What would you class as Full Service History?

mattbill

mattbill

mattbill

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Hey guys,

I've recently sold my old Suzuki Swift Sport and I'm now looking at getting a 04 Subaru Impreza WRX. One things I've found on a few potential good cars is that they claim to have a full service history but only have stamps (up-to-date and at set intervals) but no paperwork/invoices to backup what has been done on these service intervals. The intervals where the clutch or cambelt has been stamped but that's about as detailed as it gets. No invoices to show frequent oil changes etc, just stamps.

To me a full service history would consist of every receipt/paperwork for the car, since the start.

Am I being too picky about lack of paperwork or would you think the same?

I know engine history is vital with Impreza's (and other cars too) and these engines should have frequent oil changes to keep it healthy, so without proof of these etc it's making it difficult find a good one. I've potentially ruled out a few that at first glance seem great, until you dig a little deeper in to what history comes with them and all there are is stamps.

Just wondered what you guys thought on this please?

Cheers!

Matt
 
FSH are stamps IMO.

Invoices, receipts, etc are a bonus. (Or a necessity, if it's something special)
 
A fully stamped book = full service history.

A fully stamped book all from the main agents = full <marque of car> service history


Receipts are a bonus and are a nicety only. Many people do not keep them including cars provided through approved schemes/lease companies etc
 
Or in the case of more modern cars, a checkable history through the dealership.

Some cars no longer get "stamps"
 
paradigm said:
Or in the case of more modern cars, a checkable history through the dealership.

Some cars no longer get "stamps"
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Do they no longer come with a book at all? I'd assume you could request one if they do not for when you leave the dealer network for servicing?
 
I ageee with you, mattbill. An FSH is exactly what it says on the tin, a full history of servicing. For anything other than a pretty cheap clunker, a stamped book is an absolute minimum to get me to consider the vehicle, not an FSH.

If nothing else, a sheaf of invoices etc, and if age-appropriate, MOT paperwork, at least reassures you what was done. Stamps are too easy to get and close to meaningless.
 
Jez said:
Do they no longer come with a book at all? I'd assume you could request one if they do not for when you leave the dealer network for servicing?
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My 2064 A3 didn't come with a book. Just a leaflet outlining the major service intervals. All digital now I think.
 
Thanks for the input!

All my previous cars I've made sure to keep all receipts to prove everything has been done, but this doesn't seem to be the norm on newer cars then? (my old cars have all been mid 90s cars).

Would this put you off buying a car like the Impreza? I can't decide what to think about it. It'd more than likely be fine, but when it comes to selling on it might be a problem too?
 
I've only ever been given receipts / paperwork by private sellers. Otherwise just a book with stamps.

Seen a lot of cars advertised as FSH but when you actually look at the details there are gaps.

Edit: When it comes to any older used car I want to see evidence that it's been looked after, unless it's so cheap I don't really care. That means evidence that faults have been dealt with reasonably promptly, decent tyres matched on axles etc, car serviced on time. Have a look at the MOT history. A load of advisories every time isn't a good sign. If someone has been proactive enough to avoid most advisories, that's a reasonably good sign (but still look for good overall history).
 
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When I traded in my '08 Honda with 130k miles at 6 years old, I gave the dealer the fully stamped service history and a folder with all service invoices, tyre and battery replacement, MOT's and other invoices for work carried out during my ownership.

He only accepted the service logbook and said that he was not interested in the other material. So basically I kept it for three months in case of enquiries and then shredded it.
 
^^That's interesting to hear, so dealer wise, they don't care about receipts etc, just stamps.

There do appear to be gaps on this one I've been looking at. For example, no stamps before 24k and a gap between 30k and 50k. Then the gaps between each service are about 11k apart, but this is where the lack of knowledge around the oil changes becomes a worry, as these should be done frequently.

I've asked about oil changes and frequency, so I'll see what he advises and decide from there. Still keen to hear more views on this though, as it's not something I've really come across before as I've only had older cars.

Cheers guys!
 
If it is a main dealer stamp, there should be a computer record of work carried out. I'm not too sure about getting access to these though.

