Keep full service history or not.

[ChrisGT]

Hi all.

Recently joined the forum and looking for some thoughts...

The car I have bought has a full service history, first service was a main VW dealer and the rest have all been an independent garage.

The car is a mk5 2007 gt tdi 170. I am planning on keeping it for quite a long time as in quite a few years.

My problem is that I'm more than happy to do most servicing and maintenance myself and always keep a thorough record of what has been done and when. I don't want to pay a garage to do something I'm perfectly capable of doing myself. The car is now 9 years old and if I keep it for another 5 or 6 years, by which time it will be over 100k miles, will it really have any effect on the value of the car by then... I just don't think it's going to be worth it as the money spent at a garage to service it will be far more than whatever value the car will keep because of a full record of service history.

Just to be clear, if I do it myself then it will be regularly serviced and everything checked a garage would check or renew so the only difference will be there will be no garage stamp to record that it's been done.

Cheers,

Chris

[Kieran1990gti]

When buying a car I don't care if the book has been stamped. I reckon as long as all receipts are kept of purchases etc oil bought and just write mileage on Receipt when you changed it.

[ChrisGT]

Yeah, that's what I think. Good plan keeping receipts and writing mileage on them as then you have some physical evidence that you at least bought oil... haha. I have a word document that I add everything to for my cars and bikes (separate document for each car and bike obviously) and add whenever I do something example:

15th May 2016 - 61k miles - oil and filter change + brake fluid change

Obviously the word document idea is really just for me to keep track but can be printed off for anyone buying the car that wants a record... only relevant if they believe you've done everything you've written on it though... Could write anything on it... I like to think I'm a trustworthy guy though. 

Chris

[Andy]

Having moved last year,i can't find my service book but have receipts of the work and also can show them my build thread on here to show them

[ChrisGT]

Yeah, another reason I wanted to do a build thread to keep a good record of what's been done 

The guy that had the golf before me didn't have any old receipts for work done other than the service book but I know the guys that work at the garage that has worked on it and know it's had everything it's ever needed so wasn't put off by the lack of evidence.

Chris

[Kieran1990gti]

That's exactly what I had no receipts just stamps and I just phoned the garages and asked for a print out of the the work done ranging back to 2009

[ChrisGT]

Good idea, will give the guys at the garage a shout and see if they'll be able to do that for me.

I like to have good records of things. Just another way to vent my OCD. haha

Chris

[r5gtt]

I didn't get any receipts as I doubt anything was done up to 66500k but book was fully stamped to date. No signs of t belt being done although vw said it was
The mot testing station stamped the last stamp and gave a receipt of full service being carried out Bull**** although they replaced two front wipers head light bulbs brake bulb both side light bulbs and that was it.
Engine oil was still black when I got it home so guessing they lied about the oil change. dsg oil and filter was done as I rechecked it with a fresh filter fitted by my local but that's about it. car runs good, console bushes gear box mount and lower engine mount were perished but other than that it is a good car.

[ChrisGT]

A good example of things being stamped by a garage but not always being done r5gtt.

My thoughts are that it's obvious my car is looked after so would rather do it myself and know it's been done. I always end up cleaning something or replacing something else while I'm doing stuff on the car so it's a good way to get to know the car.

Thanks for the replies people.

I'll go ahead and get some service bits and do it myself 

Chris

[r5gtt]

I'm exactly the same ChrisGT I don't really like anyone touching my car and that's not just mechanically but also literally and called OCD with grubby prints marks on my nice shiny black paint work   

If you do it yourself you know it's done correctly imho with receipts to prove purchase of parts. labour is difficult to prove but as long as the car is well looked aftertered then that's piece of mind 

[ducman77]

I stamp my own book!! I got a little stamp off the internet that is just my initials follwed by "motors" I.E. "DM-motors". Just for the fun of it. I'm obviously not a registered car garage!

Then I fill in whatever I've done to the car. I never use spurious parts. I keep all the reciepts with dates etc, from the Volkswagen parts centre. I never pretend I'm a proper garage and always tell any prospective purchaser or dealer that it's just me that's done the work. I'll give whoevers buying the car (private or trade) my mobile. I'm never shy to chat about the car and exactly what's the truth with the history on it. 

Worked a treat for me so far

[ChrisGT]

  Brilliant idea! Haha!!

Chris