This probably isn't the best place to ask this question since there's so many people on here willing to have a go but here goes...

If you were looking to buy a second hand car privately, would the fact that the owner has done some of the maintenance on the car put you off?

The reason I'm asking this is because I'm looking at selling the Fab fairly soon and it's in need of having the cambelt replaced. It currently has full dealer SH but I'm not paying dealer prices for the belt to be done. Spoken to Ali at Unit 18 and he's knocked £100 off what the dealers quoted. However I'm now thinking I could save even more money by doing it myself. However would I then lose money on the sale of the car because it doesn't have proof that a qualified mechanic has done the work? Obviously I'd keep all receipts for the parts and the fact that the car still works and hasn't had the head replaced would give a good indication that I didn't balls it up but what do others think? I've already done brakes and suspension myself so it's already partially DIY'd.

Of all of the service items carried out on a car the cambelt is one I would want to be carried out by a dealer or specialist if I was buying a car. The cost of a cambelt failure far out weigh the cost of a fitting the belt kit.

I can see you don't want to spend a lot of money on the car before you sell it, but the selling price might be better with the paperwork showing the belt has been fitted by a specialist.

Have to agree. Oil changes and stuff like that - it depends on the owner and what sort of impression you get of them. But cambelts and big stuff I would like to see done by a professional.

I'm in a similar boat. My Fabia is coming up to 4 years old, and is due a service soon and a cam belt change at the end of the year. For both its about £600. Prior to getting the Fabia I would always do the servicing myself, and it was only due to the warranty that I went to the dealerships.

I'd quite like to change the car next year, but realistically I think I'm keeping it for the next 3 / 4 year. Thats quite a saving on servicing costs, most likely much greater than the reduced price due to the service book not being stamped. Do people really care on an 8 year old car?

Thing with a cambelt change though is if you get it wrong you know about it straight away... it's not something that's likely to fail after 2-3k. If somethings up it'll go more or less instantly. Plus you're more likely to change all the important bits than the dealer IMO. How many people have had their belts done at a dealer only to have the water pump go a year or so later because it wasn't changed at the same time? (Although to be fair maybe dealers have improved in this area as my local gave me to quotes for the belt change, one with water pump and one without although for a £50 part there was a £100 price difference?!!?)

Edited 7 August, 201015 yr by Schern

it would and has put me off in the past, I prefer a car with a good service history. Big things like cambelt I expect to see invoices for parts and labour to know its been done. Who is to say that the private owner has actually carried out any of the work they say, even parts receipts dont mean that the parts were actually fitted. I could go and buy a cambelt kit, say I fitted it and leave it in the shed.

For an older car, I dont care but for a newer car, say under 5 years old then history is very important and a car without one can be difficult to shift or will command a much lower price negating the savings made in self service.

If buying a car I would like to see Dealer SH for firs 3 or so years minimum and cambelt done on time by a specialist along with any other services by a specialist or dealer..

Mind I had FSSH up till this last service where I did it myself but TBH I an not bothered as I know Ive done it correctly and more carefully than the dealers and I dont intend on selling the car..................EVER lol

Good luck with the sale mate.

Ide get it done properly then if anything goes wrong with it its the mech not you.

Have to agree. Oil changes and stuff like that - it depends on the owner and what sort of impression you get of them. But cambelts and big stuff I would like to see done by a professional.

I'd agree with that as well.

Totally depends on the owner, if you give the impression you know completely what you are taking about then its not a problem.

I live with Lummox.... my car is majorly DIY'd, I'd say mine is more likely to be in good shape because hes done it than a dealers as he constantly diagnoses things as hes driving

I'd be happy with the basics such as oil, filters, bulbs, screenwash and similar being done by the owner as long as it was the right oils.

I'd not be happy with something as major as the cambelt being done though. The owner could tension it up wrong or have it a tiny bit out, or many other things.

I'm not saying a garage can't either, but I'd at least have some confidence.

Personally I think I'd rather just take the price of a cambelt change off the car and let the new owner do it.

Depends on the age of the car. For a 2/3 year old motor I would want to see it done by a dealer but for something older at 7/8 years then I wouldnt be bothered - as long as the car ran OK then that'd do me. My commuting car was DIY'd by its previous owner, as its 10 years old I wasnt bothered about stamps in its service book.

I could go and buy a cambelt kit, say I fitted it and leave it in the shed.

Even better, you could take it back for a refund.

Cam belts are critical and you need tools for setting up the timing and supporting the engine. Trying to improvise without these, not having a ramp and inexperience is a recipe for disaster, plus it will take you alot longer than having it done professionally. Take the parts prices from the original quote and you will be left with the labour, of which this will be the money that you save. If it fails at a later date, would the parts supplier be willing to help with a DIY fit?, or would the garage that fitted it have more leverage with their supplier?

You may be better off adjusting the sale price to take the belt into consideration when negotiating with a prospective buyer.

Thing with a cambelt change though is if you get it wrong you know about it straight away... it's not something that's likely to fail after 2-3k. If somethings up it'll go more or less instantly. Plus you're more likely to change all the important bits than the dealer IMO. How many people have had their belts done at a dealer only to have the water pump go a year or so later because it wasn't changed at the same time? (Although to be fair maybe dealers have improved in this area as my local gave me to quotes for the belt change, one with water pump and one without although for a £50 part there was a £100 price difference?!!?)

I've seen a cambelt fail after 2000k because it wasn't put on properly and was rubbing.

As missus says, depends on who the owner is.

Plenty of people have bought my self serviced cars of me.

As missus says, depends on who the owner is.

Plenty of people have bought my self serviced cars of me.

Haha

But you don't count lol

It's not like your some clown with a jack and big hammer ...............like me

Yes! It would put me right off. Wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. For piece of mind. Never ever buy a modified or tinkered with second hand car. Just don't do it. I got my car off a granny who serviced it in a local garage who I know and gave me the nod. Sorry.

Yes! It would put me right off. Wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. For piece of mind. Never ever buy a modified or tinkered with second hand car. Just don't do it. I got my car off a granny who serviced it in a local garage who I know and gave me the nod. Sorry.

I bought a mint Nova GSi 40k on the clock that belonged to a granny. Had it a couple of months and it spun a main bearing and ruined the crank. A grannied about car aint always the best one to buy.

I have bought several cars of techs and all have been self serviced and modded and have all been just fine.

If you are happy and confident to drive your car after working on it yourself then thats the best peace of mind you can get. If you take it to a dealers who have a couple of brands there how do you know the retard who is Kia trained and has never touched a Skoda before hasnt done your work? There is the same human error if it goes in a garage or not, and you are more likely to take whatever time and care it needs to be perfect at home than some tech in a garage who is working to an effeciency rating whos pay at the end of the month depends on getting things done as quick as possible to hit their targets.

Some interesting points of view on here, main one being get someone to do the cambelt change for me lol. I'm confident to do it but don't want to put off a potential buyer for the sake of saving a few quid so a garage it is then!

Yea TBH I imagine Ally will do you a good deal and if your gonna go inde then unit18's the best place for it

I service my cars myself, but I got the cambelt done at a local independent. I looked at doing it myself but came to the conlusion unless you are trained, and know what you're doing, it's a recipe for disaster.

It's all down to the age of the car, under 5 years, then yes it'd probably need a FMDSH for me. Over that I think most people would probably just make a judgement on you and make a decision to buy on that basis.