Would you avoid buying a Cali that had been serviced at home?

[thehorse]

My Cali is due it’s 6 year service - I’ve used up the 2 pre-paid services.

I can book it in with the main dealer again or buy an OEM service kit and do it myself for a third of the cost.

On a less valuable car I’d do it myself. I enjoy working on cars, would know it had been done properly and wouldn’t have the hassle of a 1hr round trip to the dealer.

Just wondering if you would be put off buying a home serviced Cali. It’s still worth around £50K, so if I save a few hundred doing it myself but it puts off future buyers then is it a false economy.

I’d intend to make a note in the service book and attach the receipt for the service kit if I did it myself.

Interested in peoples opinions?

 

[Lambeth Cali]

The dealers are terrible. Do it yourself.

 

[Barbara]

My Cali is due it’s 6 year service - I’ve used up the 2 pre-paid services.

I can book it in with the main dealer again or buy an OEM service kit and do it myself for a third of the cost.

On a less valuable car I’d do it myself. I enjoy working on cars, would know it had been done properly and wouldn’t have the hassle of a 1hr round trip to the dealer.

Just wondering if you would be put off buying a home serviced Cali. It’s still worth around £50K, so if I save a few hundred doing it myself but it puts off future buyers then is it a false economy.

I’d intend to make a note in the service book and attach the receipt for the service kit if I did it myself.

Interested in peoples opinions?

We have our van serviced at a local garage there is no requirement to go to a dealer, it should not make a difference but I was at a WW car dealer yesterday and to take my car (hyundai) in part exchange he said they would give more if dealer serviced.

 

[sidepod]

Every vehicle I’ve ever bought second hand, it’s been as much an assessment of the owner as much as the vehicle.
If the vendor strikes me as someone who knows which end of a spanner to hold then I’m happy.

If he’s a muppet telling me his “mate serviced it” then I’d probably walk.

Which are you?

 

[thehorse]

Every vehicle I’ve ever bought second hand, it’s been as much an assessment of the owner as much as the vehicle.
If the vendor strikes me as someone who knows which end of a spanner to hold then I’m happy.

If he’s a muppet telling me his “mate serviced it” then I’d probably walk.

Which are you?

Hopefully not the latter. I’ve got a degree in engineering, so should be able to change the oil.

 

[sidepod]

Just keep the receipts and write out a service note, date time, mileage etc, staple the receipts to it. Done

 

[2into1]

If it was done as you described with records kept, I'd be happier than if it was done by the new apprentice at the dealers. I'd also know which oil you'd used. I always use a premium Miller's product in mine and keep the receipts.

You may face some reduced demand from folk who believe some special 'magic' happens behind VWs fancy doors, but you don't help the world by trying to cater for idiots.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Would avoid, as would likely impact you when you eventually sell given the value of a Cali…people want peace of mind.

I’m sure that we have all known an ‘expert’ home mechanic when growing up….”don’t worry about it, you can just switch the warning light off, there is not much point in paying for the expensive oil..you are selling in soon right?”

 

[Lee.Van.Cleef]

Personally I only look at dealers when looking at uses Calis as at that price point I want some reassurance. If I was looking at a private sale I'd probably prefer the most recent service to have been done professionally, though not necessarily by a main dealer. (We use an independent VW specialist for our vans).

 

[andyinluton]

My Cali is due it’s 6 year service - I’ve used up the 2 pre-paid services.

I can book it in with the main dealer again or buy an OEM service kit and do it myself for a third of the cost.

On a less valuable car I’d do it myself. I enjoy working on cars, would know it had been done properly and wouldn’t have the hassle of a 1hr round trip to the dealer.

Just wondering if you would be put off buying a home serviced Cali. It’s still worth around £50K, so if I save a few hundred doing it myself but it puts off future buyers then is it a false economy.

I’d intend to make a note in the service book and attach the receipt for the service kit if I did it myself.

Interested in peoples opinions?

I would be tempted to just purchase the Allin package, for about the same cost as 2 services you will get 2 services,2 MOTs , 2 years warranty & 2 years European breakdown cover.

Keeps the service history & you only need a small warranty claim to recover your costs.

 

[Betsycalifornia]

I’d ask for the qualifications of the person servicing the vehicle. If they’re a mechanic. Then no problem at all the dealers do as little as possible. A mechanic cares for the vehicle if they own it.

 

[yossarian]

If you can show credible paperwork I'd consider at home servicing to be superior to dealer servicing.

 

[dspuk]

I guess challenge is modern vehicles don’t really lend themselves to a home service. Back in the day I used to be an Army mechanic - and on 80s vehicles did all my own servicing. Good old Haynes in hand, workshop full of tools and very simple engines and vehicles.

Servicing then really was oil changes, check the tappets and make sure everything is greased.

There is a lot more to worry about though as we now have more sealed units, electrical connections everywhere, complex battery and electrical systems. Unfortunately modern maintenance is not just changing oil and filter. So many checks needed, lots to push through the OBD port.

So - the questions. For me it would depend. Everyone who can turn a spanner thinks they can be a mechanic, but there is actually a lot of knowledge and experience needed to be a good one. Even on a series 3 Land Rover

I would always, personally, prefer the servicing be done by a professional. Even older cars. The question would be define professional. If was a very savvy owner with all the tools, a workshop and a lot of knowledge, and an older vehicle, that would be fine for me.

