£50+VAT to supply me with service history? WTF?

[Roan]

When I purchased my BMW E39 M5 privately, I was provided with the service book but not any invoices to back it up. I phoned BMW Customer Services who told me that they cannot provide service history since the car is an import. Technically it is an import, being an Individual and the pre-delivery inspection was carried out in Germany. I was told to contact the dealers whom did the work which I did this week (a large main dealer franchise with multiple sites in the North West).

The first dealer whom serviced the car from new (and supplied it to the first owner) has told me they will charge £50+VAT to provide copy invoices. The second dealer happily provided me with a copy invoice for an Inspection 2 carried out whilst under the ownership of the second owner.

Is this fair? Should I contact BMW Customer Services and complain or should I just pay it? I'm amazed they can charge this for a few sheets of paper...

[paoloh]

They shouldn't be issuing copy invoices to a third party anyway.

[hornetrider]

paoloh said:

They shouldn't be issuing copy invoices to a third party anyway.

Unless they remove the monies paid and owners details?

When looking for a Porsche I found different OPCs had different attitudes to disclosing details of works carried out to cars I was looking at. Some did, some didn't.

[Roan]

paoloh said:

They shouldn't be issuing copy invoices to a third party anyway.

The second dealer did remove the previous owner's details, which I am fine with.

[skeeterm5]

why do you want them?

S

[paoloh]

skeeterm5 said:

why do you want them?

S

Add provenace to car

[hornetrider]

skeeterm5 said:

why do you want them?

S

To prove what work has been done to the car. Invoices are far better to have than a meaningless stamp in the book.

[Chesty LeRoux]

Cheaper than £250 for a Merc

[John MacK]

Why should they provide it for free?

[bazking69]

John MacK said:

Why should they provide it for free?

As above. It's not an obligation. It is also not an obligatory free service.

As they are providing a service as well as hard goods why should they not name their price, given that you purchased the car not only without any receipts to back up the stamps, but from outside the dealer network. Frankly I would never have bought the car without receipts to back up mere stamps anyway.

Edited by bazking69 on Thursday 8th April 16:50

[john_p]

Chesty LeRoux said:

Cheaper than £250 for a Merc

[Roan]

bazking69 said:

John MacK said:

Why should they provide it for free?

As above. It's not an obligation. It is also not an obligatory free service.

As they are providing a service as well as hard goods why should they not name their price, given that you purchased the car not only without any receipts to back up the stamps, but from outside the dealer network. Frankly I would never have bought the car without receipts to back up mere stamps anyway.

Edited by bazking69 on Thursday 8th April 16:50

I normally wouldn't, but the care taken by previous owners was evident in the condition of the car and it was well priced considering. Plus, I don't jump in with both feet when purchasing a car and spent months researching all known issues before the purchase so I could make an informed buying decision.

I did check before purchase that the car had indeed been serviced where & when it was stated in the service book, I just didn't get round to chasing up the actual paperwork.

I agree it's not an obligitory service, I just would have assumed the cost to me would have more closely matched the actual cost to the dealer of printing off a few sheets of paper and emailing/faxing them to me.

[hornetrider]

Roan said:

I just would have assumed the cost to me would have more closely matched the actual cost to the dealer of printing off a few sheets of paper and emailing/faxing them to me.

Half an hour's work at main dealer rates?

[DaveL86]

Roan said:

I just would have assumed the cost to me would have more closely matched the actual cost to the dealer of printing off a few sheets of paper and emailing/faxing them to me.

I think the cost was pretty close to that, main dealers hourly rates are not cheap and you can't expect anything for free these days.

[matt12023]

Its tad steep but as others have said you can't expect owt for nowt. also by ading provenance can you not consider it £50 added to the value of the car?

[uuf361]

That does sound a tad pricey......

My car did not come with a service book but I did get the invoices (some of which didn't have all the details on). I contacted the dealer who had completed the first 4 services who supplied me with a stamped up book and posted it over to me for £15 which I thought was well worth it, and have now had the 5th service stamped in by my local dealer