servicing car your self - stamp in service book?

lmfy2k · 26 Jul 2011 at 14:51

With the price dealers/indies are charging for simple service these days i was thinking about doing an oil/filter change my self but to keep the service history up to date in the service book can you buy a stamp kit?

i would obviously keep all receipts of the parts purchased to back it up.

thoughts?

Hades · 26 Jul 2011 at 14:58

I'm about to go through the same thing. Having just bought a 17 year old car (Corrado) I can't see much point in a dealer/indie service. So I've bought all the parts myself and will be writing my service in the book but clearly marking it as a self service. I will also be putting al lthe recipts into a plastic sleeve and put it in my car folder marked with the service date so it's easy to cross reference by any future buyer.

In my instance I'm going to do a lot more than a regular service (brother is helping replace all the engine mounts, fuel filter, etc, too - I'm working myh way around hte car doing pro-active maintenance). I'm only doing that because of the money I'm saving by self servicing. So the net result is the car will get more done because I'm not getting a garage to do it.

My Golf is 'only' 8 years old and I will still be getting that dealer or indie serviced because I think it will help retain its value and they will also inspect other items on the car.

bledd · 26 Jul 2011 at 15:01

I just keep an excel file of all the work/services done

If I do come to sell it, all the information is in one place, with receipts etc

frying_pan_cat · 26 Jul 2011 at 15:24

Is it worth taking a 10 year old Fiesta to a garage to service or will it not really affect the value if I just do it myself and keep a record?

Bat · 26 Jul 2011 at 15:42

+1 just keep a record of what you do and buy.

Muncher · 26 Jul 2011 at 15:45

I have my own service sheets (identical to the Vauhall ones). I fill them in myself and have photos of most of the work being carried out.

To be honest it's somewhat academic for me as a buyer would know that most of the car is new anyway and if someone has changed the engine twice it doesn't really matter if the last filter was changed 5 years ago.

What I would want to see if I was buying a second hand vehicle that was self serviced was that the owner really knew the car inside out and that all the checking elements were carried out, that all of the checks as well as the fluid changes had been carried out.

lordrobs · 26 Jul 2011 at 16:45

I just fill in the book myself and keep whichever receipts I manage not to lose or throw away

My car is worth bugger all anyway so all it means is that it is now worth bugger all - a few quid

DM · 26 Jul 2011 at 16:48

Get a stamp making kit off Amazon or somewhere if you want to stamp the book.

pepsilol · 26 Jul 2011 at 20:47

Muncher said:
I have my own service sheets (identical to the Vauhall ones). I fill them in myself and have photos of most of the work being carried out.

To be honest it's somewhat academic for me as a buyer would know that most of the car is new anyway and if someone has changed the engine twice it doesn't really matter if the last filter was changed 5 years ago.

What I would want to see if I was buying a second hand vehicle that was self serviced was that the owner really knew the car inside out and that all the checking elements were carried out, that all of the checks as well as the fluid changes had been carried out.

I don't like the idea of self servicing nor do I do it to any of my cars, however I would be perfectly happy and very pleased if I came across the above.