How much does a stamp mean?
Discussion
Hi I've got a month off work (well not quite 'off' as I'll have a new baby) but... I'm at least hoping for a little bit of down time.
Also, my service is due.
Adding the two together, it seems like a perfect opportunity to perform a service myself. I've never done this before, so it would mean buying tools, and hopefully learning a lot along the way. Unfortunately it's the 'major' service that's due, so maybe it's taking on too much for a amateur, I don't know. I'm not particularly mechanically minded! Done a few bits and bobs in the past but we're talking years ago when I actually had something called free time.
My main issue is, if I perform it myself, it won't have a stamp in the book will it? I know I can provide receipts of every product I buy to ensure the new owner one day that it was done, but is that enough? When I've sold cars in the past, people tend to ask to see the book full of stamps and couldn't care less about receipts! I'm sure many on here do this, but how do you get around that annoying factor?
I won't actually need the car the whole month as can use the wife's, so at least I know I could take my time with it.
Any opinions and tips appreciated!
Also, my service is due.
Adding the two together, it seems like a perfect opportunity to perform a service myself. I've never done this before, so it would mean buying tools, and hopefully learning a lot along the way. Unfortunately it's the 'major' service that's due, so maybe it's taking on too much for a amateur, I don't know. I'm not particularly mechanically minded! Done a few bits and bobs in the past but we're talking years ago when I actually had something called free time.
My main issue is, if I perform it myself, it won't have a stamp in the book will it? I know I can provide receipts of every product I buy to ensure the new owner one day that it was done, but is that enough? When I've sold cars in the past, people tend to ask to see the book full of stamps and couldn't care less about receipts! I'm sure many on here do this, but how do you get around that annoying factor?
I won't actually need the car the whole month as can use the wife's, so at least I know I could take my time with it.
Any opinions and tips appreciated!
If you're keeping the car for it's life then entirely up to you to set the value of a stamp. If you're selling it at some point then it probably depends on the age of car when you sell it - 10+ years and I'd only be looking for proof the work was done and all the bits involved. 5+ years old and I'd want to know it was done by someone competent. Under 3 years and I'd expect manufacturer/known specialist work.
On a 12 month old Ferrari, it would mean a lot.
On a 10+ year old hum-drum runabout - it would mean nothing to me.
Receipts and an enthusiastic owner that knows the car (and can talk about / show me what they've done) is more valuable to me than a stamp in a book.
I guess you are somewhere in the middle OP?
On a 10+ year old hum-drum runabout - it would mean nothing to me.
Receipts and an enthusiastic owner that knows the car (and can talk about / show me what they've done) is more valuable to me than a stamp in a book.
I guess you are somewhere in the middle OP?
kalniel said:
If you're keeping the car for it's life then entirely up to you to set the value of a stamp. If you're selling it at some point then it probably depends on the age of car when you sell it - 10+ years and I'd only be looking for proof the work was done and all the bits involved. 5+ years old and I'd want to know it was done by someone competent. Under 3 years and I'd expect manufacturer/known specialist work.
Agree. I prefer receipts. People pass off stamped service books as evidence. Pre online MOT recording I'd seen some books that looked as though a number of stamps were entered on the same day with hand-written mileage entries and signature using what appears as the same biro!CrippsCorner said:
My car is a 2010 Astra VXR - Quite heavily modified during my ownership - Have about £5k worth of receipts from that as it is!
The car is now 'finished' so I intend to just enjoy it for a couple of years, before selling it on and starting another project.
Given the above, I would say you are fine with doing it yourself and keeping the receipts, and as you say, you will learn a few things while you are at it.The car is now 'finished' so I intend to just enjoy it for a couple of years, before selling it on and starting another project.
Google and Youtube are your friends here, take your time and enjoy the bonding.
Firstly, congratulations on the little one and fatherhood (assuming it;s your first!). The first month will fly by in a blur of fatigue but also energy for your child.
