I suggest you need to discuss EXACTLY what work has been done, and for all that work to be verified in writing.

Unfortunately, your annual mileage just doesn't appear to be suitable for a modern diesel engine car, with all the emissions control equipment that is built into it. You WILL get DPF problems or engine oil dilution problems - and no warranty will cover you against those.

I know it means taking a hit, but if the work has all been done and you've got it verified, then it might be time to get rid of it and getting something petrol / hybrid based.

Only from reading your message have I investigated the possible issues with DPF. I've had the car for 8 months and am not aware of any issues with the car until this recent spate (interestingly the DPF light came on a week after the other lights). I do tend to drive shorter distances, with a longer run once a week. Economy was a factor, but having driven a 2.0 petrol Mazda 3 hire car, the difference, performance wise, with the diesel was immediately obvious. I take your point, and will bear this in mind in the future.

I have just taken a call from Stoneacre, they have managed to track down a service history which looks to be annual - rather than mileage based. Services done at 20,000 and 32,000 - with the extra one done by them at 37,000. I am now more comfortable about keeping the car, but need to contact Mazda to understand whether the manufacturers warranty will be honoured. I know they have fixed a couple of issues with it this time, so need to understand why they agreed to that, given they had seen no evidence of a service history.

Another question is around whether I can claim back costs. £166 for a hire car for a week, followed by 12 days insurance at £7 a day for the car from Stoneacre. If the service history had been available, Mazda could have fixed all the issues and I would had had a courtesy car from them at no cost.

You'd only have had a loan car if they'd had one available. In addition, a lot of main agents these days are charging £10 per day insurance/admin charge for loan cars.

Hate to say it, but you want main agent levels of service, go buy a car from a main agent. You bought from Stoneacre for a reason, and that reason was probably price. "Cheap for a reason", as the saying goes.

Having said all that, you could certainly try to get a contribution to your costs. Hell, if you don't ask, then you don't get. Or, to use another saying, "Shy kids don't get sweets".

"Mazda don't supply service books with their cars, it's all held electronically."

True, but the CX5 I bought the other day had a print-out of the service record. I would have thought any serious dealer would do this anyway. (The first car I looked at did not have this and the salesman was suspiciously vague.)

"Hope that CX5 was a petrol btw? Nice cars but the diesels are trouble sadly. The petrol is pretty bombproof."

Yes, indeed, SLO - I was determined to avoid diesel (not that I cover the mileage to justify it) and also to avoid a small turbo-charged petrol. I loved the 2-litre petrol in my Ford Focus (Mazda engine in all but name) and found it economical if driven gently. Then SWMBO said she liked one of these "higher cars" and I started looking at the CX-5 seriously.

We are highly pleased with the CX-5 so far. It's the Sat Nav model, 14 reg, so top of the range, with a lot of toys I still can't work, and it is in our favourite colour - Soul Red. It's an immaculate ex-Motability car.

Update:

I got my car back. Turns out it was previously owned by Enterprise so they managed to get a print out from them to confirm when the vehicle was serviced. Mazda were then happy to do the work.

I have collected the car and it's running nicely - much better than the tin can Suzuki Celerio I had been given. The finance company are going to see if they can sort out a refund for my out of pocket expenses.

Thanks for all your advice and feedback.