Owner serviced cars
Discussion
When you're looking for a new car, how do you view cars that have been serviced by their owners?
I'm wondering as I've always serviced my own cars due to most of them not really being of great value with sketchy history anyway, coupled with the fact that I trust myself much more than I do the average spanner monkey.
We've recently acquired an Audi S4 (B5) worth a bit more than the previous cars we've had but still not much in the grand scheme of things. It was due a 90k service and there was nothing showing a cambelt change so we thought it wise to get them done. Obviously Audi were pretty damn expensive, £1k for the belt and £300 for the service, independents were cheaper but not by a huge margin. In the end I did it all myself for around £550, all using genuine parts.
Would this kind of thing put you off a potential car?
Personally I usually judge it on when the owner comes across as competent, hasn't just used the cheapest rubbish he could get and has kept all the receipts. I guess it all depends on the car too, cheap run arounds I wouldn't be bothered in the slightest but I guess as the value of the car goes up so does your need to be assured it's been looked after.
Views?
I'm wondering as I've always serviced my own cars due to most of them not really being of great value with sketchy history anyway, coupled with the fact that I trust myself much more than I do the average spanner monkey.
We've recently acquired an Audi S4 (B5) worth a bit more than the previous cars we've had but still not much in the grand scheme of things. It was due a 90k service and there was nothing showing a cambelt change so we thought it wise to get them done. Obviously Audi were pretty damn expensive, £1k for the belt and £300 for the service, independents were cheaper but not by a huge margin. In the end I did it all myself for around £550, all using genuine parts.
Would this kind of thing put you off a potential car?
Personally I usually judge it on when the owner comes across as competent, hasn't just used the cheapest rubbish he could get and has kept all the receipts. I guess it all depends on the car too, cheap run arounds I wouldn't be bothered in the slightest but I guess as the value of the car goes up so does your need to be assured it's been looked after.
Views?
Someone who seems knowledgeable and trustworthy I'd probably take their word, someone who has a 'Mate who works for Mercedes' I'd just assume it hadn't been serviced.
I have a feeling that most members of the public would still rather see a FMBSH though, even if it was s
t, than have someone who knows what they're doing do it themselves, so it could well affect how easy it is to sell on.
I have a feeling that most members of the public would still rather see a FMBSH though, even if it was s
t, than have someone who knows what they're doing do it themselves, so it could well affect how easy it is to sell on. Mine currently has full BMW service history (and is 10 years old). I fully intend to do as much as possible myself, and indy for the rest.
I think I would prefer to view a car with a massive folder of receipts than a car with no receipts but a stamp in each box. It's not unheard of for people to just stamp their own service book, so the stamp to me means fk all unless backed up with a receipt- so I don't even look at the service book anymore, I just want a record of everything that's been done.
I think I would prefer to view a car with a massive folder of receipts than a car with no receipts but a stamp in each box. It's not unheard of for people to just stamp their own service book, so the stamp to me means f
k all unless backed up with a receipt- so I don't even look at the service book anymore, I just want a record of everything that's been done.i was thinking this recently. i know i'll do a better job as i don't want my car to go bang and want it to stay in as perfect condition as i can.
i also don't want to be bent over by bmw servicing costs only to get standard grade parts stuck on/refilled, plus i know it'll bother me constantly worrying whether my car was left to some spotty work experience oik who couldn't care less on a friday afternoon
was thinking of putting receipts and photo's of drain plug etc. in an envelope marked with the mileage on every service. does that sound a little like overkill on a 1994 car?
i also don't want to be bent over by bmw servicing costs only to get standard grade parts stuck on/refilled, plus i know it'll bother me constantly worrying whether my car was left to some spotty work experience oik who couldn't care less on a friday afternoon
was thinking of putting receipts and photo's of drain plug etc. in an envelope marked with the mileage on every service. does that sound a little like overkill on a 1994 car?
I service my own cars, always have done & simply try to keep pretty good records of every spare/service item I buy for routine service or any other fixes. I just stick the receipt in a file with date/mileage of fitting scribbled on (ie along with V5 and MOT certs). Since I tend to buy/order parts from reputable factors these tend to be quite detailed - and provide the kind of info I'd look for if I were buying ...
