How much more is a car worth if it has been completely serviced throughout its lifetime by the dealer?
I was thinking of using a Bosch-approved garage that was part of the Good Garage Scheme for my next service.
|
Dealer servicing really only makes sense until the warranty runs out, after that you are more likely to get good service and good prices from an independent, particularly if they specialise in your marque.
That said I've seen car collectors drool over the one-owner classic car with all main-dealer service history, but I doubt it upped the value by a lot.
|
|
What I would say is this ... If, when you came to sell, you had full main dealer service history, the car would be worth more - be more attractive but ... you would have forked out more in servicing costs over the years compared to an independent garage, so, the one cancels out the other.
|
Whenever I have traded cars in, I am asked if it has a service history.
I haver never been asked if it is main dealer service.
So I don't think it will add any money to the value, might make it easier to sell though.
|
|
One advantage to sticking with main dealer servicing is if something goes wrong when the car is out of warranty by a few months, should imagine you would have a better chance of getting some of the costs payed as a goodwill gesture. Probably not worth the extra money unless it is a make/model that is prone to major problems at 3- 4 years old eg Corsa's with the snapping camshafts.
Edited by Mookfish on 08/09/2009 at 15:49
|
|
|
|
I'm wondering if a factor to consider is the type of a car. Maybe a full manufacturer's service history is more desireable to potential buyers on something like a used Mercedes (argueably more expensive if they go wrong), than a Ford or Vauxhall?
Without knocking the Ford or Vauxhall, if I were in the market for a Merc and it had been serviced at something like Kwik Fit, I'd be wondering if the owner had scrimped on some areas of ownership. I reckon I'd buy if it was FMBSH followed by a reputable independent at the right intervals, though :)
|
>>> if I were in the market for a Merc and it had been serviced at something like Kwik Fit, I'd be wondering if the owner had scrimped on some areas of ownership<<<
Ah! A quality car like a Merc. BMW Saab etc., etc. there's no way Jose that I would touch one with a Roach pole, if it had been 'got at' by a tyre & exhaust merchant of any shape or discription.
|
|
Do independents generally have the tool to reset the 'service due' dash warnings on modern cars?
|
|
If they specialise in the marque, yes.
|
|
|
|
Ah! A quality car like a Merc. BMW Saab etc. etc. there's no way Jose that I would touch one with a Roach pole if it had been 'got at' by a tyre & exhaust merchant of any shape or discription.
Ditto!! ;)
|
Even more important then the place of service is that any service history without accompanied receipts is as valuable as the cost of buying an empty booklet through ebay.
In addition, if one decides to go independent with VW group PD diesels it is important to have the spec of the oil on the receipt.
DinUK
|
>>>Even more important then the place of service is that any service history without accompanied receipts is as valuable as the cost of buying an empty booklet through ebay.<<<
Reminds me of when I bought a car from my Nephew, it came with a service booklet all filled in nicely which I thought was mighty fine - until I sold the car on to a plod!!!
>>>if one decides to go independent with VW group PD diesels it is important to have the spec of the oil on the receipt.<<<
The problem with independents is that 'with the best will in the world' they may not be aware of info like that, or be informed about manufacturers recalls.
|
Well I bought my Yaris from a Toyota dealership and had a stamped service book but no receipts for anything.
I'll start keeping them when I next have a service.
I guess if I have the service/MOT done before the year of purchase is up, I can get any faults fixed free via the independent through the Toyota warranty?
Not that I expect there to be any!
|
|
Usually Toyota would have their dealers repair any faults under the Toyota warranty, I don't believe they would pay an independent to fix them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To me the imprtant aspect of getting my car serviced at a franchised dealer is knowing that they will have a complete knowledge of my car and will also have direct access to the manufacturer's backup. I'm more interested in how my car is treated while I own it than what effect the servicing regime will have on its resale value. The effect on the resale value is impossible to gauge.
|
Even more important then the place of service is that any service history without accompanied receipts is as valuable as the cost of buying an empty booklet through ebay. >>
If the stamps in the book are from a main dealer, then the servicing record will be on the manufacturer's computer system so I don't see what the receipts will add unless, say, the clutch has been replaced and there's a receipt to say so.
And I think we all know that on occasion what appears on a receipt from a garage doesn't necessarily accurately reflect what happened in the workshop, anyway.
|
After a car is 5 years old, I diy.. Condition is more important than FSH at that age..
Yaris maintenance is easy so far.. Compared to a 106, the design differences are significant and servicing is much easier.. Eg brake pad changes, disk changes, undoing sump oil plugs, Air filter etc..
|
Couldn't DIY but if you know a good independent then it's cheaper and just as effective if they use Toyota parts.
|
|
|
|
Very well put. An excellent summary of the best reasons for going to a dealer.
If you don't care about resale values (and I don't since I intend to get my full use out of the car), then it makes sense to try to ensure that it remains in the best condition possible.
|
So how can you be sure that an independent has done the work properly?
All I can go off is the Bosch website and Good Garage Scheme.
|
|
|
|
|
