The diminishing importance of service records
06-15-2011, 12:21 PM
#1
Drifting
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The diminishing importance of service records
The post asking if 8 owners is too many got me thinking...
It is an almost knee-jerk reaction to tell prospective buyers they need to get all of the service records for a car, that these are a critical element of pre-purchase research. I don't necessarily disagree with that idea, but...
When I was searching for a 968 a few years back I found that the odds of a (then) 10 year old Porsche that had more than one owner having meticulous and complete service records was small. Now the 968 does not face the dreaded IMS failure fear, but between cam tensioner issues and pinion bearing failures there were definitely some potentially expensive maintenance issues a buyer needed to look out for. The car I eventually purchased came with records from the current owner going back three or four years, but nothing before that when the car was sold used by a Porsche dealer. After some consideration, and a PPI, I was fine with that and the car was a winner.
As the 996 series ages the expectation that a used one will come with a big folder of records going back to the bill of lading that delivered the new car to the dealership (actually had that for my 944S2!) becomes a bit unreasonable. The newest 996 is nearing 6 years and the oldest nearly 11. If you throw in cars that were sold CPO, at some point it gets even tougher as the dealers usually toss any previous paperwork.
With this in mind, rather than the suggestion that a buyer find a car with complete service records, shouldn't the more reasonable advice be to find a car with detailed records from the current owner or the past few years and combine that knowledge with the results from a thorought PPI?
It is an almost knee-jerk reaction to tell prospective buyers they need to get all of the service records for a car, that these are a critical element of pre-purchase research. I don't necessarily disagree with that idea, but...
When I was searching for a 968 a few years back I found that the odds of a (then) 10 year old Porsche that had more than one owner having meticulous and complete service records was small. Now the 968 does not face the dreaded IMS failure fear, but between cam tensioner issues and pinion bearing failures there were definitely some potentially expensive maintenance issues a buyer needed to look out for. The car I eventually purchased came with records from the current owner going back three or four years, but nothing before that when the car was sold used by a Porsche dealer. After some consideration, and a PPI, I was fine with that and the car was a winner.
As the 996 series ages the expectation that a used one will come with a big folder of records going back to the bill of lading that delivered the new car to the dealership (actually had that for my 944S2!) becomes a bit unreasonable. The newest 996 is nearing 6 years and the oldest nearly 11. If you throw in cars that were sold CPO, at some point it gets even tougher as the dealers usually toss any previous paperwork.
With this in mind, rather than the suggestion that a buyer find a car with complete service records, shouldn't the more reasonable advice be to find a car with detailed records from the current owner or the past few years and combine that knowledge with the results from a thorought PPI?
06-15-2011, 12:30 PM
#2
Racer
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My car had no service records from the first owner and only a couple invoices from the second. But I called the dealer they serviced it at and they confirmed what had been done by the previous owner. (Oil changes and tires)
When I purchased the PPI was good and I have done nothing but maintance. I did replace water pump, AOS and IMS upgrade.
My car had no service records from the first owner and only a couple invoices from the second. But I called the dealer they serviced it at and they confirmed what had been done by the previous owner. (Oil changes and tires)
When I purchased the PPI was good and I have done nothing but maintance. I did replace water pump, AOS and IMS upgrade.
06-15-2011, 12:35 PM
#3
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I'd say recent history is more important than complete history. I have everything for my car all the way from the beginning from the window sticker to even the financing papers! But most of it is just an "Oh wow!" for me instead of being important to my sanity.
I'd rather know that the car was taken care of in the past couple of years than what type of oil it used 6 years ago.
I'd rather know that the car was taken care of in the past couple of years than what type of oil it used 6 years ago.
06-15-2011, 12:45 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
good post, if you can back track to the prior shop doing the service you can get the service records. That is one of the few good uses of carfax. I tend to favor local cars since it is easier to backtrack.
06-15-2011, 01:16 PM
#5
Not all cars are the same and driven the same. But the more owners it has, the probability that it was abused by a previous owner is higher.
Last edited by dr_r2r; 06-15-2011 at 04:11 PM.
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^^^^
06-15-2011, 02:42 PM
#9
Not all cars are the same and driven the same. But the more owners it has, the probability that it was abused by a previous owner is higher. Just like your present gf/wife. She might have only one lover or several lovers before you and the probababilty that she had butt sex is higher with the more sexual partners she's had 
I'm going to my car right now to check its tailpipe.
06-15-2011, 05:15 PM
#11
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06-16-2011, 09:01 PM
#15
Agree - service records do not tell the whole story - but nice to have if available.
When I bought my 911 - carfax actually had a lot of the service stuff listed - so at least you can see the p.o. was taking care of the car - the second owner had some more recent stuff as well - so gives you one more datapoint
I purchased a used BMW from a delaer for my daughter - one owner - serviced at the same shop - they had all the records- which showed all the stuff that normally fails at that age like waterpump) had been taken care of - nice to know ...
When I bought my 911 - carfax actually had a lot of the service stuff listed - so at least you can see the p.o. was taking care of the car - the second owner had some more recent stuff as well - so gives you one more datapoint
I purchased a used BMW from a delaer for my daughter - one owner - serviced at the same shop - they had all the records- which showed all the stuff that normally fails at that age like waterpump) had been taken care of - nice to know ...