Buying a car with no service history..

[Republik1980]

I've spotted a nice looking 2004 111s with no service history for sale on a well know auction site (thinly-veiled attempt to protect one's interests failing miserably ), which set me thinking about the benefits and pitfalls of buying such a car..

It's got 3 days left, £9.5k start, no bids. I reckon a similar car with history would be advertised at around £12.5k elsewhere.

So, a few questions if anyone can be arsed to indulge me.. presumably the car would have been serviced at the main dealers for at least the first year of it's life, so am I correct in thinking it would be worth approaching them with the reg in an effort to regain some of it's history?

I suspect the mileage could be verified from MOT records if I could get hold of the appropriate V5 DRN or MOT cert. no. Maybe worth looking at the MOT records and phoning around local Lotus specialists to see if they've carried out any servicing?

I suppose the worst that could happen is that it's not had any servicing for years and the history has been "lost" to hide this fact.. the seller states that it's due a service; perhaps suggesting that it's been bought, run unserviced and punted on.

What would we consider a fair value for such a car? I imagine a C service would be the first port of call so that's £500 and a dollop of inconvenience for starters..

Probably won't view it but will be interested to see what it goes for in the end

[JACK6284]

I wouldn't even bother looking at the car there's plenty around and the 111s is a good car that is fairly cheap to run. "Lost" service history means un-loved and due a service usually means not serviced for years. A "C" service may have a fixed price of around £500 but with no history it could easily end up being twice that. Are the tyres old and cracking too?

Buy a good 111s that will hold its price there will be almost no depreciation at all. S1 Elise 111s are now climbing in value. In my opion the s2 111s will follow in future years.

I have had two before and they are a great car with a simple but effective softtop,Low road tax and >40mpg

[Republik1980]

Thanks - previous research has led me to agree with all the good points of the 111s that you mention

I appreciate all your points.. still tempting though IMO at about £2-3k cheaper than a "proper" one. If it was closer (and my Golf hadn't just split a coolant hose) I'd go and have a poke around - it's probably a proper little box of horrors as you suggest, though

[Russell Mc]

If you plan to keep it for ages, it's sound and a good price then crack on I say

[JACK6284]

I see that it still has no bids. It's "Doom blue" too. There is another 111s with low mileage and some service history in purple for £9,999. Strange to have a new clutch at very low miles though? Lady driver maybe.

[Republik1980]

Russell Mc said:

If you plan to keep it for ages, it's sound and a good price then crack on I say

Ta - I would sort of plan on keeping it for ages (unless the mrs made me sell it for a house deposit), but then I'd be concerned about it's lack of provenance.. I'd be a lot more tempted if I had experience of the marque and could go in eyes-open. This would be the first one I'd looked at so there's a lot of scope to miss things.

In reality there's a lot that could be wrong; esp. if it hasn't been looked after as eluded to by the owner. There's the head gasket (£500), suspension (seems around the mileage it tends to need a "refresh", £1000-1500) tyres (£800) and on top of it all it could be an insurance write-off.. If many of these were true I think it'd struggle to be worth the £9.5k starting price.

I did find a place online that offers to recover lost service history, although how much this costs and how effect if would be I don't know.

JACK6284 said:

I see that it still has no bids. It's "Doom blue" too. There is another 111s with low mileage and some service history in purple for £9,999. Strange to have a new clutch at very low miles though? Lady driver maybe.

lol @ "doom blue" - how did it earn this moniker? Personally I think the colour's right up there with "Titanium Storm" as those I consider most desirable.

I spotted the purple one too - the problem is that it's just a standard 16v; not a 111s. Just like it's also not an Exige VX220 or S1, as the tt seller has stated in the listing title. This, the fact it's been hanging around for a while and the tat that's stuck to it set alarm bells ringing tbh..

Anyway, will keep an eye on "the doom" - perhaps they might re-list it if it doesn't sell. I'd certainly be intrigued to view but at a 240 mile round trip it's a bit of a mission..

[SeanyD]

Personally I'd be very cautious of a 'no service history' elise, on a private sale, so no warranty etc, on fleabay, and getting on for 10 years old. Whilst it could turn out to be a bargain, it could equally turn out to be a money pit.

If you go to see it be very conscious they can easily be made to look stunning with just a bucket of hot soapy water.

[Republik1980]

Absolutely. In the end it sold for £9.5k with one bid.. it will be interesting to see if it surfaces in any enthusiast circles

[bordseye]

I dont attach much importance to "service history" - much more important is the actual condition of the car, its mileage and its age. So many of the components of a modern car are unserviceable anyway, and most routine services therefore are oil and filter changes, a quick look round and for some engines a cam belt change. You cant service the electrical system, the brakes need nothing if they are working other than pad changes and an occasional fluid change. You cant service the interior mor the tub or the grp bodywork.Plus of course there is the issue of wether the work done by the dealers mechanic is up to scratch - I would always prefer a car serviced at home by someone who knows what he's doing

And then there is the issue of service timing. Its a complete nonsense to change oil and filter of a modern engine thats done just 1000 miles since the last change even if it is 12 months ago.

Meet the seller. Listen to what he says. Cross question him and form an opinion of him as well as the car

[jimmyone]

WHY !!!!!!

[Republik1980]

bordseye said:

I dont attach much importance to "service history" - much more important is the actual condition of the car, its mileage and its age. So many of the components of a modern car are unserviceable anyway, and most routine services therefore are oil and filter changes, a quick look round and for some engines a cam belt change. You cant service the electrical system, the brakes need nothing if they are working other than pad changes and an occasional fluid change. You cant service the interior mor the tub or the grp bodywork.Plus of course there is the issue of wether the work done by the dealers mechanic is up to scratch - I would always prefer a car serviced at home by someone who knows what he's doing

And then there is the issue of service timing. Its a complete nonsense to change oil and filter of a modern engine thats done just 1000 miles since the last change even if it is 12 months ago.

Meet the seller. Listen to what he says. Cross question him and form an opinion of him as well as the car

I appreciate your argument, however conversely I attach a lot of significance to oil and filter changes.

I've read that oil degrades over time (as well as thermal cycling and contamination with unburned HCs) which can reduce protection on loaded areas and subsiquently increase wear.. not good for cylinder bores, big end shells, cams, valve guides etc.

Yes, a lack of written record because the owner has fastideously done the work themselves is sometimes acceptable, however the missing history could be covering a multitude of sins..

[simpo555]

It's sold!! Move on!!

[Flipatron]

Nice little profit.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOTUS-ELISE-1-8-2005MY-1...

[Skyedriver]

ad says metallic black, the last one was doom blue...

[Scoop24]

Just to add a different point here, I bought my 54-plate 111r with no service history (32k miles), also off ebay. Understandably i was equally cautious, but went to see the car, and spent quite a lot of time looking over it and driving it. Was happy with the car and purchased it.

Subsequently went through the MOT history (available on-line) to verify the milage, and contacted the garages involveded with MOT's (in this case, services by a Lotus main dealer for the first 7 years), and they confirmed the history or both the car and servicing. Then moved onto the non-lotus garages, and managed to confirm all bar one year. Got a new service book from Lotus, and the main dealer even historicaly stamped it (with details of milage, work done, etc).

So...yes it is a risk, however no 'written' service history does not necessarily mean it's had no servicing, or that it's been neglected. Also, an annual stamp from a garage does not prove it's been well looked after, simply that it's had the oil & filters replaced each year...not necessarily that the the common failures have been addressed (ie, Rad's & fans, tow-eye's, Heater fan modules,) or that it's been well maintained for breaks/copnsumables.

Do your research, buy on condition, factor it into the price...