Buying without a service history

[Yappa Yappa]

Hi, We have a similar issue. 2016 Caravelle was bought by a VW main dealer from a Hire Company in 2021. They did full service etc at.that stage and sold to private buyer. We are now looking to buy. From 2021 onwards the history is good as gold, but. Before then there is nothing. We are pondering on this, but our feeling is that a hire company would be very likely to get vehicle serviced at correct intervals etc, so that's probably ok from service point of view. We haven't yet worked out how we feel about buying an ex hire vehicle!

 

[RobertO2023]

I would be looking closely at the mileage / intervals where known services have been done. Are you able to contact the hire company for any service records? Check on the MOTs to see mileage and advisories. Unless you are mechanically minded I get a full report on the vehicle by the AA or similar including a print out of error codes. At the end of the day you have to be happy before parting with your ££ - it could be a great purchase or time to look elsewhere. Good Luck

 

[Albel]

Hi David
Yes it’s their All-in plan.

Your ‘although not perfect’ implies you’ve used it or got it, what’s your experience?

Depending on whether specialist tools were needed I’d planned on servicing myself but as you say it offers some peace of mind, but then it’s only 3 years old so should be ok anyway!!
Rgds Simon

Just a little note to check if the van already has a service plan is to put your reg into the link for the Vw all in service plan
As it won’t let you go any further if is has one

 

[Drive Wayne]

So @Marsim , after all that kerfuffle are you happy with your purchase?

 

[poortomsacold]

Hello all

So to jump onto this thread I am also looking at buying my first T6 (had a T4 camper some years ago that we loved but outgrew). Have found one we would like to buy privately (a 2016 one with 114k on the clock) and whilst there are a number of receipts for previous work, there's no service history paperwork. I contacted VW who have a record of services being carried out at 17,000 miles (Sept 2017) and then 26,000 miles (Feb 2018), but that's it. The van was converted in late 2021/early 2022 when the current owner bought it. He is going to get copies of invoices for any work and services it has had since he's owned it, but unless he can find evidence of previous services, the service history may be silent from circa 29k miles and maybe 100k. It has recently had it's EPG replaced and a service done at that time, but what could be the missing service history is playing on my mind.

I know that a well serviced car or van can go wrong as much as one that hasn't been regularly serviced, but would this have a big dent on the value?

Thanks!

 

[RobertO2023]

A well serviced vehicle will certainly NOT go wrong as one that the service schedule has been neglected!!
Engine oil, oil filters, gearbox oil / filters, fuel filters, air filters, brake fluid change are essential to prolong the life of major components . If your engine / gearbox has not bee serviced correctly then expect some expensive bills and no warranty claims
As they say “you pays your money. you takes your chance”

 

[poortomsacold]

Thanks for your reply.

I'll see what he can come up with in terms of the gap in the service history.

 

[roadtripper]

There's certainly no requirement to keep up the online service history, but 26,000 miles and 2 years would appear to be within the factory warranty and that's unusually early?

 

[poortomsacold]

There's certainly no requirement to keep up the online service history, but 26,000 miles and 2 years would appear to be within the factory warranty and that's unusually early?

Yeah the services on record are all good. It's the missing 75k of services that is the slight concern!

 

[roadtripper]

Is it a DSG? If there are no records of it's oil changes then be cautious.

 

[poortomsacold]

Is it a DSG? If there are no records of it's oil changes then be cautious.

It's a T30 T-Line TD. So standard 5 speed gearbox.

 

[Jonesy123]

Hi
I’ve just put a deposit on a T6.1 Kombi from a main VW dealer, however just learned there’s no service history with it, or not one that was passed onto them.
The dealer has put it through it’s 1st Mot, and because there’s no service history they’ll do a full service.
The van’s a 150bhp manual with 47k miles and in vgc with 1 previous owner.
I’m looking at taking out their 2 year extended warranty + services for £800.

This will be my first van and not familiar with servicing etc., I will push them to contact the previous owner to get the history but obviously no service history raises many alarms. I’m wondering if I should walk away if its not found or available.

Has anyone here any views?

Thanks
Simon
Ps Happy New Year

Ok. Why do you need full service history? Are you starting a museum? Do you want to sit by the fire and read the kids the service history of the van like a sacred book?
A vehicle is only as good as its last MOT isn't it.

Many vans dont have history but you can do some checks to make sure its kosher.
But ultimately even with a full history youve got no idea what the components are like inside, not really. I mean you can see how its been treated etc and what oil / parts were used in the services....
But nothing guarantees anything.

1) look at the vehicles MOT history online.
2) Have the cambelt/Waterpump done as part of the deal (they can afford to do it...trust me there's plenty of profit in that van for them)
3) Have a VCDS done and be present when they do it. Ask them to fix the issues that flag up as part of the deal.

Thats about all you can do.

Service history is a thing of the past now in my opinion. In the olden days a 'full service history' was prestige, but the vehicles were oil puddling pieces of rusty crap and you had to have some idea of what work had been done to keep it running.
Who cares that a man called 'Paul' from Kent changed the oil filter in 2014?

With modern VW, you need a full service, cambelt and waterpump and run a VCDS to check for error codes. Those are the big 3 in my humble opinion. Everything else is how the van drives.

Think about it like this....you could be the start of the mythical service history chronicles.... people will look back in future generations and say...who was that mysterious man who changed the oil filter and washer bottle in 2024....