On to the car - the simple things (oil changes, spark plugs, filters) are no real big job. Ensure you have a good trolley jack and good axle stands, or use ramps or something. Of upmost importance is safety. When you;re under the car, wear some safety glasses - you dont want anything in falling into your eyes. And wear some good gloves too, oils are not very good for the body and the skin.
A good halfords socket set is more than enough for the home mechanic. Get a good torque wrench as well - no matter how brilliant you think you are at tightening a bolt, you are not a precision measuring device and for peace of min, its good knowing something is tightened to factory spec.
Other things, like bake fluid changes, discs and pad - you might want some specialist tools. For brake fluid, I would just pay someone to do it as they'll get it done much quicker, else if you realyl want to do it yourself look at mityvac tools or similar. For discs and pads - good impact driver, a selection of files for cleaning up the pad carriers etc.
For servicing records, where possible use genuine parts. These have been tested and validated by the vehicle manfacturer extensively. If you are going to use third-party parts, use a reputable manufacturer - K&N, Mahle etc etc. Keep your receipts, date them at time of installation, even initial / sign them, mark down the mileage at time of installation.
I service most easy parts on my motorcycle and keep my records this way. I have a binder folder, and plastic wallet that contains the receipts for a single service period, most recent first so it's easy to look at what I last did.
If need be you can make a little note to yourself of anything as well that might need attention at the next service, or anything odd you noticed that needs sorting, or simply any note son how to do the job quicker once you've found the best way to do it.
As always, go slow, go steady, and dont start something you think you're going to have to rush to finish.
On to the car - the simple things (oil changes, spark plugs, filters) are no real big job. Ensure you have a good trolley jack and good axle stands, or use ramps or something. Of upmost importance is safety. When you;re under the car, wear some safety glasses - you dont want anything in falling into your eyes. And wear some good gloves too, oils are not very good for the body and the skin.
A good halfords socket set is more than enough for the home mechanic. Get a good torque wrench as well - no matter how brilliant you think you are at tightening a bolt, you are not a precision measuring device and for peace of min, its good knowing something is tightened to factory spec.
Other things, like bake fluid changes, discs and pad - you might want some specialist tools. For brake fluid, I would just pay someone to do it as they'll get it done much quicker, else if you realyl want to do it yourself look at mityvac tools or similar. For discs and pads - good impact driver, a selection of files for cleaning up the pad carriers etc.
For servicing records, where possible use genuine parts. These have been tested and validated by the vehicle manfacturer extensively. If you are going to use third-party parts, use a reputable manufacturer - K&N, Mahle etc etc. Keep your receipts, date them at time of installation, even initial / sign them, mark down the mileage at time of installation.
I service most easy parts on my motorcycle and keep my records this way. I have a binder folder, and plastic wallet that contains the receipts for a single service period, most recent first so it's easy to look at what I last did.
If need be you can make a little note to yourself of anything as well that might need attention at the next service, or anything odd you noticed that needs sorting, or simply any note son how to do the job quicker once you've found the best way to do it.
As always, go slow, go steady, and dont start something you think you're going to have to rush to finish.
deckster said:
g3org3y said:
seiben said:
CrippsCorner said:
Hi I've got a month off work (well not quite 'off' as I'll have a new baby) but... I'm at least hoping for a little bit of down time.
Think again 
If your car is heavily modified as you say then a service stamp is not going to mean a great deal to the likely next purchaser.
As others have said though you won't get any down time and any time you have not running after the new baby, buying supplies etc you will want to sleep.
Good luck with the forthcoming arrival though, its an amazing but exhausting time.
As others have said though you won't get any down time and any time you have not running after the new baby, buying supplies etc you will want to sleep.
Good luck with the forthcoming arrival though, its an amazing but exhausting time.
It is an... optimistic... plan. Never heard of a first month without a few speedbumps along the way. And whatever thoughts your OH has voiced about how she's going to be able to engage housewife mode and look after you and baby, just appreciate that the thought was there.
