My car is coming up for its fifth service (40k miles). It currently
has a full set of service stamps in the service book.

According to the schedule, the next service simply involves replacing
filters, checking levels and inspecting things like the brake system,
all things that I'm perfectly capable of doing myself.

My concern, however, is that any buyers in the future may be put off
that I haven't had it serviced by a garage.

My intention was to do the service by the book and keep all the
receipts for filters/oil etc.

Would this be enough to satisfy a future buyer that the car has been
properly maintained?

sponix

"--s-p-o-n-i-x--"  wrote in message 
news:04pof1l986hi1lvrcav2e4h5ag0uqphokg@4ax.com...

> My car is coming up for its fifth service (40k miles). It currently
> has a full set of service stamps in the service book.
>
> According to the schedule, the next service simply involves replacing
> filters, checking levels and inspecting things like the brake system,
> all things that I'm perfectly capable of doing myself.
>
> My concern, however, is that any buyers in the future may be put off
> that I haven't had it serviced by a garage.
>
> My intention was to do the service by the book and keep all the
> receipts for filters/oil etc.
>
> Would this be enough to satisfy a future buyer that the car has been
> properly maintained?


For most of my motoring life I have carried out my own servicing. I always 
completed the appropriate page in the servicing record and kept receipts. I 
also keep a maintenance 'log' - just a small notebook in which I make a note 
of everything I do to my car - such as replacing tyres and w/screen wiper 
rubbers. I have never yet had any problem with trading a car in and would 
argue that a car maintained by a competent and conscientious owner is likely 
to have been far better looked after than a car serviced by a sloppy junior 
mechanic at a dealership.
In recent years I have been buying either new or nearly new cars which have 
(until recently) required dealer servicing to maintain warranties. I 
invariably find cause for dissatisfaction after such servicing.

Kev

"Uno Hoo!"  wrote in
news:ddhoug$igv$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk: 


> 
> "--s-p-o-n-i-x--"  wrote in message 
> news:04pof1l986hi1lvrcav2e4h5ag0uqphokg@4ax.com...
>> My car is coming up for its fifth service (40k miles). It currently
>> has a full set of service stamps in the service book.
>>
>> According to the schedule, the next service simply involves replacing
>> filters, checking levels and inspecting things like the brake system,
>> all things that I'm perfectly capable of doing myself.
>>
>> My concern, however, is that any buyers in the future may be put off
>> that I haven't had it serviced by a garage.
>>
>> My intention was to do the service by the book and keep all the
>> receipts for filters/oil etc.
>>
>> Would this be enough to satisfy a future buyer that the car has been
>> properly maintained?
> 
> For most of my motoring life I have carried out my own servicing. I
> always completed the appropriate page in the servicing record and kept
> receipts. I also keep a maintenance 'log' - just a small notebook in
> which I make a note of everything I do to my car - such as replacing
> tyres and w/screen wiper rubbers. I have never yet had any problem
> with trading a car in and would argue that a car maintained by a
> competent and conscientious owner is likely to have been far better
> looked after than a car serviced by a sloppy junior mechanic at a
> dealership. In recent years I have been buying either new or nearly
> new cars which have (until recently) required dealer servicing to
> maintain warranties. I invariably find cause for dissatisfaction after
> such servicing. 
> 
> Kev 
> 
> 

It depends on how long you intend to keep it for. In my case, I've had my 
car for 5 years and the amount I've saved on garage servicing is greater 
than the loss in value from not having a service history. Saying that, I 
haven't managed to sell it yet ;-)

Like Kev says, keeping your own record is a good idea and the astute 
older car buyer will be more impressed with that than a collection of ink 
stamps. I slipped up badly by not doing this with my own car.



-- 
Stuart Sharp

"--s-p-o-n-i-x--"  wrote in message 
news:04pof1l986hi1lvrcav2e4h5ag0uqphokg@4ax.com...

> My car is coming up for its fifth service (40k miles). It currently
> has a full set of service stamps in the service book.
>
> According to the schedule, the next service simply involves replacing
> filters, checking levels and inspecting things like the brake system,
> all things that I'm perfectly capable of doing myself.
>
> My concern, however, is that any buyers in the future may be put off
> that I haven't had it serviced by a garage.
>
> My intention was to do the service by the book and keep all the
> receipts for filters/oil etc.
>
> Would this be enough to satisfy a future buyer that the car has been
> properly maintained?
>
> sponix


Personally i would be more assured by a nice fat enevelope of receipts and 
invoices than a few stamps on a service history with nothing backing it up.
Matt

> Like Kev says, keeping your own record is a good idea and the astute
> older car buyer will be more impressed with that than a collection of ink
> stamps. I slipped up badly by not doing this with my own car.
>

And with a program such as MS Money on your pc you can keep a full record on 
an account named 'Car Expense'.
My nerdy side has kept records of every item -servicing, even the odd 
puncture, replaced light bulbs and cost, where and when of fuel fillups. 
Print it out or give it to the new owner on a cd.
DaveK.

Hi

One thing to watch.  The anti-perforation paint warranty on some cars is 
linked to the servicing schedule.  In most cases this warranty is valid for 
6 years.

Strange I know, but apparently when your car is in for a service, the garage 
technicians or workshop manager are supposed to check your car for any signs 
of corrosion. If there's a problem - then it's flagged up and the warranty 
honoured. 

My only concern is by doing the servicing yourself - you may invalidate the 
anti-perforation paint warranty.

Weigh up a couple of things - can you do the servicing yourself? Is the car 
a high performance model with specific tools required for servicing?  Some 
cars have onboard computers that have to be reset, etc.

I do my own servicing (apart from changing timing belts), but as long as you 
keep all receipts and follow the schedule meticulously you shouldn't effect 
the resale value. 

Spart


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"--s-p-o-n-i-x--"  wrote in message
news:04pof1l986hi1lvrcav2e4h5ag0uqphokg@4ax.com...

> My car is coming up for its fifth service (40k miles). It currently
> has a full set of service stamps in the service book.
>
> According to the schedule, the next service simply involves replacing
> filters, checking levels and inspecting things like the brake system,
> all things that I'm perfectly capable of doing myself.
>
> My concern, however, is that any buyers in the future may be put off
> that I haven't had it serviced by a garage.
>
> My intention was to do the service by the book and keep all the
> receipts for filters/oil etc.
>
> Would this be enough to satisfy a future buyer that the car has been
> properly maintained?
>
> sponix


Depends on the vehicle, my last car a MK4 gti turbo was less than 3yrs old
when purchased, I was sorely dissapointed with the quality of detail paid
tothe car at the 'big' service, when I did go to sell it, I explained to the
purchaser that the in between service is just oil and filter change and
there was no way I was gonna pay VW 140quid, I kept the receipts for the
parts etc even bulbs, my corrado I kept for 8yrs and like another poster
mentions , what I saved on service made up for the loss in not having the
FSH, besides that buyers nowadays are well tight, fortunately I sold the MK4
to the 1st buyer that saw the vehicle in the flesh.