Service History - onboard computer or service book?

[Mrinsignia]

I am looking at currently buying a BMW M4 that will be 5/6 years old. Some of the sellers I speak to only have the service history on the onboard computer. Are service books no longer stamped and receipts/invoices not given anymore? Is it normal just to have the service history on the onboard computer?

[ScoobyChris]

There is no service book, but every service I’ve had I’ve been given a breakdown and invoice. Whether they would get passed onto subsequent owners is debatable given they have name and address on…

Chris

[myvision]

My BMW which is a 330e not an M4 is 4 years old and i've never been given any paperwork at all.
It s all stored on the hard drive in the car down to the PDI it shows the BMW partner number, date, mileage and work carried out.

[sixor8]

It's been around quite a while for Mercedes. I have a 2009 SLK and that was the first year that you got no service history book. It's not advanced enough that it's recorded on the car (it may be in the ECU but no display is possible), it's all kept at a Mercedes system server.

When I bought it in 2020, I was permitted to run my own service history report on Mercedes Me but some kind of change to GDPR stopped it, it's dealers and specialists only now.

[scot_aln]

Agree above. All recorded on idrive, make sure all the services show as green. An M still has a run in service too? But in addition to idrive I've always had the paper invoice showing exactly what was done too. Its the paper one that records any comments or recommendations. Idrive doesn't have that.

[ZX10R NIN]

As above.

[Luanmapo]

All our cars which have gone back to manufacturers or via bca, we have handed all the paperwork with them to show all dealership maintained.

Every time was told by collection people that it will all be destroyed because of the personal information to previous owner/driver.

We have had bmw/mercs and everything stored on infotainment which they checked prior to going on their way.

No service stamped books since our 2010 vehicle.

[Rob 131 Sport]

scot_aln said:

Agree above. All recorded on idrive, make sure all the services show as green. An M still has a run in service too? But in addition to idrive I've always had the paper invoice showing exactly what was done too. Its the paper one that records any comments or recommendations. Idrive doesn't have that.

+1. I keep nice files of paperwork (including tyres) for the Alfa, BMW, Kawasaki and Mini.