
The second dealer was very stand off’y and tried to tell me she couldn’t tell me if an air filter had been done or not due to gdpr. I shot her down though and eventually she gave me the info I wanted but it was like trying to get blood from a stone.
I don’t think some dealers actually understand what gdpr is and they use it as a get out clause of doing the work..
I doubt you’ll get anything in writing though. Not unless you can build a relationship with the dealer.
I really don’t see how difficult it would be to print this info off and omit the previous owners address ffs. Making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Edited by Finding Neutral on Tuesday 8th February 15:29
Finding Neutral said:
I did this recently. My car has only been serviced by two dealers in its life so wasn’t as difficult as a car that’s moved around a bit.
First and most recent dealer couldn’t have been more helpful and answered all of my questions. Even went as far as to check the vehicle health check that was carried out and explain the whole service schedule to me.
The second dealer was very stand off’y and tried to tell me she couldn’t tell me if an air filter had been done or not due to gdpr. I shot her down though and eventually she gave me the info I wanted but it was like trying to get blood from a stone.
I don’t think some dealers actually understand what gdpr is and they use it as a get out clause of doing the work..
I doubt you’ll get anything in writing though. Not unless you can build a relationship with the dealer.
I really don’t see how difficult it would be to print this info off and omit the previous owners address ffs. Making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Indeed. However, as you said, the problem is "doing the work." First and most recent dealer couldn’t have been more helpful and answered all of my questions. Even went as far as to check the vehicle health check that was carried out and explain the whole service schedule to me.
The second dealer was very stand off’y and tried to tell me she couldn’t tell me if an air filter had been done or not due to gdpr. I shot her down though and eventually she gave me the info I wanted but it was like trying to get blood from a stone.
I don’t think some dealers actually understand what gdpr is and they use it as a get out clause of doing the work..
I doubt you’ll get anything in writing though. Not unless you can build a relationship with the dealer.
I really don’t see how difficult it would be to print this info off and omit the previous owners address ffs. Making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Edited by Finding Neutral on Tuesday 8th February 15:29
Which I understand.Maybe a market for a central Main Dealer database software for exotic/special cars, with no personal details on it.... bit like the MOT check tool.... how good would that be to check!!
I had exactly this yesterday with my Audi RS4, service book full of Audi stamps but not a great deal of paperwork when i bought the car 2 weeks ago, so ventured to the main dealer, explained nicely what i had and what i wanted to the Service Manager he took my service book as he needed the chassis number, he came back and gave me a list of Inspections and oil changes that the car had. When he gave me the list on one sheet of A4 he said to me, follow me, so i went to his office with him and he said "while you stand there look over my shoulder at my laptop screen and you will see all the work carried out". He explained the screen i was looking at was the entire history of my car of each time it had visited an Audi Dealer, however the print facility had been disabled, even so i stood behind him chatting about all the work carried out for around 10 minutes, i asked if i could photograph the screen but he said no he would get into trouble if he allowed me.
I was really pleased that he gave me the chance to have a look, as i was waiting for the GDPR excuse to be fired back at me but it didnt come. Most of the work carried out on my car was all the normal servicing work but there was a lot of warranty work in the first 3 years.
I was really pleased that he gave me the chance to have a look, as i was waiting for the GDPR excuse to be fired back at me but it didnt come. Most of the work carried out on my car was all the normal servicing work but there was a lot of warranty work in the first 3 years.
The previous keeper is no longer shown on the V5c when you get it from DVLA. Many AM owners keep detailed files of the work done on their cars with the accompanying invoices. So the absurd situation arises when I buy a car and the dealer will not tell me who the previous keeper was. I buy the car and he will happily hand over the history file - which he has of course used in his advert - and the invoices have the names and addresses of many, if not all, the previous keepers. Duh!
PopsandBangs said:
Indeed. However, as you said, the problem is "doing the work." Which I understand.
Maybe a market for a central Main Dealer database software for exotic/special cars, with no personal details on it.... bit like the MOT check tool.... how good would that be to check!!
It exists - called Carfax. Big in the US and Canada. Not sure how comprehensive it is in the UK. Has vehicle history from manufacturers, main dealers, Insurance companies etc without personal info. Type in your VIN and it tells you what it has and then you pay to see it if interested. In the US it certainly has all service, warranty and repair details from most main dealers but clearly if the car was taken to a backstreet place details won’t be there. Not sure about Astons in the UK. Which I understand.Maybe a market for a central Main Dealer database software for exotic/special cars, with no personal details on it.... bit like the MOT check tool.... how good would that be to check!!
Westlondondriver said:
It exists - called Carfax. Big in the US and Canada. Not sure how comprehensive it is in the UK. Has vehicle history from manufacturers, main dealers, Insurance companies etc without personal info. Type in your VIN and it tells you what it has and then you pay to see it if interested. In the US it certainly has all service, warranty and repair details from most main dealers but clearly if the car was taken to a backstreet place details won’t be there. Not sure about Astons in the UK.