As stated above MOT advisories are useful. I made sure to have an invoice showing the advisory work carried out, following the MOT, for example suspension bush wear etc.

Your gap 30 - 50k sounds a bit wide. What is the normal service interval and how much time interval was that?

My replacement car was another Civic with 6700 miles at 18 months old and that just came with service stamps. It has had two services before 7000 miles but coming up to a service at 19000 miles. Definitely non standard intervals but erring on the good side.
 
Jez said:
Do they no longer come with a book at all? I'd assume you could request one if they do not for when you leave the dealer network for servicing?
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Land Rover have gone all digital history now, and my M135i doesn't have a book any more...all digital.
 
If it gives a service interval for a particular component in the owners manual, or workshop manual, I'd expect to see every single one stamped by the registered business who did it at the appropriate time/mileages.

But then, so long as the thing works and is in good nick, I don't really care about FSH or not.
 
The car does look to be in great shape, but no knowing when it has had it's oil changed is massively off putting.

Might have to keep on searching.

nkata said:
If it is a main dealer stamp, there should be a computer record of work carried out. I'm not too sure about getting access to these though.

As stated above MOT advisories are useful. I made sure to have an invoice showing the advisory work carried out, following the MOT, for example suspension bush wear etc.

Your gap 30 - 50k sounds a bit wide. What is the normal service interval and how much time interval was that?

My replacement car was another Civic with 6700 miles at 18 months old and that just came with service stamps. It has had two services before 7000 miles but coming up to a service at 19000 miles. Definitely non standard intervals but erring on the good side.
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That's another thing, I'm not sure if there are previous MOT certificates either.

From what I can see there should have been a service around 40k, but this looks to have been missed. I'll query that along with the oil changes too.
 
stamps mean nothing, i bet every impreza owner has a m8 who knows a guy who can get it stamped. Invoices, receipts and other paperwork is much much better.
 
mattbill said:
The car does look to be in great shape, but no knowing when it has had it's oil changed is massively off putting.

Might have to keep on searching.



That's another thing, I'm not sure if there are previous MOT certificates either.

From what I can see there should have been a service around 40k, but this looks to have been missed. I'll query that along with the oil changes too.
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Wouldn't worry about previous MOT's, you can do an MOT history check and it will give you all the MOT's, refusals, reasons for refusal and advisories. Along with mileage at each MOT. It's invaluable, and I no longer buy a car without doing this first.

FSH is nice to have, for sure. And on a car like a Scooby, I would insist on it. But I wouldn't expect a folder full of receipts. A fully stamped book, at correct intervals is fine for me. Receipts are a bonus, and may well help in selling the vehicle on though.

But for run of the mill cars, I don't mind so much. Personally, when a car goes over 100k I generally start to do my own servicing, at which point I will keep the receipts, and write in the book myself what was done, at what mileage and when. But I don't really expect others to do that either. I also wouldn't class that as a full service history either. Complete maybe, but not full. The only exception to this is when a car requires a timing belt. That is beyond my skill level, so I put it in a garage for that, and expect the book stamped and receipt kept.

For example, I am about to buy a car for commuting only, it will likely do 20k+ per year. It will more than likely have over 100k on it when I buy it, and I will do an oil + filter change every 6,000 miles or so and change the filters and stuff at 6 month intervals. The rest of the servicing, like brake fluids and stuff will just be at normal intervals. But this will all be logged in a spreadsheet, written in the book until there is no room left, and printed out if the car is still standing when I finish with it. I doubt many others would do this, but I would imagine anyone looking at a car with over 200k on it would be vary much appreciative of this data.



TDLR. Run of the mill cars, FSH isn't so necessary. Special cars insist on it. Receipts and stuff = bonus.
 
Jumper118 said:
stamps mean nothing, i bet every impreza owner has a m8 who knows a guy who can get it stamped. Invoices, receipts and other paperwork is much much better.
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They do if they're traceable and verifiable. Any reputable, well organised garage should be able to tell you if a particular car was in for a service when the stamp said it was.
 
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