Service History

mehuk · 22 Jun 2010 at 08:40

How much does not having a full service history affect trading in a car as part ex. for another car?

ie. this car was due a service about 2k miles ago, it has passed an MOT since so is not falling to bits.... but obviously the book is not up to date.

Would a dealer taking this as part ex request that the service is done? Not take the car as a part ex. at all, or just deduct £x from the trade in value to cover what they id assume do to get the service in the book?

I know this is subjective per car potentially (top end stuff needs an immaculate book) but this is a run of the mile 4/5 year old 4 door.

Mr^B · 22 Jun 2010 at 08:58

For a car with no service history, I'd start haggling at 40% below what the price was - even if it was low to begin with.

The dealer will probably give you an appalling price and then simply get the service done. So why not get the service done yourself, it's only 2k past the mileage? If it's a standard 4/5 door car how much would that cost? £100?

mehuk · 22 Jun 2010 at 10:08

It has a complete history upto the last one.... the problem is the brakes are on their last legs and ive been quoted about £250 to get them done. Now they have around 6 month life or so, so if I get a service done im sure that these will be picked up and 'serviced' at the same time? (I havent a clue how services work).

If the dealer said, he'd give me £500 less then I would be OK with that... but if as you suggest that he would shave off a couple of K'... then getting the work done seems more viable.

LiE · 22 Jun 2010 at 10:10

That's not how a service works. If they see your brakes need doing, they will suggest you get them done, but you aren't obliged to say yes.

mehuk · 22 Jun 2010 at 10:47

Really? Well thats ideal then, ill chuck it into Kwik Fit at some point just to get my stamp

[TW]Fox · 22 Jun 2010 at 11:03

mehuk said:
Really? Well thats ideal then, ill chuck it into Kwik Fit at some point just to get my stamp

Depending on the car this might be even worse. What car is it? Why not just get it done properly?

mehuk · 22 Jun 2010 at 11:23

[TW]Fox;16801001 said:
Depending on the car this might be even worse. What car is it? Why not just get it done properly?

Its my Citroen C4 VTR so just your run of the mill car.

Ive a real bad attitude towards it, since im going to be throwing it into a dealer for a new car, spending money on it that i wont get back does not thrill me.

But if as mentioned that i could lose more in value than i would spend on getting it serviced, it may as well go in.