Value of a Full Service History

yellowtang11

Hi all,
Looking for a new motor, Mercedes C Class Coupe 68 plate or newer. Going rate for the spec I'm after is between £23.5-£25.5k. I have found one with 22,000 miles on the clock from a dealership but it doesn't have a full service history. The dealership have advised that they can provide an invoice for an 'oil and filter change' service which cost the previous owner £169. Nothing on the Merc Digital Service book.
What is your view? Pay extra for the FSH or grab the bargain from the 'car supermarket' and service from purchase...
I am more on the side of stay away but not sure if being over cautious.
Thanks

Grumpy_chap

You haven't said exactly what specific options you are after, and they can be costly with MB, but the £23k does not look to be an out-and-out bargain compared to these:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009173876733           £18.6k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012157134571           £20.6k

yellowtang11

Sorry I should have been more specific, apologies.

It is the model year 2019, which was the facelift model from August 2018 onwards. It also has the premium pack with digital dash etc.

Nobbie1967

Presumably this means the manufacturers warranty is now invalid? Is it possible to get it back into a manufacturers warranty with an inspection, as this would allay future purchasers concerns. If you might sell in a year or two I’d steer clear as it could be a hassle to shift an expensive newish car without FSH.

frost500

If you are paying £20k+, at the very least it should have Full Main Dealer Service History. It is a complicated piece of modern precision engineering. All it requires is routine servicing. The correct oil, replaced at the correct intervals, is absolutely vital to the engines economy/performance/reliability. If there is no evidence that this has been done, then presume it hasn't. And also presume the oil will be doing nothing now, the engine will be carbonising, the turbo vanes will be sticking, and the emission control systems will start to be clogged soon.

No amount of catch up servicing can put right the "damage" that has already started to occur.

Walk away.

Herzlos

You need to assume that if there's no receipt for it, then it hasn't happened. What should it have had in the 2.5 years since it's been registered? What's the service interval like? It's always possible it's only meant to have been serviced once by now.
I take it it's not a Mercedes franchise?

Homer_home

Chances are it has long life oil in it , which only requires changing every 2 years and given its only 2 years old , not much else if anything will require doing yet

With such a young car it wouldn't bother me that it's missing one stamp in its book

If you like it go for it!

Grumpy_chap

The OP said the car is normally in the price range £23.5k - £25.5k, but I can't see that the OP has said what price the car they've seen is (with 22k miles and the missing service history).  Without that crucial piece of information, no-one can say whether it is good value or otherwise.

yellowtang11

Grumpy_chap said:

The OP said the car is normally in the price range £23.5k - £25.5k, but I can't see that the OP has said what price the car they've seen is (with 22k miles and the missing service history).  Without that crucial piece of information, no-one can say whether it is good value or otherwise.

Ohhhhh goodness, you can see I'm new here. £21k. Thanks for pointing out.

yellowtang11

Homer_home said:

Chances are it has long life oil in it , which only requires changing every 2 years and given its only 2 years old , not much else if anything will require doing yet

With such a young car it wouldn't bother me that it's missing one stamp in its book

If you like it go for it!

Many thanks, going to have a think about it but I'm tempted that's for sure.

yellowtang11

Herzlos said:

You need to assume that if there's no receipt for it, then it hasn't happened. What should it have had in the 2.5 years since it's been registered? What's the service interval like? It's always possible it's only meant to have been serviced once by now.
I take it it's not a Mercedes franchise?

Valid advice. As a previous Mercedes owner I believe it is 10,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first. Unfortunately it's our friends at Evans Halshaw