Viewing car - Missing service book but loads of history

Hades

Hades

Hades

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I'll be viewing a car this weekend. However the owner has been upfront about the service boook being missing prior to him buying it several years ago. He does, however, have a vast amount of history to verify service history and mileage (old MOT's, service bills, etc). I also assume that I can check some of the history with the garages and Audi themselves.

The car is £8.5k, 11 years old and an unusual model variant; only 800 made of this particular type which are now just starting to creep up in value. So it's not like there are thousands available to choose from. If I find the car is not the right condition or the supporting history does not add up then I would have course walk away (I long ago stopped buying with my heart and although I have to love a car my head always has the final say). I'd be keeping it for at least 5+ years (probably longer as I tend to keep cars a long time).

Would the loss of a service book be a deal breaker to you (it does put me off a little but I can't really explain why)? Would you expect the price to be adjusted accordingly and by how much?

Thank you.
 
I bought my Clio 200 with no service history but it was low mileage (42k in 6yrs). I just requested a full service with all belts/filters doing in the asking price which I was happy with as it's around £600-700 worth of work.
 
The lack of a service book wouldn't bother me in the slightest in this day and age of computerised service logging. I would go through the receipts carefully though.
I lost the service book for my S2000 for ages until I finally found it just before sale. I popped in to Honda, had them pull the service records on their systems, and then they stamped up the book for me.
 
Lumeycom said:
Surely if it was dealer services copies of the invoices can be sourced?
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Yes apparently he has the original invoices and in some cases copies of the invoices.

Rilot said:
The lack of a service book wouldn't bother me in the slightest in this day and age of computerised service logging. I would go through the receipts carefully though.
I lost the service book for my S2000 for ages until I finally found it just before sale. I popped in to Honda, had them pull the service records on their systems, and then they stamped up the book for me.
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Thank you.

muon said:
£8.5k on something that is 11 years old and creeping up in value?
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TT mk1 Quattro Sport 240. I've been watching them a few years and they have stopped falling and low mileage examples seem to have crept up slightly. Standard TT's still have a long way to go down but QS 240's seem to have flatlined at least. But they must be low mileage, with the OEM alcantara recaro's, etc. Not actually bothered if they go up at all. It just means they fall into my rule of not buying a quickly depreciating asset.
 
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My last car had a missing service book. However it had receipts and mot certification for every year. This to me is more useful than a stamp.
 
delta0 said:
My last car had a missing service book. However it had receipts and mot certification for every year. This to me is more useful than a stamp.
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Agree. I usually look for supporting docs as well as the FSH. My Corrado has two folders full of just about everything going back to the original bill of sale in 1994.

andicole0 said:
Audi dealer history can usually be recalled at Audi with the key.
Andi.
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Yes true. I will call them tomorrow although I think more recent services were at a specialist (I will obviously call them too). Thanks
 
If Audi could verify the services completed by them and you are happy with invoices for other services/work I don't see it as a huge issue, you should be able to have a partially stamped replacement book ordered if you like
 
I remember seeing those for 6K~ not too long ago... Maybe a year or so. Surely 8.5K is far too much for a MK1 TT of any kind??
 
rodenal said:
If Audi could verify the services completed by them and you are happy with invoices for other services/work I don't see it as a huge issue, you should be able to have a partially stamped replacement book ordered if you like
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Good point about the partial service book. Thanks.

Acme said:
I remember seeing those for 6K~ not too long ago... Maybe a year or so. Surely 8.5K is far too much for a MK1 TT of any kind??
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Indeed. I looked at them about two years ago and similar examples were £6.5k although top end examples were much higher. Now it's rare to see one at that price and if they are then it's high mileage (there are a couple about).

Some are now being advertised at over £12k (far too much in my opinion but it shows where they might be going). Not looking to buy for a profit but always liked them (used to have a standard one) and just tempted to try one again if I can do it without fear of a big loss over a few years aside from servicing and maintenance - insurance is really cheap for me on them and tax falls into the old bracket of £290 so not huge either). Mind you I fell off my chair when I looked at the prices some people are advertising similar cars to my Corrado at too now, considering it cost me pennies to buy :)
 
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