Lost service record- Help!

[hunt_the_fox]

Hi fellas, I've got a bit of a problem. I've just bought my 996 and when I looked at the car the seller (indie specialist) showed me the service book- FPSH. When he sold me the car sometime later he gave me a wallet with all the documents in but when I came to open it at home (2 weeks later) I could not find the service book in there.

I called the guy and he said that the book should have been in there, he checked his office and it is not there. I'm sure he's not trying to do me over but I don't have the book and I understand it is v.imp for when I want to sell on.

Taking things as they stand at the moment- ie with a lost book- what can I do? Can I get a replacement?

PS- I am sure that the book he showed me was the book for the car he was selling me- I really don't think that I've been ripped off but I defo don't have the document.

[silver993tt]

you can get a replacement book from Porsche. They can tell you where it was serviced by OPCs and then get the book stamped up and dated accordingly. For any independent services, if those can be traced, they can do the same from their records so not much to worry about as long as you have that basic information.

[hunt_the_fox]

Phew- thanks. Had a bit of a panic- I can now go back to putting my study back together having ripped it apart in my searching efforts.

[sleep envy]

Do you have the service invoices?

IMO they're more important than the stamps

[911wise]

I would keep on at the dealer to find the original book, even if you get a new book it will be a copy book and noted as such. Subsequently anyone buying the car of you will be a bit suspicious I know I would be. I dont expect you to name names a t this point, but are they well known with good reputation if so I'm sure they will do best to help you if not, I would start making noises.

[silver993tt]

911wise said:

I would keep on at the dealer to find the original book, even if you get a new book it will be a copy book and noted as such. Subsequently anyone buying the car of you will be a bit suspicious I know I would be. I dont expect you to name names a t this point, but are they well known with good reputation if so I'm sure they will do best to help you if not, I would start making noises.

Why suspicious? I bought my 993 turbo with a replacement service book. It's a small document that on a car that's 8-10 years old with several owners can easily be mislaid. My replacement book had the stamps including job numbers and mileage from all OPCs and independents involved. It came with no receipts for servicing or repairs. It passed the OPC 111 point check with a list of small things to fix. These were done and so a full Porsche warranty was issued which I subsequently renewed (but nothing ever went wrong).

If the car had come with £000's of receipts I would have suspected the car to be a lemon. Why would the £000's spent to that point stop with me, must be something wrong with the car.

As long as the car is physically in good condition, has a service book (original or replacement) with the official stamps and passes an inspection (or 111 point OPC check) the car is as good as you're going to get, so go for it

[silverS2]

When I got my 944 it had a replacement book, the first half was all put in by the places that did the servicing using their records, and some photocopies , and the rest were from the OPC and specialist, I thought it looked OK so shelled out the cash, months later I was giving it a really goot hoover and noticed the back seat wasn't stuck down properly, when I had a look underneath it there was the original book!, and it was exactly as it was in the replacement.
I suppose if there is a moral to this it's to judge the car (and seller) on their own merits, not just the stamped book.
Andy.

[david911RSR]

In most cases a replacement service book is not an issue however, it is worth digging a little deeper to determine the car is not an Ex Write off or has a doubious service record. In the case of ex write off cars, most have replacement service books epscially the ones that have spent a little time in Ireland loosing their Cat listing !!!

[Henry-F]

I`m not sure Porsche have a magical central record. You`ll sometimes find dealer groups like AFN or Lancaster have linked records between group sites but you may end up calling all the dealerships individually.

Re: replacement books, that`s where a bit of experience comes in handy. You know what the service stamps should look like in a given era and so can spot the wrong un`s. You also know who was around when. Charles Follett for instance seem to have had a very busy service dept given the number of their stamps we see, one often wonders why they ceased trading particularly as their service dept seemed to be still servicing cars (and if you are to believe the service books), stamping the service records long after they closed down!


With recent cars it`s easier as records should all be to hand at the dealers. With older cars it`s a bit harder.

I don`t think a replacement book as such is the nail in a car`s coffin, you just make sure you`re happy with everything. Besides, there were a stack of replacement page 3/4`s available for the old red service books many years ago (and that`s where replacement was stamped), so someone really wanting to do the job properly need not worry if their book had replacement stamped in it.

As ever look at the car and buy the car on it`s individual condition.

Henry

[Vesuvius 996]

Henry-F said:

I`m not sure Porsche have a magical central record. You`ll sometimes find dealer groups like AFN or Lancaster have linked records between group sites but you may end up calling all the dealerships individually.

Re: replacement books, that`s where a bit of experience comes in handy. You know what the service stamps should look like in a given era and so can spot the wrong un`s. You also know who was around when. Charles Follett for instance seem to have had a very busy service dept given the number of their stamps we see, one often wonders why they ceased trading particularly as their service dept seemed to be still servicing cars (and if you are to believe the service books), stamping the service records long after they closed down!


With recent cars it`s easier as records should all be to hand at the dealers. With older cars it`s a bit harder.

