New Car, No Service Record / Log Book

A

andymow

New Member
Messages
18
Hi All, new to the forum but it looks packed with useful threads :thumb3: really impressed.

I put a small deposit down on a 2008 QP on the basis that he'd get a logbook off the owner (it was missing). Lots of receipts, new clutch and brakes 6k miles ago, but he assured me it had a full service history and although a service wasnt due, he'd get an oil change and any niggles sorted.

Turns out the owner has lost the service log book (or he knew all along and was hoping he could get rid of it anyway).

I spoke to Maidstone Maserati and they say that all service dates and mileages should be stored on the ECU. A new service log book is a tenner.
Based on this, and the fact that it will only have 4-5 services, I reckon it might still be a safe bet after all. I could theoretically send the old book to the place it was bought and a couple of other garages and get it back up to date.

Im tempted to walk away, but it might just work out. He's offered to get a printout of the ECU service report and we can see what we do from there.

Anyone tried this before? Does it sound like asking for trouble or would this be relatively simple?
 
safrane

safrane

Member
Messages
16,879
ECU service records...not heard that one before.

Better to find out who did the services via Maserati UK. If you call the suppling dealers they may tell you over the phone but DPA will be used to limit what they can disclose.

it may only be four services but it still 8 years of history...and if you are asking the question so will others.
 
Mr K

Mr K

Member
Messages
321
You can re-create the service record a you say, but you need to be suspicious about why it's missing. Maserati owners tend to look after their cars and service histories; the document adds value. However, a small dealer may calculate that reducing the displayed mileage may add more value than the SH does.

So, how do you go about verifying the mileage?

You can check the mileage at MoTs for free by entering its reg at totalcarcheck.co.uk.

You can phone up dealers in the Maserati network with the VIN (regnos change a lot on these cars) and ask to verify the SH. They seem to be able to see if the car's been serviced elsewhere. They tend to be very helpful and if you get any data protection nonsense (had this at one indie) reassure them that you aren't asking for any personal data and that therefore the DPA is not an issue.

Good luck - new clutch and brakes are real plus points. Note that a main dealer can read the ECU and T(ransmission)CU. The TCU stores a value of estimated clutch wear as a percentage, so you can get the recent clutch fitting verified to back up the receipt you've seen.

I walked away from a QP not long ago being sold by a small dealer after suspecting it had been clocked. A much better car came along shortly afterwards, so go with your instinct. Ask for your deposit back while you reconsider and you'll get a measure of the dealer!
 
safrane

safrane

Member
Messages
16,879
Take a look at the low miles one advert posted on here yesterday...it sounds far better.
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,164
I would want that history for piece of mind and if you come to sell her then others will expect it and will effect price....As above you can get the history from Maserati........If the dealer has not been truthful about the service book what else have they not told you...

May be worth letting us know the car you are looking at as someone may know it...

As Pete mentioned....This one looks great value from a member....Although two years older and I take it the 2008 car you are looking at is a face lift car maybe.....

http://www.sportsmaserati.com/showthread.php/20630-My-low-mileage-06-QP-for-sale
 
VMSRTI

VMSRTI

Member
Messages
1,704
I personally would want the book. If it can't be supplied, I would wait til another car comes along.
 
Wack61

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,797
safrane said:
Take a look at the low miles one advert posted on here yesterday...it sounds far better.
Click to expand...

There was a 70k car in the same colour advertised 8-9 months ago as a PX at a Ferrari dealer that I was drooling over , this one really is a lovely colour combo , better than the black of the car I was looking at which wasn't that much cheaper than this one.

Brakes are affordable on the 4.2 so the only question is when it last had a clutch
 
A

andymow

New Member
Messages
18
Cheers for all of the replies.

Yes the situation does seem a little shady so I'll be asking the dealer a lot of questions before committing. It was advertised with a full service history and 'all documentation present' so Im entitled to my deposit back if that's not the case. Unfortunately I can't 'share' the autotrader ad as it has expired but here are the details:

**08*** black Qp GT Sport. Tan interior. Sunroof, comfort pack, duoselect. 46k miles. £18995

Mot's all check out fine with mileage shown. Done HPI check, also fine. I saw receipts for clutch and some services and it appears it was bought from Egham Maserati so I'll check with them too. I might be able to track a couple of services from Egham and at least one other from Northumberland. After that it might be a bit difficult but unless I can find dealers for each service recorded on the ecu, it's going to be a worry. It's currently with Kent ferrari getting an oil change and ecu services printout (they think they can access it but I have a feeling only the main dealer can)

I do like the maroon QP mentioned, but my personal preference is for a sport GT and I love the black exterior with a lighter leather interior on this dodgy history one!

