In the next couple of months my cars going to be due for it's 45,000 mile service. Question is do I get the dealer to do it or do I do it myself?

Reckon the service is going to cost 130 quid minimum which considering it's an oil, oil filter and fuel filter change (plus some visual checks) is a bit hard to swallow. Particularly since I'm eminently qualified to do the job (Quality Assurance engineer for a major Motor manufacturer, speciallising in engine testing and been tinkering with engines since I was 5)

Thing that puts me off it is it means I don't get the dealer stamp in the book (even if I record all the work I do) hence worried if I do come to sell it down the line.

Question is how much does a full dealer service history matter to you? Would it put you off buying even if I could prove all the work was done and to be honest I'm more likely to do a better job than the dealer?

Opinions please

 

I think you should more consider how much would you save doing the servicing yourself compared to how much the car would depreciate if you were not to get a dealers stamp.

TBH if you were planning on keeping the car for a long time and felt competent I would consider doing the servicing myself. Any prospective buyer though will not know how competent you may be and will use this to reduce the asking price for the car.

 

Difficult one!

I always get the Honda stamp in the book. Means nothing value-wise on an old car, but it makes it easier to sell. Reassuring, for some reason.

Actually, I used to service the X-1/9 myself and put my firm's stamp in the book! But I chopped that in against an MX-5, so I dunno whether anyone noticed that it was an accountant's stamp!

 

On the Focus I wouldn't have cared if the service book was hand-written.
However I would say FHSH is essential on the S.
Even though I know it's pretty pointless and as you say you are far better qualified to do the service than the apprentice at the dealers.

 

For what its worth to me Ben is a lot, and I come from a family of fully qualified mechanics

Service history always helps with a sale

When you come to sell your going to want as much as you can for your car ,but incomplete history normally puts off buyers on premium cars

If you want to take out an extended warrenty again Honda will only do this on a FMDSH

You can cut costs down by supplying your own oil,filters etc think we saved

 

 

[QUOTE=MrV,Sep 19 2005, 07:47 PM] When you come to sell your going to want as much as you can for your car ,but incomplete history normally puts off buyers on premium cars


You can cut costs down by supplying your own oil,filters etc think we saved

 

In fact, if you installed the parts too, would that further reduce the charge?

 

I don't disagree with either arguement here but one thing I would like to know is;

Ok supply your own oil as you can get cheaper from Halfords and any/many other motorist centre but what savings can you make on any other parts for a service as surely you would want to fit genuine Honda parts.

Surely the overall service cost would still be the same weather you supply the parts or not, or am I missing something here.

 

Anyone have any idea how much it hurts residuals by not having the full dealer service history?

Always had real beaters up until I started working so always serviced them myself. Only when I was working that I've had new cars and for the Warranty I've had to put them through the dealers.

Costs of doing it myself I guess would be something like 15 quid for oil, 10 quid for an oil filter, something similar for the fuel filter and about 5 quid for a draining can since it'd be cheaper than driving to my parents to pick mine up (based on some old figures, dunno about using OEM kit). Total cost about 40 quid and an hours worth of my time (most of which will be drinking tea and scratching my ar$e whilst the oil drains). Let mr. Honda charge me for the privilage of their mechanic scratching his ar$e and you can probably add 100 quid onto that