any - Obtaining service history

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Thu 1 Sep 2011 13:02
any - Obtaining service history - Chips with everything

I hold my hands up, I've done a dafty and let my heart rule my head and bought a BMW which is ex lease and previously "owned" by a solicitor for a very good price.

Sounds fine so far.

The dealership promised took my car in part ex and promised to deliver the stamped service book but are unable to get the previous owner to deliver the service history.

This is where it gets messy. I've phoned him too (and he his indeed a solicitor, for what it's worth) but he's keeps reiterating that his account took car of the servicing, which to me seems beyond reasonable expectations of his book keeper.

So I have my new car but with no service history. I've rung BMW UK and they state that it's never been to one of their dealerships which at first I was worried about but apparently it's all services by the lease company in house.

I don't know where to turn now and seem to be running out of options.

My only card in my favour (I think) is that I still have the log book for my part ex, so I don't think it's able to be sold, at least not for full whack?

To be fair the dealership I bought it off have been good in chasing the previous owner but crucially haven't managed to get the service history.

Looking back I should never have bought the car without it, I know that only too well but does anyone have any suggestions?

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Thu 1 Sep 2011 13:39
any - Obtaining service history - Chris M

Did the "very good price" take into account the fact that you have a BMW (a car which needs a main dealer FSH) with no service history? If it did, what are you complaining about. If it didn't, take it back for a full refund or money off in compensation.

Have you tried the lease company?

Edited by Chris M on 01/09/2011 at 13:40

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Thu 1 Sep 2011 13:44
any - Obtaining service history - oldtoffee

>>>promised to deliver the stamped service book

If that is what they promised as part of the sale process then you're within your rights to back out of the contract. Much depends on the precise nature of the promise, written or verbal, by whom and any witnesses.

I'm confused that you've spoken to the owner but the owner should be the lease company so you need to know who that is and then you can contact them for a service history. Sounds abit dodge to me but if its genuine, they'll have all that immediately to hand and be able to print it off for you. More detailed than stamps but not done by a BMW dealer might concern me on a relatively young car. I wouldn't worry about the solicitor not knowing much about the car's service history, a lot of company car owners rely on someone else to sort out everything with the car.

If you're not comfortable with the purchase then get some proper advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau and start the ball rolling to return the car.


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Thu 1 Sep 2011 14:08
any - Obtaining service history - Bobbin Threadbare

If the solicitor leased the car then technically he wasn't the owner; he's just the main driver of the vehicle. The lease company should have the documentation, and as oldtoffee suggests, there should be an electronic record of services.

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Thu 1 Sep 2011 14:31
any - Obtaining service history - Chips with everything

I've just called the lease company and apparently it didn't have a maintenance contract, so no joy there.

For the record the price most certainly didn't reflect the lack of service history as this was promised by the dealer.

As the previous owner was responsible for maintaining the car I will be chasing him up in due course.

Thanks again all.

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Thu 1 Sep 2011 16:57
any - Obtaining service history - NARU

I'd be wary of hassling a solicitor! Especially as he's already told you that his staff sorted that out. As you now know the lease company didn't service it either, I think you should put the onus back onto the company you bought it from - it clearly doesn't have a main dealer service history, so it's not worth as much.

My BMW 330d needed all sorts of minor things fixed during the 4 years/90,000 miles I ran it.

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Thu 1 Sep 2011 23:24
any - Obtaining service history - Collos25

Most lease cars get the very minimum at Quick Fit to comply with the warranty regulations the lease company should have a print out if it was lease with a service contract if not it is like a lot of lease cars it will never have seen the inside of a garage.

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