What constitutes "full service history"?

For me it depends on the car and my knowledge of that type of car. The Z I bought recently has service records up to 2014 (!) and a few random receipts as the owner decided to service himself but didn't write down or keep anything. Alarm bells rung as I'm the type to buy a lever arch folder for my cars and keep receipts for everything - even things such as wheel nuts, plastic fasteners etc.

However, knowing the Z4 like I do, and owning quite a few, after checking the usual pinch points, test driving and then taking for a full Inspection 2 (with fingers crossed), its fine. If I was spending more on a car though, I'd probably be expecting more and would actively look for a car that has been kept by an obsessive enthusiast.
 
as mentioned, most dealers will bin all the previous service stuff and just keep the service book. my boxster just has the service book, fully stamped. so yes, i'd consider that full service history.
 
The only thing the trade are interested in is a fully stamped up service book. Piles of receipts etc won’t stay with the car if you trade it, they’ll go straight in the bin.
 
Rockhopper said:
The only thing the trade are interested in is a fully stamped up service book. Piles of receipts etc won’t stay with the car if you trade it, they’ll go straight in the bin.
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I have bought five cars in the last 24 months (all from dealers), each came with loads of paperwork with names and addresses showing on the invoices.
The E92 Alpina I bought had an A4 ring binder stuffed full of paperwork from when it was new, including the purchase invoice from 2008.

I bought a motorbike in Feb this year, I have an A4 folder of paperwork with that too!

If dealers are 'shredding paperwork' then they are doing it for dodgy reasons. It's really easy to obscure personal details if you want to pander to the GDPR bollox.
 
Dare I say it, GDPR!
Dealers will not be able to pass on documents from the previous owner especially if they have their name and details on the documents.
You can contact BMW who will share with you a redacted copy of the service history they have on the system. Any works completed else where you might struggle.
When buying any car I always check the mot history to see if it failed, what was the failure and if there is a repeat history of advisories. This will give you some indication of the previous owner/s commitment to looking after the vehicle.
 
Both my E89s came only with a fully stamped service book..first from a BMW main dealer, second from a trader..when I asked the trader he said it never arrived with any paperwork…

FWIW the service interval on E89s is woefully inadequate with regard to oil n filter changes anyway..
 
Pondrew said:
Rockhopper said:
The only thing the trade are interested in is a fully stamped up service book. Piles of receipts etc won’t stay with the car if you trade it, they’ll go straight in the bin.
Click to expand...
I have bought five cars in the last 24 months (all from dealers), each came with loads of paperwork with names and addresses showing on the invoices.
The E92 Alpina I bought had an A4 ring binder stuffed full of paperwork from when it was new, including the purchase invoice from 2008.

I bought a motorbike in Feb this year, I have an A4 folder of paperwork with that too!

If dealers are 'shredding paperwork' then they are doing it for dodgy reasons. It's really easy to obscure personal details if you want to pander to the GDPR bollox.
Click to expand...

When I sold my C63 (to trade) they were buzzing that I had a folder full of the invoices in my time, and the previous 3 owners invoices all in chronological order.

I sure felt better seeing it all when I bought it.

Garage asked me if I had any problems with my name being on there and if so could I cross it off. I just left it.

If I am buying a beater then happy with a service book with stamps but something a bit more I want to see some paperwork.

That being said I did buy my e86 with just a service book and the old "GDPR banter" I guess some people it's easier to just keep the invoices if they are trading in and already have a price for the car.
 
Some lengthy replies which I haven't gotten round to reading yet. In my experience FSH doesn't mean anything of the sort particularly when the car gets to its 3rd 4th owner and warranty has expired. To the 3rd 4th owners they're happy to have full service history then just go basics like repair an MOT failure,put the receipt in service history and palm it off as full service history.
 
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