No it doesn't, you're dreaming. The info is sparse, without detail.I find this very frustrating because when you come to sell your pride and joy a book of stamps is not seen as proof of service history.
I have just brought a 2010 DBS which is a rare car and I would like a comprehensive history of the cars servicing.
Seams a real shame that dealers cannot supply copy invoices with customer details blanked out.
Maybe one day Aston will catch up with other brands and have a central database.👍👍
I have just brought a 2010 DBS which is a rare car and I would like a comprehensive history of the cars servicing.
Seams a real shame that dealers cannot supply copy invoices with customer details blanked out.
Maybe one day Aston will catch up with other brands and have a central database.👍👍
N7GTX said:
The previous keeper is no longer shown on the V5c when you get it from DVLA. Many AM owners keep detailed files of the work done on their cars with the accompanying invoices. So the absurd situation arises when I buy a car and the dealer will not tell me who the previous keeper was. I buy the car and he will happily hand over the history file - which he has of course used in his advert - and the invoices have the names and addresses of many, if not all, the previous keepers. Duh!
It’s nuts isn’t it. Most of the time when cars go through main dealers they strip out all of the paper work. Mental!I’ve had this with nearly all the cars I’ve owned. Taken in a log of all the paper work upon sale/trade in only for them to say “unfortunately all of that will go in the bin”
+1 in calling the dealer.
My N420 was in service in Bruxelles a week before the date I agreed on buying it. I explained the case on the phone and they gave me all the info, including clutch wear. Maybe also the fact that I was in Cannes, the car in Belgium, the owner in Normandy and I have never seen it before the day I was supposed to buy it could have helped.
Also, that GDPR crap is pure crap. I have yet to understand what privacy concerns are there if you ask if A CAR had new air filters installed.
My N420 was in service in Bruxelles a week before the date I agreed on buying it. I explained the case on the phone and they gave me all the info, including clutch wear. Maybe also the fact that I was in Cannes, the car in Belgium, the owner in Normandy and I have never seen it before the day I was supposed to buy it could have helped.
Also, that GDPR crap is pure crap. I have yet to understand what privacy concerns are there if you ask if A CAR had new air filters installed.
I had major problems with a number of AM dealers who had stamped the service book for my car but no paperwork evident. All I asked confirmed the work had been done but none of them were willing to pass me the info for my files. I even had an indie garage refuse me the details of work done ..... All of them using the guise of GDPR.
I have made some typed up notes etc. and have now started my own file with these added to all the work I've had done.
If I ever sell my car I want any new owner to feel secure in their purchase.
I have made some typed up notes etc. and have now started my own file with these added to all the work I've had done.
If I ever sell my car I want any new owner to feel secure in their purchase.
EVR said:
+1 in calling the dealer.
My N420 was in service in Bruxelles a week before the date I agreed on buying it. I explained the case on the phone and they gave me all the info, including clutch wear. Maybe also the fact that I was in Cannes, the car in Belgium, the owner in Normandy and I have never seen it before the day I was supposed to buy it could have helped.
Also, that GDPR crap is pure crap. I have yet to understand what privacy concerns are there if you ask if A CAR had new air filters installed.
My N420 was in service in Bruxelles a week before the date I agreed on buying it. I explained the case on the phone and they gave me all the info, including clutch wear. Maybe also the fact that I was in Cannes, the car in Belgium, the owner in Normandy and I have never seen it before the day I was supposed to buy it could have helped.
Also, that GDPR crap is pure crap. I have yet to understand what privacy concerns are there if you ask if A CAR had new air filters installed.
About to give them a worthwhile amount of money, seems to be the only certain way to obtain maintenance information.
Exactly the same with me during purchase negotiations. I was handed a full printout of every thing ever done to the car, even including PDI details.
There does appear to be a difference between money and unhelpfulness.
N7GTX said:
So the absurd situation arises when I buy a car and the dealer will not tell me who the previous keeper was. I buy the car and he will happily hand over the history file - which he has of course used in his advert - and the invoices have the names and addresses of many, if not all, the previous keepers. Duh!
The difference might be that if a previous owner hands paperwork over with his details then he's consenting to that info being passed on.Another reason for missing invoices is if the car was used for business, and so they're stored in a big box labelled 'Car Expenses.'
But yes, we all seem terrified of people knowing stuff these days. In the 80's you could go into a main Post Office and there was a massive rack of all the phone books in the country with the names and addresses and phone number of everybody in the country. How ever did we survive eh?
When I bought my Approved Used Vantage, admittedly 5 years ago so different GDPR rules, I had no joy asking for the paperwork from the dealer I was buying from but I contacted all of the main dealers and the one indy that had seen the car and all were kind enough to send me full copies of all the invoices but with the names crossed out, funnily enough all the main dealers supplied this free of charge, the indy requested an admin fee.
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