I am very cynical about any stamps in a service book.. I've seen some that are blatant swizzes, like the car that had paperwork indicating ownership all over the country of various ancestry, yet all servicing it at the same garage on the south coast and the service manager signing never changing the colour of his biro. I prefer an enthusiastic owner who can point at bits done or that need attention.
I am very cynical about any stamps in a service book.. I've seen some that are blatant swizzes, like the car that had paperwork indicating ownership all over the country of various ancestry, yet all servicing it at the same garage on the south coast and the service manager signing never changing the colour of his biro. I prefer an enthusiastic owner who can point at bits done or that need attention.
I do my own servicing, unless a car is under warranty or its the kind of car where buyers will pull a face.
My car is modified, which, like yours limits the potential buyers but the ones that will buy a heavily modified cars aren't likely to be the ones that bothered by a main dealer service stamp, but will be thrilled to see big wodges of invoices.
The car is 12 years old, I wouldn't worry and servicing is pretty easy, watch a YouTube video and ensure you have the right stuff to complete the job. Just take your time, its mianly
Oil and filter, make sure you have something to drain it into, an old washing up bowl or similar and put some old towels or something down on the path, as it will drip. Jack it up, dont go under it without axle stands and preferably something else, the problem with a car falling on you is it doesnt kill you instantly, you have alittle while to contemplate your lack of safety precautions so unless you can bench 1500 kilos, forget it. I put a ramp under there as well as have been under a car that got reversed into ! Its just a case of dropping the old oil out via the drain plug, replacing the filter and refilling.
Air filter, dead easy, usually few screws or clips, have the hoover handy to suck any debris out of the air box.
Cabin filter, depends on the car, some are easy, some are a pain and involve being a contortionist.
Plus, be careful here, as screwing up can really cause you problems, snapping a plug is rare but happens, only ever put them back by hand holding them on the end of a socket extension and feel the thread engaging, tighten gently by hand, any resistance or chance of cross threading, stop, tighten to crush the washer to seal, preferably torque it.
Its a piece of piss really, I can do a full service on mine for £100 or less, doesnt take that long either. I pick a decent Saturday morning in summer, get a brew, stick the radio on and crack on. I check other stuff whilst I am there and give it a good once over.
I do tend to do bits as and when they are needed, the service is only really to put a schedule round as few trips to the dealers/garage as possible, but I did the plugs on mine in Feb, cabin filter last year, oil in June.
My car is modified, which, like yours limits the potential buyers but the ones that will buy a heavily modified cars aren't likely to be the ones that bothered by a main dealer service stamp, but will be thrilled to see big wodges of invoices.
The car is 12 years old, I wouldn't worry and servicing is pretty easy, watch a YouTube video and ensure you have the right stuff to complete the job. Just take your time, its mianly
Oil and filter, make sure you have something to drain it into, an old washing up bowl or similar and put some old towels or something down on the path, as it will drip. Jack it up, dont go under it without axle stands and preferably something else, the problem with a car falling on you is it doesnt kill you instantly, you have alittle while to contemplate your lack of safety precautions so unless you can bench 1500 kilos, forget it. I put a ramp under there as well as have been under a car that got reversed into ! Its just a case of dropping the old oil out via the drain plug, replacing the filter and refilling.
Air filter, dead easy, usually few screws or clips, have the hoover handy to suck any debris out of the air box.
Cabin filter, depends on the car, some are easy, some are a pain and involve being a contortionist.
Plus, be careful here, as screwing up can really cause you problems, snapping a plug is rare but happens, only ever put them back by hand holding them on the end of a socket extension and feel the thread engaging, tighten gently by hand, any resistance or chance of cross threading, stop, tighten to crush the washer to seal, preferably torque it.
Its a piece of piss really, I can do a full service on mine for £100 or less, doesnt take that long either. I pick a decent Saturday morning in summer, get a brew, stick the radio on and crack on. I check other stuff whilst I am there and give it a good once over.
I do tend to do bits as and when they are needed, the service is only really to put a schedule round as few trips to the dealers/garage as possible, but I did the plugs on mine in Feb, cabin filter last year, oil in June.
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