As a serial buyer of secondhand cars I've had no qualms about owner-serviced cars - the points above on motivated owners taking care , and buying on overall condition are spot-on. Wrong'uns are fairly obvious when you're prepared to walk from every viewing.
As a serial buyer of secondhand cars I've had no qualms about owner-serviced cars - the points above on motivated owners taking care , and buying on overall condition are spot-on. Wrong'uns are fairly obvious when you're prepared to walk from every viewing.
STW2010 said:
I think I would prefer to view a car with a massive folder of receipts than a car with no receipts but a stamp in each box. It's not unheard of for people to just stamp their own service book, so the stamp to me means fk all unless backed up with a receipt- so I don't even look at the service book anymore, I just want a record of everything that's been done.
This.k all unless backed up with a receipt- so I don't even look at the service book anymore, I just want a record of everything that's been done.Amazing the stories you hear as to why there are no receipts, or copies of receipts, or the dealer name and number is blurred jusssssssssst enough that you cannot make out who actually did the servicing.
I like a nicely stamped SH as much as the next guy, and would probably never buy a 5 yr old car if it was not dealer serviced for the first 3 years, but as long as the story is complete, invoices present, the chap who did the servicing knew what he was talking about, I'd be happy to buy an owner serviced car upto about £5k.
I service mine and have since being had (one actually caused the demise of our well loved 480) by 2 garagists within the space of 12months, which cost me easily over £1000 in one way or another.
BB
I service mine and have since being had (one actually caused the demise of our well loved 480) by 2 garagists within the space of 12months, which cost me easily over £1000 in one way or another.
BB
Vet the owner, as much as the car, buy on condition.
That said, paperwork has it's place. A full folder of reciepts, plus stamps, all tallying with MOT's and other bits and bobs all adds up to a car that has been carefully maintained, in general.
I would never accept just a service book as proof that a car had been serviced to a decent standard.
That said, if I'm looking to buy your car, I'll be asking questions and if you're answering them sensibly then I'm happy. If you know your stuff, haven't skimped, have owned the car a while and generally seem to have kept on top of stuff then that bodes well.
I know people who are incredibly competent engineers, and service/fix/modify their own cars to an incredibly high standard.I'd rather own any of them then some random dealership car with a service book and no human connection.
That said, paperwork has it's place. A full folder of reciepts, plus stamps, all tallying with MOT's and other bits and bobs all adds up to a car that has been carefully maintained, in general.
I would never accept just a service book as proof that a car had been serviced to a decent standard.
That said, if I'm looking to buy your car, I'll be asking questions and if you're answering them sensibly then I'm happy. If you know your stuff, haven't skimped, have owned the car a while and generally seem to have kept on top of stuff then that bodes well.
I know people who are incredibly competent engineers, and service/fix/modify their own cars to an incredibly high standard.I'd rather own any of them then some random dealership car with a service book and no human connection.
For anything a bit more unusual / uncommon, I'd personally find a specialist or enthusiast's servicing preferable to main dealer efforts!
Have made some good friends through the owners club I'm part of and am amazed at just how clever some of these guys are.. not afraid to tackle any jobs on the cars, and fix things that dealers have essentially washed their hands of as they just don't have the skills! Really opened my eyes.
Have made some good friends through the owners club I'm part of and am amazed at just how clever some of these guys are.. not afraid to tackle any jobs on the cars, and fix things that dealers have essentially washed their hands of as they just don't have the skills! Really opened my eyes.
I've always serviced my own cars. Except my first brand new one, which I religiously took to the dealer to get serviced, and get the book stamped.
After not being happy with three main dealers, I gave up and started doing it myself.
I have since bought another brand new car. I drove it out of the showroom, and never took it back. Serviced it myself, kept the receipts, and wrote in the service book myself.
But then I live in Spain. There are no work ethics here. If you want to break a Spaniards fingers, just kick him up the ar$e!
If I where buying an owner serviced car, I would go on condition, and vet the seller to make my mind up if he was compitent or not.
