Importance of Service History

[dswarwick]

What are peoples thoughts on the importance of service history?

I'm quite tempted to do the basic servicing myself, oil change, air filter, spark plugs ,etc... It seems crazy to spend all that money on getting someone else to do these jobs just for a stamp.

I would then keep every single receipt for the service parts and use that as part of the service history rather than garage stamps.

What do people think? Since anyone likely to be purchasing a 172 cup is likely to be more of an enthusiast than your bog standard car buyer, is evidence that an owner has taken good care (better than the service schedule) worth the same as a stamped service history when selling the car on?

D

 

[brisa4984]

think youll find most of us on here do our own mini services ourselves. The only main issue is getting the cambelt professionally done. thas the only one that must be done imo.

 

[H182]

Id be perfectly happy buying a car that had been self serviced by someone who knew what they were doing and had the receipts to prove it. Probably been looked after better than the average joe who just drops it in somewhere for a service.

 

[MarkCup]

I think you'd be devaluing the car far in excess of what you potentially stand to save.

 

[MarkCup]

Id be perfectly happy buying a car that had been self serviced by someone who knew what they were doing and had the receipts to prove it. Probably been looked after better than the average joe who just drops it in somewhere for a service.

How can you tell that when you go to look at a car? How do you know they're not just making it up?

 

[tommy2007]

I agree and disagree. I agree with the fact that some people will be able to do a better job than the half arsed Renault dealers but then again there may be some that cannot. I for one might be looking for a 172 cup around September time and one of the things i will be looking for is a full service history from Renault. What this shows is that the owner has not only been able to spend the money not taking shortcuts with servicing but also has the time and effort to keep up with the maintenance of the car.

I do agree that some of the maintenance required is expensive but i would do my upmost to keep the service history as when the time comes to sell it the car will command a premium.

 

[Beef-Mc]

Pretty much what I would have said ^^^

 

[cat171]

I agree and disagree. I agree with the fact that some people will be able to do a better job than the half arsed Renault dealers but then again there may be some that cannot. I for one might be looking for a 172 cup around September time and one of the things i will be looking for is a full service history from Renault. What this shows is that the owner has not only been able to spend the money not taking shortcuts with servicing but also has the time and effort to keep up with the maintenance of the car.

I do agree that some of the maintenance required is expensive but i would do my upmost to keep the service history as when the time comes to sell it the car will command a premium.

Tbh they are one of the last places i'd take my car. For me a good specialists stamp in the book means more to me than a renault one.

 

[H182]

Id be perfectly happy buying a car that had been self serviced by someone who knew what they were doing and had the receipts to prove it. Probably been looked after better than the average joe who just drops it in somewhere for a service.

How can you tell that when you go to look at a car? How do you know they're not just making it up?

Hence why I said about the receipts for proof. Can't see them buying the stuff then making it up about doing the work.

 

[bmh.01]

I've always done my own stuff cambelts the lot, I keep an excel spreadsheet with the date, miliage, what I did, the reason, any other notes on the job and the invoice number for the parts used.

If you turn your nose up at that then your one picky b*****d.

 

[realnumber 1]

Up to around 5 years then yes I think you need the stamps. After that self service with receipts is fine if its just the oil changes or spark plugs etc. I don't think it will devalue the car much after that because the depreciation will be tailing off by then anyway.
It also depends on the car, were only talking Clio's (as good as they are!)and the like but it would be different if it was a porsche or something.

 

[RichRSi]

As far as a Cambelt you will want to see reciepts for the work done at a garage, sorry for being a cynic but f**k trusting someone you dont know to have done the work. Receipts from a reputable garage are where it's at, not just stamps.
Anyone can buy a cambelt, tensioner etc from renault and flogg them on ebay then show the origional reciepts to a prospective buyer and say "yeh it's all done by a 'mate' of mine who 'owns' a garage" Without doing some work you are not going to know any different untill the fecker snaps on the M25.

Oil and general maintaining of the vehicle etc is a different thing to these major jobs, regular oil changes at a specialist (or even KwikFit) is fair enough, if it's decent oil.
Imo keeping the receipts is just being mindfull of the new owners and offering peace of mind. That is why my clio has FRSH up to 5 years and specialist for the Cambelt and any recent work including receipts from everything (including bulbs).

 

[Russ_16v]

id happliy buy a car thats been self serviced,just need to have a chat with the seller and get an idea how hands on they are. IMO of course

 

[RichRSi]

id happliy buy a car thats been self serviced,just need to have a chat with the seller and get an idea how hands on they are. IMO of course

Very true, like i said I am a cynic an not likely to trust on something like a cambelt when you consider the cost of a replacement engine.

However when I bought my MX5 the guy who was selling it owned about 5 nice, expensive vehicles, one being a V8 mustang Boss and he started it for me and was going on about what he'd done, you could just tell he knew his stuff and cars made him tick so receipts and his word were good enough for me then. That Mazda gave me over 20k of miles trouble free motoring untill I was rear ended and it was written off.

I have bought some sheds though that have been 'looked after by a mate' and probably never been near a spanner (except for the seller)

 

[Maz]

I would never buy a car without full service history, booked stamped and invoices etc

 

[Faxo]

Full main dealer service history is b****cks in my eyes, this coming from a techy in a main dealer. People bring their cars in for the basic service, but dont have any extra work done like brakes, tyres, shockers etc as its too expensive so they let them deteriorate until they absolutely have to get them done. Take your car to a specialist, or do the work yourself and you'll be much more interested in getting the work done if its not too expensive!

If i was a normal member of the public, id nevertake my car to a main dealer, id prolly find a specialist but i wouldnt be worried taking it to a backstreet if they used genuine parts, as thse sort of garages rely on reputation, main dealers dont

 

[Russ_16v]

agreed ^ i put more care into servicing my mates cars than thet techs do at work ( i work in main dealer)

 

[dandycaptain]

I'd be most comfortable, if we're talking about 1*2s anyway, with a service history showing stamps from independent Renaultsport specialists. Most of us know what Renault are like, and have either had bad experiences with them or know someone who has. On the other hand, if I was buying a 1.5 dCi Clio then I'd want to see a full Renault service history. I just wouldn't trust Renault with a Renaultsport car, even if it was a new 197.

 

[cg172]

Mmm. I'm not too keen on main dealers like. We were quite happy to buy a 172 that has stamps from one garage. Maybe that's somthing that's worth looking for? If the previous owner has trusted a garage enough to give repeat custom, that must say somthing? I'll continue to go to the back-street garage I use because he does a good job in my opinion. He normally does my diagnostics for free. Better that £85 for Renault to say that they don't have a clue...

 

[Jay Payne]

Always makes me laugh how everyone on this site slags off the main dealers and calls the tech's monkeys. BUT would pay more for a second hand motor that had a full history from such a place.

Ive always done my own servicing (in the trade) sold my focus to a family member so it didnt really matter but i had changed the oil every 6k without fail and spared no expense on its up keep, My old 172 i only had 8 moinths but i went to town on it.....

I always use Genuine or high quality parts