Self-serviced car - what do you keep as service history?

[aturnick54]

Curious as to what people keep to prove servicing when they do the service themselves.

I have a 9 year old Audi. And have just carried out my first oil change on it. Previous history is a mix of independent and dealer, but all logged on the digital service record. I also have invoices for all of this going back to 2021.

What I generally do is keep a spreadsheet with every service carried out, parts used, cost, mileage and date. I also keep a digital copy of the invoices I have for parts, and a folder of these invoices too with dates/mileage written on. For the Audi I've created an Erwin account and added the service to the digital service record myself, and printed out this record to keep with the parts invoices. Does anybody else do this or am I being too OCD?

I think I'd prefer a more comprehensive and maybe OTT service history than one which has gaps and may raise suspicion with future buyers.

[Donbot]

I don't bother. Though my cars and bikes are normally 6+ years old and I tend to keep them for a long time.

I've never found it to be a problem selling things. Explaining what has been done and what needs doing in the next few services seems to satisfy people.

[16v stretch]

I just keep all the parts receipts for the ones old enough to service myself, when I can remember to, I also write the mileage on the receipt.

[Decky_Q]

I keep the parts receipts which have the reg the parts were ordered against printed in it, I write on it date, mileage and what work was done.

I did have a guy come to view a car I was selling and was an arse about it saying it proves nothing, essentially calling me a liar as I showed him various things and I was selling a car with no history so he wasnt paying the price (it was a 10year old civic for £1600) so told him that's fine sorry you wasted both our time and went into my house.

[geeks]

I keeps parts receipts and scribble the mileage on them. With the MOT history and dates on invoices it all sort of tally’s. Which reminds me must service car before weather turns rank!

[aturnick54]

Decky_Q said:

I keep the parts receipts which have the reg the parts were ordered against printed in it, I write on it date, mileage and what work was done.

I did have a guy come to view a car I was selling and was an arse about it saying it proves nothing, essentially calling me a liar as I showed him various things and I was selling a car with no history so he wasnt paying the price (it was a 10year old civic for £1600) so told him that's fine sorry you wasted both our time and went into my house.

Stamps in a service book prove nothing either. But this is what a lot of people seem to be looking for. It's frustrating, but also proves that you're selling to the wrong sort of person. Personally I'd rather sell to someone who sees value in a car being self-serviced and owned by an enthusiast.

[Smint]

Seldom keep receipts for parts, mainly because i buy filters and oils in bulk, all my servicing and most other work i DIY.
I keep receipts for more specialised work if an indy has carried it out, ie Subaru cambelt change.

I keep an A4 sheet of paper, and note on that date mileage parts used and work carried out at the time, have filled 2 A4 sheets for the Landcruiser, its as much for my own records as any future potential buyer.
Its 19 years old now and its condition and the way it runs and drives speaks volumes, to the right buyer, the wrong buyer won't be interested or entertained anyway.
Anyone with some nous can spot a looked after vehicle two minites into checking it over, sometimes a glance at the wheels/tyres/discs/calipers is enough and you walk away.

[Dave.]

Date	Mileage	Carried Out
20/02/2022	22222	Oil & Filter
etc	etc	etc

[Scootersp]

When I do oil changes, I peel off the sticker on the 4/5L bottle and put it on an A4 bit of paper with date and mileage.

An invoice you could argue wasn't absolute proof you used it on that particular car? but a sticker, unless you went round nicking labels off bottles of oil in Halfords, is?

Been known to do similar with cambelt boxes (staple cardboard with part number/label onto A4 again) air filter boxes etc.

[aturnick54]

Dave. said:

=Date=||=Mileage=||=Carried Out=||

20/02/2022	22222	Oil & Filter
etc	etc	etc

As simple as that? Mine looks very complicated in comparison

[aturnick54]

Scootersp said:

When I do oil changes, I peel off the sticker on the 4/5L bottle and put it on an A4 bit of paper with date and mileage.

An invoice you could argue wasn't absolute proof you used it on that particular car? but a sticker, unless you went round nicking labels off bottles of oil in Halfords, is?

Been known to do similar with cambelt boxes (staple cardboard with part number/label onto A4 again) air filter boxes etc.

True. I always take photos of the process. Photos of the new filter, old oil drained etc. just to show that it has actually been done.

On my last car it wasn't an issue at all when I sold it. And they didn't seem bothered at all about the digital spreadsheet I sent them.

I'm not sure whether a more high end car they might expect to see service history from a registered business.

[johnsmith222]

I do the excel spreadsheet record for simplicity, and write the date and milage on any invoices. This can get confusing where I've purchased 4 oil filters at a time though.

I don't worry too much about it. For every potential buyer that's buying a 10 year old audi and expecting dealer stamps, there will be another buyer that will be more than happy with the reciepts.

I'd probably suggest that if someone wants dealer stamps over reciepts you've kept, then they aren't someone you want to sell the car to (this might be different for a supercar though).

[ARHarh]

I just write it in the service book. Make notes on there of any repairs I do between services. The cars are normally 12 to 15 years old by the time I sell them. Most buyers including dealers seem ok with it, but then the value is not great.

[aturnick54]

johnsmith222 said:

I do the excel spreadsheet record for simplicity, and write the date and milage on any invoices. This can get confusing where I've purchased 4 oil filters at a time though.

I don't worry too much about it. For every potential buyer that's buying a 10 year old audi and expecting dealer stamps, there will be another buyer that will be more than happy with the reciepts.

I'd probably suggest that if someone wants dealer stamps over reciepts you've kept, then they aren't someone you want to sell the car to (this might be different for a supercar though).

I agree with your last comment. I'd rather sell my car to an enthusiast than somebody that is only interested in stamps.

I do buy oil filters and 7L of oil each time, so I have the invoices to prove that. However on this occasion the oil filter didn't arrive in time, so I bought a filter elsewhere. I plan to keep the original filter for the next service instead. I guess you can't rely on dates printed on parts invoices, but date/mileage it was carried out.

[(steven)]

I bought my own stamp. Plus I keep the receipts. That said, I only do it on cars which are in shed territory.

[aturnick54]

[quote=(steven)]I bought my own stamp. Plus I keep the receipts. That said, I only do it on cars which are in shed territory.
[/quote]

What do you consider a shed? Even 10 year old cars these days have digital records, so no stamps.

[DamnKraut]

I keep the invoices, track work done in an Excel sheet and note the work performed in the service book with a 'DIY' comment.

[Dave.]

aturnick54 said:

Dave. said:

Date	Mileage	Carried Out
20/02/2022	22222	Oil & Filter
etc	etc	etc

As simple as that? Mine looks very complicated in comparison

That, along with receipts. Traded the last shed in and they didn't even flinch when I said it'd been done DIY, nor did they appreciate the folder of receipts.

[softtop]

not thought about until now, show them your ordering history on eurocarparts or similar.

[DaveCWK]

A nice organised Excel sheet detailing the services to date (as per the digital service record), & further ones listed.
Maybe some receipts as backup.

Most future buyers will be fine with this.