I don`t think a replacement book as such is the nail in a car`s coffin, you just make sure you`re happy with everything. Besides, there were a stack of replacement page 3/4`s available for the old red service books many years ago (and that`s where replacement was stamped), so someone really wanting to do the job properly need not worry if their book had replacement stamped in it.

As ever look at the car and buy the car on it`s individual condition.

Henry

[a993lad]

So Foxy, are you going to tell us who the dealer was?

Is there scope for you to have mislaid the book, or do you think it was definitely missing from the pack you were given?

If the latter, then I don't think you should be slogging round the dealerships getting a book stamped. I think the supplying dealer should take responsibility as he failed to supply it.

Good luck

Marc

[911wise]

silver993tt said:

911wise said:

I would keep on at the dealer to find the original book, even if you get a new book it will be a copy book and noted as such. Subsequently anyone buying the car of you will be a bit suspicious I know I would be. I dont expect you to name names a t this point, but are they well known with good reputation if so I'm sure they will do best to help you if not, I would start making noises.

Why suspicious? I bought my 993 turbo with a replacement service book. It's a small document that on a car that's 8-10 years old with several owners can easily be mislaid. My replacement book had the stamps including job numbers and mileage from all OPCs and independents involved. It came with no receipts for servicing or repairs. It passed the OPC 111 point check with a list of small things to fix. These were done and so a full Porsche warranty was issued which I subsequently renewed (but nothing ever went wrong).

If the car had come with £000's of receipts I would have suspected the car to be a lemon. Why would the £000's spent to that point stop with me, must be something wrong with the car.

As long as the car is physically in good condition, has a service book (original or replacement) with the official stamps and passes an inspection (or 111 point OPC check) the car is as good as you're going to get, so go for it

To be honest no service book or a replacement book would set alarm bells ringing with me, especially if there was no receipts either. I understand that this may not result in the buying of a bad car, but when you come to sell on try telling that to someone else.
A few years ago I had a brand new BMW. I only kept the car for 3 months and covered about 3k miles when I part exed the car I also couldn't find the service book. I had to get a replacement book and because the car was not old enough or done enough miles to be serviced the dealer basically did not want to do the deal, as they thought it had been clocked. Only when I got a replacement book and letter of confirmation off BMW did the deal go ahead.
With your points about invoices as Henry points out just because you have a stamped book doesn't always mean its genuine. Its not to hard to have a rubber stamp made, and to find blank service books to buy. Invoices serve as a good back up to a stamped book.
I'm glad you got a good car but I would think that is not the case for a lot of people who are prepared to buy in that fashion, or indeed dont know any different.

[hunt_the_fox]

Thanks for the replies- I really don't think that I have lost the book but I am not 100% so I think that it would be unfair to name the dealer.

I've had a word with the dealer and if it turns up he'll send it onto me- don't need a service for a good long while so guess it should turn up either with me or him. Otherwise I suppose I have to call up all the main dealers and ask them if they've serviced the car- and tell them the 4 different plates it has been registered under!

Last question- where do I get the replacement book from? Do I phone Porsche UK or go into a dealer?

[Vesuvius 996]

hunt_the_fox said:

Thanks for the replies- I really don't think that I have lost the book but I am not 100% so I think that it would be unfair to name the dealer.

I've had a word with the dealer and if it turns up he'll send it onto me- don't need a service for a good long while so guess it should turn up either with me or him. Otherwise I suppose I have to call up all the main dealers and ask them if they've serviced the car- and tell them the 4 different plates it has been registered under!

Last question- where do I get the replacement book from? Do I phone Porsche UK or go into a dealer?

There are plenty on ebay. Which is where the ringers get them!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Genuine-New-Bla

Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Monday 8th January 17:26

[silver993tt]

Vesuvius 996 said:

hunt_the_fox said:

Thanks for the replies- I really don't think that I have lost the book but I am not 100% so I think that it would be unfair to name the dealer.

I've had a word with the dealer and if it turns up he'll send it onto me- don't need a service for a good long while so guess it should turn up either with me or him. Otherwise I suppose I have to call up all the main dealers and ask them if they've serviced the car- and tell them the 4 different plates it has been registered under!

Last question- where do I get the replacement book from? Do I phone Porsche UK or go into a dealer?

There are plenty on ebay. Which is where the ringers get them!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Genuine-New-Bla

Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Monday 8th January 17:26

ah but that's the wrong type of service book for a car of that period. It should have a silver cover. The one on that link is for 996/Boxster and later

[Henry-F]

Don`t buy a book off ebay (certainly not that one) as it may not be the correct one for your car assuming you have a 996. Go to any main dealer and order the correct service book for your car, they change from model to model. It isn`t a problem, you don`t need to buy them "under the counter". By stamping the book replacement Porsche are letting everyone know it wasn`t the book supplied with the car.