It may also be a nice bargaining point price wise.
Dont forget, these days the demand just isn't like it was and buyers have options. The tables have switched to the buyers advantage. So see if you can't use the lack of service history to get a few quid off

 

[roadtripper]

To be fair I don't think many of us care who did it, just that it was done.

Also there is a big difference between your first purchase where you don't know the vehicles at all and your second when you're used to them and know what to look out for.

There is a lot of difference in the health of an engine with a regular oil change Vs being owned by a company that wants to not pay a penny more than purchase and change the oil every 2 years under sufferance just to not break the factory warranty.

Would a lack of evidence of care put me off buying now I know a bit more what to look for, probably not; but it would certainly change the price I was willing to pay for it.

 

[Jonesy123]

To be fair I don't think many of us care who did it, just that it was done.

Also there is a big difference between your first purchase where you don't know the vehicles at all and your second when you're used to them and know what to look out for.

There is a lot of difference in the health of an engine with a regular oil change Vs being owned by a company that wants to not pay a penny more than purchase and change the oil every 2 years under sufferance just to not break the factory warranty.

Would a lack of evidence of care put me off buying now I know a bit more what to look for, probably not; but it would certainly change the price I was willing to pay for it.

Very good point on the price aspect. Could knock a few quid off

 

[Jonesy123]

Hi, We have a similar issue. 2016 Caravelle was bought by a VW main dealer from a Hire Company in 2021. They did full service etc at.that stage and sold to private buyer. We are now looking to buy. From 2021 onwards the history is good as gold, but. Before then there is nothing. We are pondering on this, but our feeling is that a hire company would be very likely to get vehicle serviced at correct intervals etc, so that's probably ok from service point of view. We haven't yet worked out how we feel about buying an ex hire vehicle!

Ex hire vehicles are usually serviced no better than Joe blogs services their own as long as they are safe and road legal they will lend them out. Its about accountability unfortunately not spending money on premium services.
Hire vans tend to have the bollocks thashed off them by the user too....always worth thinking about.

Having said that....I've had vans with 200k on the clock never break down and brand new vans back to the dealer 5 times in 10 months fault after fault.

 

[RobertO2023]

As far as I understand VW extended warranty is only be available if a validated service history is confirmed. After all why would any insurance provider give extended coverage without the knowledge that service intervals have correctly adhered to. As you know there is no requirement for the services to be undertaken by a VW franchised dealer - just that the services have been undertaken in accordance with the manufacturers schedule.

I slightly disagree with Jonesy123 in so far that a complete service history maintains a better value for a vehicle, where as no service history will certainly de value any vehicle. In any event if I was buying any vehicle out of warranty with no service record I would invest in a complete inspection by the likes of the AA, RAC or qualified motor vehicle technician. Common sense would tell you that wouldn’t take chance with your hard earned £££

 

[Dellmassive]

I have full history and paperwork down to the last washer and air freshener.

So when I comes to selling id expect a better sale price Vs a van that has a few bits of paper.

Same goes for if i was buying.... Id expect a paperwork trail.... Without that you can assume that it hasn't been done, and as such I would start dropping the price to allow the possible missing service work to be done.


Sure a recipt from Jon's garage down the road for a oil and filter change in 2022 doesn't constitute a full main dealer service..... But it does show intent that the van has been looked after, and the assumption that the oil and filter had been changed at that point.

 

[DaveD]

In the olden days a 'full service history' was prestige, but the vehicles were oil puddling pieces of rusty crap and you had to have some idea of what work had been done to keep it running.

The engineering principles involved in engine longevity have not changed over the years. An engine that has been serviced as per the manufacturers schedule will almost always outlive an engine that has not, if all other things are equal.

Service history is a thing of the past now in my opinion.

Your opinion on this isn't one that is widely held, the value of a vehicle with a FSH is higher than the same vehicle without for that reason.

 

[Jonesy123]

The engineering principles involved in engine longevity have not changed over the years. An engine that has been serviced as per the manufacturers schedule will almost always outlive an engine that has not, if all other things are equal.

Your opinion on this isn't one that is widely held, the value of a vehicle with a FSH is higher than the same vehicle without for that reason.

Well as a mechanic, dealer, builder and someone who can say they have quarter of a century experience in VW, classic minis and all manner of vehicles ill stand by my statement based on my experience of buying selling and building campers.
Of course engineering principals have changed... have you ever stripped and rebuilt an air-cooled engine from a 1972 T2 vs a T6? I have.. the advances are absolutely huge by comparison as are all things vehicular.
Put the wrong oil in your T6? Whats going to happen? Probably nothing much...we ran a T5 fir a year on Citroen Saxo grade oil.... nothing happened. Its still running now..

but then I've seen fresh off the showroom floor vans in and out of the workshop with issue after issue after issue..

Its subjective, obviously. You may not agree. And that's fine. But try to avoid making sweeping statements that what i said isn't widely held as an opinion, you can't back that up, its just that you don't agree. And frankly you're entitled to your own beliefs and im 100% not getting into a debate with you over it. We don't agree. Move on respectfully

 

[DaveD]

Well as a mechanic, dealer, builder and someone who can say they have quarter of a century experience in VW, classic minis and all manner of vehicles ill stand by my statement based on my experience of buying selling and building campers.
Its subjective, obviously. You may not agree. And that's fine. But try to avoid making sweeping statements that what i said isn't widely held as an opinion, you can't back that up, its just that you don't agree. And frankly you're entitled to your own beliefs. I dont care about your beliefs and im not getting into a debate with you over it. We don't agree. Move on. Keep it to yourself.

Looking at your previous comments, I didn't expect any different from you, of course you know best.