A bloke and some expensive spanners with a Haynes (or factory equivelent), not so sure. It’s been a long time since I was a “professional”, for what the Army training was worth, and while I hobby a few things on our Cali, I’d always defer to an expert (sometimes from members here).

On a T6, I’d be looking for a reputable garage history (VW or VW expert), on a T5, maybe less, T4 and below, less so, but with the caveats above.

It would for sure effect the price I would pay, but if you save enough, they maybe the difference in what you would pay as garage to service vs what you would get back is a sum worth considering.

ps - I’ve said before with regards to servicing there is no legal need to have a VW dealer do it, block exemption means they have to make the parts and manuals available to independent garages, which can reduce costs considerably. I’d also keep in mind any repair or service by a proper garage will be warranted.

 

[dspuk]

I’d ask for the qualifications of the person servicing the vehicle. If they’re a mechanic. Then no problem at all the dealers do as little as possible. A mechanic cares for the vehicle if they own it.

My experience used to be the opposite - most mechanics I knocked about with (my Army muckers) drove the biggest bangers in the unit.

 

[WelshGas]

Hopefully not the latter. I’ve got a degree in engineering, so should be able to change the oil.

But will you have access to the VW diagnostic software for diagnosis/ periodic updates etc?, or equivilent.

 

[flying banana]

I always service mine myself. I drop the oil every 12 months. And use castrol 5 30. As said I keep a note of the miles and do the fuel filter every other service and keep the receipts. If someone wants to dis believe me on sale time,that's up to them,they can walk. I'll save hundreds of pound if not thousands over the years and I know what oil is in the engine

 

[Karlos]

You don't have to be a mechanic to carry out a service. I'm not a mechanic but have always serviced our cars, my last one did 180k before I changed it so must be doing something right. Current car has done 130k. MOT guy always comments on the condition of our cars when I take them in.

 

[Elmo3]

It wouldn’t worry me, just keep all the receipts etc. Mine’s been over serviced by an ex army mechanic. I buy all Bosch filters and LL Castrol oil, he does the work and charges me next to nothing. The best bit is I know it’s been done properly using best quality parts and lubricants. Not sure I’d really trust what some of the smaller garages put in, do they really use the correct spec oils for all the different vehicles which pass through their workshops?

 

[Barbara]

This is a discussion that will go on forever. A lot depends on personal experience. Once you find a garage you are happy in you may be not keen to go to any other. I expect lots of us can quote problems with varies garages. One I really remember was when our less than1 year old car had a personal number plate the main dealer ordered a part under guarantee for the age of the number plate but not the car. Put me off them but others I know go to them are are happy.

Many of us may be able to note good experiences as well such as the quick service I got in a VW dealer in Spain when a warning light came on on the dash board that I did not recognise. Great service but a long way to take my car to them for a service. However my dad used to get his Peugeot serviced in France every year on holiday, taking any right hand drive (UK) parts with him.

I usually keep my cars are a long time so I do not expect how they are serviced to effect any selling price. If I was buying a car not from a dealer I would get it inspected by our local garage of a specialist inspection firm before buying. I think the newer a vehicle is the more likely a buyer would to want a dealer or authorised garage to have done any work on it.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

The thing about servicing a vehicle yourself is that you are not stuck to a time. I would never suggest working on any vehicle if you had no or little experience. Apart from special tools which are normally required for day to day servicing it’s hardly rocket science. If you do everything methodically and use the correct parts and lubricants there’s no reason you shouldn’t do at least as good as or better than the dealership.
Also oil is cheap enough to replace ( In-between) services without going to garage To have it done.

 

[sidepod]

One thing I’m fastidious about is the oil spec. Always use the correct VW spec (507 or whatever it should be) It makes interesting reading the difference between various specs and reasons for them.

With the op’s vehicle we’re only really talking about oil/filters/brakes etc unless it needs a cam belt.

As ever, probably over thinking it!!

 

[BenPcaliman]

Never trust the mainstealer to do the job you pay for. When I started doing my own oil service u found the oil filter stuck fast to the block and clearly hadn't been changed for years. This was on top of many other issues I'd encountered from their work.
Only trust vw specialist garages now to do the work I'm not willing to do.

 

[Pollewop]

Put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer of a secondhand VW California, asking price £45000. At lot of money…
As a buyer I would except nice and solid VW service stamps in the service booklet for each scheduled service interval and I would check the original garage bills, before I would make an offer. If one or more stamps or garage bills would be missing. I would become very suspicious regarding the maintenance. Especially matters like software updates and other improvements are done by a official VW garage. Buying a vehicle with a full service history will make my more secure about the state of the vehicle and I would be willing to pay more for such a vehicle compared to a “self serviced” California. So, imho, if you’re planning to never sell your California “self servicing” may be the thing for you…

 

[Mr B]

Wouldn't buy a secondhand car for such a high price without full service history from dealer.

All documentation is also digitally available from one source for the vehicles life.

Just me though, and seems to make for an easy sale when selling on.

All in one warranty is surely the way to go with the van unless you can't get it for some reason.

My current vans been warrantied by VW for 7 years and I've had my money back plus essentially free servicing and mot from repairs that were covered.

No brainer for me.

 

[happyjames013]

My experience used to be the opposite - most mechanics I knocked about with (my Army muckers) drove the biggest bangers in the unit.

Hence the expression “mechanics’ cars” usually accompanied by an eye roll.