Henry

[Vesuvius 996]

Henry-F said:

Don`t buy a book off ebay (certainly not that one) as it may not be the correct one for your car assuming you have a 996. Go to any main dealer and order the correct service book for your car, they change from model to model. It isn`t a problem, you don`t need to buy them "under the counter". By stamping the book replacement Porsche are letting everyone know it wasn`t the book supplied with the car.

Henry

"Er, got any 1999 Service Books... It's errrr......... for a mate..........Not really my thing............ But I need............ I mean HE needs one............

*cough*"

Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Monday 8th January 19:55

[POORCARDEALER]

911wise said:

silver993tt said:

911wise said:

I would keep on at the dealer to find the original book, even if you get a new book it will be a copy book and noted as such. Subsequently anyone buying the car of you will be a bit suspicious I know I would be. I dont expect you to name names a t this point, but are they well known with good reputation if so I'm sure they will do best to help you if not, I would start making noises.

Why suspicious? I bought my 993 turbo with a replacement service book. It's a small document that on a car that's 8-10 years old with several owners can easily be mislaid. My replacement book had the stamps including job numbers and mileage from all OPCs and independents involved. It came with no receipts for servicing or repairs. It passed the OPC 111 point check with a list of small things to fix. These were done and so a full Porsche warranty was issued which I subsequently renewed (but nothing ever went wrong).

If the car had come with £000's of receipts I would have suspected the car to be a lemon. Why would the £000's spent to that point stop with me, must be something wrong with the car.

As long as the car is physically in good condition, has a service book (original or replacement) with the official stamps and passes an inspection (or 111 point OPC check) the car is as good as you're going to get, so go for it

To be honest no service book or a replacement book would set alarm bells ringing with me, especially if there was no receipts either. I understand that this may not result in the buying of a bad car, but when you come to sell on try telling that to someone else.
A few years ago I had a brand new BMW. I only kept the car for 3 months and covered about 3k miles when I part exed the car I also couldn't find the service book. I had to get a replacement book and because the car was not old enough or done enough miles to be serviced the dealer basically did not want to do the deal, as they thought it had been clocked. Only when I got a replacement book and letter of confirmation off BMW did the deal go ahead.
With your points about invoices as Henry points out just because you have a stamped book doesn't always mean its genuine. Its not to hard to have a rubber stamp made, and to find blank service books to buy. Invoices serve as a good back up to a stamped book.
I'm glad you got a good car but I would think that is not the case for a lot of people who are prepared to buy in that fashion, or indeed dont know any different.

However current condition counts for a hell of a lot............if a car is in A1 condition its in A1 condition even without service history.........dont overlook a part history or even a no history car if the contion and of course the price is right.

[Vesuvius 996]

POORCARDEALER said:

911wise said:

silver993tt said:

911wise said:

I would keep on at the dealer to find the original book, even if you get a new book it will be a copy book and noted as such. Subsequently anyone buying the car of you will be a bit suspicious I know I would be. I dont expect you to name names a t this point, but are they well known with good reputation if so I'm sure they will do best to help you if not, I would start making noises.

Why suspicious? I bought my 993 turbo with a replacement service book. It's a small document that on a car that's 8-10 years old with several owners can easily be mislaid. My replacement book had the stamps including job numbers and mileage from all OPCs and independents involved. It came with no receipts for servicing or repairs. It passed the OPC 111 point check with a list of small things to fix. These were done and so a full Porsche warranty was issued which I subsequently renewed (but nothing ever went wrong).

If the car had come with £000's of receipts I would have suspected the car to be a lemon. Why would the £000's spent to that point stop with me, must be something wrong with the car.

As long as the car is physically in good condition, has a service book (original or replacement) with the official stamps and passes an inspection (or 111 point OPC check) the car is as good as you're going to get, so go for it

To be honest no service book or a replacement book would set alarm bells ringing with me, especially if there was no receipts either. I understand that this may not result in the buying of a bad car, but when you come to sell on try telling that to someone else.
A few years ago I had a brand new BMW. I only kept the car for 3 months and covered about 3k miles when I part exed the car I also couldn't find the service book. I had to get a replacement book and because the car was not old enough or done enough miles to be serviced the dealer basically did not want to do the deal, as they thought it had been clocked. Only when I got a replacement book and letter of confirmation off BMW did the deal go ahead.
With your points about invoices as Henry points out just because you have a stamped book doesn't always mean its genuine. Its not to hard to have a rubber stamp made, and to find blank service books to buy. Invoices serve as a good back up to a stamped book.
I'm glad you got a good car but I would think that is not the case for a lot of people who are prepared to buy in that fashion, or indeed dont know any different.

However current condition counts for a hell of a lot............if a car is in A1 condition its in A1 condition even without service history.........dont overlook a part history or even a no history car if the contion and of course the price is right.

Mr M Uggins... COME ON DOWN.....................

Edited by Vesuvius 996 after bottle of Margaux

Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Monday 8th January 20:29

[Vesuvius 996]

*joke*

*JOKE*

Sorry