Self service - keeping a record of this in service book ?

[Austin-182]

After recently teaching myself how to do an oil and filter change on the other halfs 1.2 clio and realising just how easy it is, combined with how much money can be saved by doing it myself it has got me thinking about self servicing the 182from now on.

I have always been a strong believer in having the service completed by a garage and having the book stamped etc.

However, im now realising that doing the minor services myself has way more advantages than paying someone else to do it. The main factors being a huge saving in cost and also that I will take more care than a "normal" garage would anyway and can be assured that decent oil / filters are used.

The only downside is this means I wont be able to get the service book stamped. Which has got me thinking about having a stamp made up with something simple as

" Self Service

See Invoice"

Interested to hear other thoughts on this and if you agree this is a good idea?

 

[Mavez]

I think it's fine, I do all my own work and just write the details in the service book and keep all the receipts. I think what most people would be looking out for on the Renault sport range is that stuff like the timing belt kit, dephaser etc.. are done by a respected and known specialist.

 

[DrR]

Easy, right in what you did, mileage etc and keep the receipts for the parts in a folder.

 

[Austin-182]

Easy, right in what you did, mileage etc and keep the receipts for the parts in a folder.

I have done that onthe other halfs clio. I think im going to get a stamp made up also like mentioned above. I think it will make things look that little bit more profesional. I have a hige file with every invoice in since day one.

All that being said, im never selling the car anyway, so its more for me than anyone else.

I think it's fine, I do all my own work and just write the details in the service book and keep all the receipts. I think what most people would be looking out for on the Renault sport range is that stuff like the timing belt kit, dephaser etc.. are done by a respected and known specialist.

Yes, agree with that mate. I havejust had the major service done by diamond motors.

 

[Mavez]

Yes, agree with that mate. I havejust had the major service done by diamond motors.

Excellent, everything should be cool then. Yeah pretty much the same here i've had my Clio for 10 or 11 years now and i'll definitely have it another 10 or 11 years and if it blows up in that time i'll just rebuild.

What I do is I keep a spreadsheet called "Clio Log" in which I have fields for work carried out, date it was done, parts used, mileage at which work was done and a reference number to the parts invoices in my folder.

 

[ilovewilly]

On a £1500 motor, nobody is likely to bat an eyelid if you've got a folder of receipts to show the maintenance. On newer cars it puts a lot more people off, obviously.

 

[Jekyll]

I've never thought of doing this but tbh, I can't see the harm in doing so if you keep the receipts to back it up, which i always keep.

 

[Austin-182]

On a £1500 motor, nobody is likely to bat an eyelid if you've got a folder of receipts to show the maintenance. On newer cars it puts a lot more people off, obviously.

Those of us who have owned for 8+ years or since new years and are 1st or 2nd owner dont look at them like a 1.5k clio. So i respectfully disagree with your comment as I know my clio is not the same as one of the ebay 1.5k specials which has had 8+ owners and on over 100k miles on the clock.

I would never ever, ever, sell mu clio for 1.5k. If someone came to me today with 5k i would also say no. It has been my plan since day one of buying it to keep it forever and when no longer in use garage it away.

My car has been looked after since day one, any of the long time members on here a will know that and easily distinguish the difference between my 182 that i have owned for 8 years with a file full of invoices in date order compared to a clio that has been owned by numerous younger lads who have thrashed the pants off it for 6-12 months and then passed onto someone else to do the same.

There are a load of really nice well looked after clios on here, and at somepoint in the next few years the prices will start to increase and those with the decent ones will be able to sell for a much higher price than people assume all clios are worth at this moment in time.

 

[ilovewilly]

What do you value the 1.2 at?

 

[Austin-182]

What do you value the 1.2 at?

Where you referring to the 1.2?

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Those of us who have owned for 8+ years or since new years and are 1st or 2nd owner dont look at them like a 1.5k clio. So i respectfully disagree with your comment as I know my clio is not the same as one of the ebay 1.5k specials which has had 8+ owners and on over 100k miles on the clock.

I would never ever, ever, sell mu clio for 1.5k. If someone came to me today with 5k i would also say no. It has been my plan since day one of buying it to keep it forever and when no longer in use garage it away.

My car has been looked after since day one, any of the long time members on here a will know that and easily distinguish the difference between my 182 that i have owned for 8 years with a file full of invoices in date order compared to a clio that has been owned by numerous younger lads who have thrashed the pants off it for 6-12 months and then passed onto someone else to do the same.

There are a load of really nice well looked after clios on here, and at somepoint in the next few years the prices will start to increase and those with the decent ones will be able to sell for a much higher price than people assume all clios are worth at this moment in time.