I would rather buy an owner serviced car from someone who is compitent and has kept a history file with receipts, than a dealer serviced car that has been done by a spotty faced apprentice.
After not being happy with three main dealers, I gave up and started doing it myself.
I have since bought another brand new car. I drove it out of the showroom, and never took it back. Serviced it myself, kept the receipts, and wrote in the service book myself.
But then I live in Spain. There are no work ethics here. If you want to break a Spaniards fingers, just kick him up the ar$e!
If I where buying an owner serviced car, I would go on condition, and vet the seller to make my mind up if he was compitent or not.
I would rather buy an owner serviced car from someone who is compitent and has kept a history file with receipts, than a dealer serviced car that has been done by a spotty faced apprentice.
I've serviced my own cars for a few years now after realising that the mark-up from the garages was extortinate.
I always use OEM parts (and preferably purchased from the dealers) and follow their instructions on the respective workshop manuals so I don't see their being much of a problem.
I've even had a rubber stamp made up with 'self serviced' on it so I can stamp the service book, and I always keep the receipts for the parts I've bought.
I do understand that some cars are best off being taken to a dealers, especially if the buyers are anal about a stamp in a little book.
I always use OEM parts (and preferably purchased from the dealers) and follow their instructions on the respective workshop manuals so I don't see their being much of a problem.
I've even had a rubber stamp made up with 'self serviced' on it so I can stamp the service book, and I always keep the receipts for the parts I've bought.
I do understand that some cars are best off being taken to a dealers, especially if the buyers are anal about a stamp in a little book.
ive worked at main dealers over the years , its shocking to see the amount of worked skipped , new parts stolen , trainee's cross threading things and general abuse to customers cars . then theres the lies about the car needing xx parts fitted beacuse its dangerous just to bump up the sales
dont see anything wrong with owner serviced as long as the recipts are kept for proof
dont see anything wrong with owner serviced as long as the recipts are kept for proof
I still take my 8 year old SL500 to Mercedes for it's actual "by the book" servicing (as well as stuff I can't do such as alignment but I still do the parts such as pads, discs, filters, plugs etc (stuff that really costs an arm and a leg at Merc). Everything else is done only by me (C class coupe, pair of Yamaha R1s and a supermoto). I keep my stuff immaculate and most people are pretty impressed at the way I keep my garage, the toolchests, uber-tidiness etc and I like to think that whoever sees this thinks that I am the sort of person who looks after my belongings. So far no problems 
XB70 said:
Amazing the stories you hear as to why there are no receipts, or copies of receipts, or the dealer name and number is blurred jusssssssssst enough that you cannot make out who actually did the servicing.
I once saw a car for sale that had 'full dealer history', but when I arrived there was not a single receipt. The dealer stamp didn't contain the location or contact details of the dealer, and get this- every single stamp had things like 'spark plugs changed' or 'cambelt' written next to the stamp in red pen, and coincidently the same hand writing. Seems most people come to the same conclusions as me then, as long as the proof is there and the owner doesn't come across as a complete numpty then it's all good.
I also write in the service book referencing the receipts from the work, I still consider the car to have full history, being as there is proof of it being serviced.
I do find it a pain how so many people don't seem to keep the receipts for work to their cars, makes it much harder come resale I find.
I also write in the service book referencing the receipts from the work, I still consider the car to have full history, being as there is proof of it being serviced.
I do find it a pain how so many people don't seem to keep the receipts for work to their cars, makes it much harder come resale I find.
I always write down what I've done and when, and keep receipts for parts and service items bought.
No problem at all buying a car that is owner serviced. My Mondeo is a case in point. When I went to look at it - the oil was clean, and the filter obviously new. Air filter was clean. Brake pads new. The car only has the first service stamp in the book, but I'll guarantee it's better serviced than any fully stamped car.
No problem at all buying a car that is owner serviced. My Mondeo is a case in point. When I went to look at it - the oil was clean, and the filter obviously new. Air filter was clean. Brake pads new. The car only has the first service stamp in the book, but I'll guarantee it's better serviced than any fully stamped car.
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