Servcing your own car, the ironic truth?

Strider590

I've recently spoken to a few friends who were quite surprised to hear that I service my own cars, they immediately asked about service history and stated they wouldn't buy a car that had been self serviced..... ( Even though i've got receipts up to my eyeballs for service parts, tyre's and other bits and pieces )

If find this quite ironic! firstly because dealerships don't always do the job they're supposed to do (just look at all the complaints) AND because car enthusiasts nearly always service their own cars, especially those who are members of that specific cars owners club!

So would you rather buy a car that had been dealer serviced but owned by a numpty, probably has cheap nasty tyre's and a messed up interior OR a car that had been self serviced by someone who know's that car inside out and has spared no expense on parts and maintenance?

bigjl

I would personally have the car that has been serviced by the owner, with receipts.

The exception would be a three yr old ex fleet car, I want to see dealer stamps on one of those.

I have witnessed all kinds of mistakes by main dealer mechanics, but feel that a competent DIYer can deal with all the usual stuff himself, leaving the big stufff like cambelts or clutches to a garage.

I know plenty of people that buy new, always use main dealers, but don't even know you can have the suspension geometry checked. I get it checked every 10k, always have done, even when I have done 80k a year.

Everybody has different standards when it comes to cars, over the years I appear to have got fussierwhen it comes to maintenance, and also a lot toghter when it comes to spending money.

Though I wouldn't buy a Prius that had never seen a proper garage, too much chance of problems.

djheath

It is a difficult one.

I understand what you are saying. To look at my car you would think it is a battered old Peugoet 406. However, I know that is has had a new Clutch, from a decent brand, new mounts, new cambelt and pump, new brake lines, new brakes, serviced every 6000 miles, fitted with top brand tyres etc, all because I do it. But cosmetically, its dented and ropey and most people think it would proabably fall apart given hald a chance.

I only buy cheap cars which I know I can work on and wouldn't worry too much about the service history.

However, on the other hand, it is a worry what could be done. For example, a guy I work with works on all his cars too. However, I wouldn't trust him with a tin opener! He cuts corners, and when he explains how he fixes things it makes me shudder! For example, using a large nail to hold his alternator on because he lost the bolt whilst changing it. Or when he had a large nail in his tyre but couldn't find the locking wheel nuts, so just kept pumping it up before journerys. It eventually burst on him whilst he was doing 70 on the motorway and he was lucky to not crash or take anyone else out with him.
So, it's horse for courses really! You dont know whether the garage have a done a good job, or if the home mechanic has been building a death trap!

cybergibbons

I think most people get their cars serviced by garages, so you are bound to see a lot of complaints. On the whole though, they probably do an OK job.

Equally, a lot of people who service their own cars are horrifically inept at doing so. Torque wrench? Who needs that? I'll just take a guess. 16mm bolt? Not in my socket set. I'll use the nearest imperial size! Lithium grease? Not got any, I'll just use WD40!

Strider590

cybergibbons wrote: »

Equally, a lot of people who service their own cars are horrifically inept at doing so. Torque wrench? Who needs that? I'll just take a guess. 16mm bolt? Not in my socket set. I'll use the nearest imperial size! Lithium grease? Not got any, I'll just use WD40!

Dealership trainee........ "Oh this car need's 5 litres of oil but the can holds 4 (standard) and I can't be bothered to open a new one for the sake of a litre, i'll pour someone else's used engine into it, they'll never know!"

^^ Seen this happen

The home mechanic generally has to drive the car after he's bodged it, the trainee mechanic doesn't give a flying one

TiTheRev

I think the ratios would favour the Dealer, even with the complaints you get. I'd plump for Dealer history every day, as there are far more cowboys outside of the Motor Trade than in it IMHO.

TiTheRev

Strider590 wrote: »

Dealership........ "Oh this car need's 5 litres of oil but the can holds 4 (standard) and I can't be bothered to open a new one for the sake of a litre, i'll pour someone else's used engine into it, they'll never know!"

^^ Seen this happen

Not in a Dealership i'll bet.

They all use tanks which can measure the delivered quantity of oil to 50ml, and there are very few 'cans' that are only 4ltrs these days unless you've bought something from Halfrauds in a special bottle, useless to all but the inept & uneducated.

MrRedundant

I'd go on age. Less than 5 years dealer serviced; over 5 years any proof of servicing.

esmerobbo

I agree I think a history of the vehicle is more important on a older car! I keep a file on every car I own. Keep every receipt, and make a record of everything that gets done. However I have another car on lease so that goes to the dealer for servicing as it costs me nothing!

Strider590

TiTheRev wrote: »

Not in a Dealership i'll bet.

They all use tanks which can measure the delivered quantity of oil to 50ml, and there are very few 'cans' that are only 4ltrs these days unless you've bought something from Halfrauds in a special bottle, useless to all but the inept & uneducated.

No fair enough, but they hold oil for their specific cars... If they service another make/model, they'll order oil for that car in accordance with the OEM spec. It's just a shame that the conscientious fellow who makes that decision isn't the one who gets his hands dirty.

choc_mouse

If I were to go out and buy a newish car, I'd prefer to see a near full service history.

However, for that special car (probably old car) where you can see the seller has taken real good care of it, the service history wouldn't matter much. I'd like to see if there were any major faults in the past though.

For my current car I actually service it myself. It saves money and I know the condition of the car. It's an old (but sporty) car which still gets me from A to B. The model is becoming extinct anyway so either the car won't sell or it will become high in demand (probably the former).