Same here for me . I've had mine from new and it's 10 years old now . It has full service history , some Renault and some Specialist ( Diamond motors) and all the invoices in my folder etc..... I don't plan on selling mine either . But If i was to sell it , I'm sure it would be a far more attractive purchase than a car with multiple owners and only part service history . It might be worth £2500 - £3000, I don't know ?? But to me it's worth much more than that because I've had it from day one , I know exactly how it's been driven , looked after and maintained. So I think your idea of a self service stamp , accompanied by all the invoices is a good idea :up: It can't do any harm .

 

[Austin-182]

Also, this may be of some use to others...

Last week i had the major service done by diamond motors and realised i now only have 2 spaces left for stamps in the original service book. I have had a look on ebay and found a seller who has some blank standard service books. They are £20, but personally i feel it is worth it. You can purchase a standard type book for £4 but to me, paying the extra £16 is worth it so i have ordered one.

 

[Austin-182]

 

[Jonz]

I always do my own mechanical work, including the cambelt on the clios I've owned (despite what people say on here, it's one of the easiest cars to do the cambelt on and almost impossible to get the timming wrong) and I've not had any issue with reselling the cars as of yet, but I think I wouldn't be too worried about it due to the cost saving I've already had by doing the work my self would more than pay for a lower price I may sell the car on for without logbook stamps. I do keep the receipts though and write the milage down when it was serviced/replaced and keep the old parts.

 

[Austin-182]

I always do my own mechanical work, including the cambelt on the clios I've owned (despite what people say on here, it's one of the easiest cars to do the cambelt on and almost impossible to get the timming wrong) and I've not had any issue with reselling the cars as of yet, but I think I wouldn't be too worried about it due to the cost saving I've already had by doing the work my self would more than pay for a lower price I may sell the car on for without logbook stamps. I do keep the receipts though and write the milage down when it was serviced/replaced and keep the old parts.

Thats great if you are competent enough to know what your doing. I would never do that, but oil and filter changes im comfortable to do now.

I always keep invoices for everything. I have a file full.

 

[Jonz]

I think even if your just doing basic servicing, so long as you keep the car long enough the savings would eventually outweigh the worth of an official full service history. If you do things like change the brake pads and discs which is almost as straight forward as servicing then the savings become significant. I changed the front discs and pads all round for about £80 but the previous owner has a receipt in the logbook for £300 to do the same work.

 

[Austin-182]

I think even if your just doing basic servicing, so long as you keep the car long enough the savings would eventually outweigh the worth of an official full service history. If you do things like change the brake pads and discs which is almost as straight forward as servicing then the savings become significant. I changed the front discs and pads all round for about £80 but the previous owner has a receipt in the logbook for £300 to do the same work.

Thats the next thing i want to learn. Although I had all 4 done at a garage a few months back so will be years before they need doong again.

 

[Mavez]

Thats the next thing i want to learn. Although I had all 4 done at a garage a few months back so will be years before they need doong again.

Just do a lot of driving and heavy braking

 

[alistairolsen]

The last time my car had work at a garage other than tyres and MOT was in 2004 when I got an exhaust fitted. We're not talking about new cars in warranty, or 3-6 year old cars where dealer service history matters. What buyers want to see is the telltale signs that the current and past owners have given a crap about the car which means regular receipts for filters and oil and so on, and possibly a listing of what was done at what mileage. I couldnt care less if its in the service book with a dealer stamp, as long as there is evidence of it having been done- your folder is a nice example of this

It doesnt matter what you would, or wouldnt sell your car for, nor what you personally value it at, it's an old clio and unless its a concourse condition car with 20k miles and full dealer history, doing it yourself and just noting it down will make no difference whatsoever to its value or saleability.

Tbh for oil changes the biggest gain for me is not having to drop the car in and then be without it for a morning or afternoon and then collect it. An oil change takes about 20 minutes of an evening.

 

[Jonz]

The biggest gain for me is piece of mind knowing my car hasn't been abused, or the work not carried out, or carried out improperly in a rush. My old man is a mechanic and seeing the practices of mechanics has always put me off using garages tbh.

 

[Jonnio]

Also, this may be of some use to others...

Last week i had the major service done by diamond motors and realised i now only have 2 spaces left for stamps in the original service book. I have had a look on ebay and found a seller who has some blank standard service books. They are £20, but personally i feel it is worth it. You can purchase a standard type book for £4 but to me, paying the extra £16 is worth it so i have ordered one.

I scanned a page in, blanked out the filled in bits on photoshop and printed extra pages when I ran out of space. Just another idea if anyone else runs out of space.

I just sign rather than stamp when I've done an oil change etc.

 

[leeds2592]

I never understand why people wouldn't keep receipts for work done. I keep everything and when I say everything I mean EVERYTHING.