I'll get my sherlock holmes hat on and let you know how it goes!
 
dickygrace

dickygrace

www.richardgracecars.co.uk
Messages
7,339
I'll be very interested to find if services are logged on the ECU as it's something I'd never heard of. It would be very helpful in future.
 
A

andymow

New Member
Messages
18
Well I spoke to Maidstone maserati and the date and milage of each service is logged. It doesn't say where or what was done, I guess it just records the service timer reset. I'll let you know what happens with the service log printout (if it happens).
 
highlander

highlander

Member
Messages
5,223
I'm quite simplistic over this, unless the history is known (either recorded on the service book or a known "good example" car by forum members) then why risk it? There are similar cars out there with one or both of the later.
 
marios kriticos

marios kriticos

SPONSOR: Autosheild
Messages
256
Guys , every time the service light is reset is stored on ecu of the car and the diagnosis of the dealer that reset it .
Marios
 
safrane

safrane

Member
Messages
16,879
I was thinking it would be that...so not a service history just each reset...how much assurance does that give you?
 
daverichardson

daverichardson

Member
Messages
6,001
Why do you have to do all this work searching, telephoning, checking records etc while the vendor sits on his bum?
Still very suspicious
 
B

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,972
marios kriticos said:
Guys , every time the service light is reset is stored on ecu of the car and the diagnosis of the dealer that reset it .
Marios
Click to expand...

Brilliance, thanks for this, very useful. At least you need the proper machine to reset the light unlike my pair of Audis' that I can reset in ten seconds from the driver's seat. This adds value to Maserati in my mind.

This forum is often over suspicious which does it down at times as not all cars are ringers and it is often hard to find a car with the spec/colour scheme that you want. A stamped service book tells you less than you think as it does not record what is done. Indeed it is very confusing with the two sections, one for mileage servicing and one for time servicing but, say, the 4 year service stamp does not tell you if the 4 year items were done.

To the OP I would say, use it as a negotiating tool to get some money off. Prior to this get the print off referred to and then once you have the car, put the service book back together as, despite its lack of information, it will help resale a bit.

As a note to all of us given the brilliance of this forum - ie we now know when the service light was reset and by whom - insist on such a print out next time your car goes into a specialist or main dealer.
 
Mr K

Mr K

Member
Messages
321
andymow said:
Cheers for all of the replies.

Yes the situation does seem a little shady so I'll be asking the dealer a lot of questions before committing. It was advertised with a full service history and 'all documentation present' so Im entitled to my deposit back if that's not the case. Unfortunately I can't 'share' the autotrader ad as it has expired but here are the details:

WX08DYH black Qp GT Sport. Tan interior. Sunroof, comfort pack, duoselect. 46k miles. £18995

Mot's all check out fine with mileage shown. Done HPI check, also fine. I saw receipts for clutch and some services and it appears it was bought from Egham Maserati so I'll check with them too. I might be able to track a couple of services from Egham and at least one other from Northumberland. After that it might be a bit difficult but unless I can find dealers for each service recorded on the ecu, it's going to be a worry. It's currently with Kent ferrari getting an oil change and ecu services printout (they think they can access it but I have a feeling only the main dealer can)

I do like the maroon QP mentioned, but my personal preference is for a sport GT and I love the black exterior with a lighter leather interior on this dodgy history one!

I'll get my sherlock holmes hat on and let you know how it goes!
Click to expand...

Right, the car is the best QP - Sport GT with Duoselect. Avoids the slushbox, expensive variator issues and expensive brake parts of the Sport GTS and 4.7 models. It's also not going to depreciate much. Clutch and brakes done recently so you're also at a sweet-spot in the car's life, cost-wise.

The mileage is backed up by the MoT history (some odd advisories in there!). I remember seeing this one recently on Autotrader and wondering why the dealer wasn't asking £20-22k like others. So do your homework, get it checked over and you could have a bargain.

One thing to look out for - the Sport GT I had last year had an a/c compressor issue at 45k miles. Eliminate it by checking the compressor kicks in when you press the a/c button (bonnet open, look down the front LH side of the engine). When it kicks in listen for abnormal rumbling noises.

It's odd that the SH is missing. Maybe it's not been serviced in the MD network or worse and the dealer's withholding it in case it puts you off. These cars need the correct oils in the engine and gearbox, so you want someone who knows what they're doing to service it. But then the clutch must have been done by a specialist or main dealer, which indicates the last owner was unlikely to use any old garage to service it.
 
StuartW

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,317
Wack61 said:
yes, if he wants to sell the car why isn't he doing it
Click to expand...

Agreed, he should be doing this but it doesn't make it a dishonest or a poor car. A fully serviced car can still be a dog, by doing all of the leg work to fill in the blanks as well as getting an inspection done, and you could end up with a very nice car. I certainly wouldn't rule it out
 
You must log in or register to reply here.