I am having some difficulty getting dealers to advise me of the service history. Cinch have gone as far as telling me to go to the main dealers to check the history of their cars because they have no idea. Im not sure why main dealers would want to help me buy a car from their competitors. Not to mention the fact that that when I have enquired about main dealer's cars they have been vague about service history too. 

I have had some dodgy experiences so far with main dealers too so i really need to view the full service history and the work carried out. How do i do that? It looks like i might have to travel 100 plus miles so i dont want to go and see a car without first seeing the service history and works done including the gear box oil change which a few places havent been able to confirm was done.

So am I reliant on main dealers sending me a copy of the electronic history? is there any means by which I can access the database myself. It looks like I might struggle to get anyone to provide these details without committing to travel to view the car first which would be a waste of time and petrol since I wont buy a car that hasnt been serviced in line with skoda recommendations.

I finally drove a superb iv last week and am sold on the car. Thanks for your help on this

Cinch have done a check anyway using their system and could show you.  Since they are car dealers and are being asked they should tell you what they know.  Hiding anything they know and do not tell when asked catched these morons out.  They wanted to know the history as much as possible before buying it.   Just as a main dealer or Skoda customer services contracted customer services.     So what is the car and age and miles? 

Edited 27 June, 20241 yr by Ootohere

Ps as to serviced in line with Skoda service recommendations.   There are Skoda approved used cars (VW, Audi & SEAT) with FMDSH that have not been serviced to Skoda guidelines, recommendations, schedules or specifications.      Maybe brake fluid not changed or spark plugs or what ever.     If it is a Skoda Superb iV 1.4 TSI then the oil and filter changed are fixed regime.  12 months 9,400 miles.   The DQ400+e DSG is at 40,000 miles.  Spark plugs at 40,000 miles. 

 

Fixed regime, as they recommend what is done.   Not that much...

 

 

Edited 27 June, 20241 yr by Ootohere

10 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Cinch have done a check anyway using their system and could show you.  Since they are car dealers and are being asked they should tell you what they know.  Hiding anything they know and do not tell when asked catched these morons out.  They wanted to know the history as much as possible before buying it.   Just as a main dealer or Skoda customer services contracted customer services.     So what is the car and age and miles? 

HI, 

Yeah i queried that with them and they told me that some of the cars they buy from auction dont have service histories. When i suggested that this was info their customers needed they told me that some customers dont care and that they price cars without a service history accordingly.  Ive just gone to check and I confused with a passat gte (which Im looking at as im struggling to find a superb) This was the case with two of them yesterday one 70 reg with 26+k their was another either passat or superb 20 reg which looks like its gone. Perhaps youll have no view on Passats but id still appreciate help re my original question about how to get the service histories of Superbs

If they say they have no Service History with them and price according then good.

But if the Service History was on line they have the System to look at that, and they will have and have it at their finger tips,

 

Just as a Main Dealer to check the history on the system.

 

Have you got the VIN or just the registration number?    Someone will be along that will help you. 

 

*** The PHEV,s are due Oil & Filter changes annually, / 9,400 (10,000) miles. ***

Edited 27 June, 20241 yr by Ootohere

3 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

If they say they have no Service History with them and price according then good.

But if the Service History was on line they have the System to look at that, and they will have and have it at there finger tips,

 

Just as a Main Dealer to check the history on the system.

 

Have you got the VIN or just the registration number?    Someone will be along that will help you. 

 

*** The PHEV,s are due Oil & Filter changes annually, / 9,400 (10,000) miles. ***

Then they straight up lied because they told me they did not have the system and that I would need to go to a main dealer to find out if THEIR car had a service history. My assumption is that the car was not serviced otherwise they would tell me. I find it hard to believe they would buy a car without a service history, especially one thats not particularly old. I went back and forth with them and was very specific because i couldnt believe what they were telling me, but I had the same experience with two cars and two assistants. I know they have the history of some cars even if a bit vague on the work done from a previous enquiry. I have already lowered my expectation of the experience i will have buying this car to the floor, but it shouldnt be this difficult / seemingly risky to spend 20k on a used car. Heres hoping i can find one soon 

12 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Have you got the VIN or just the registration number?    Someone will be along that will help you. 

Just the reg. can you tell me the significance of the vin. Does that help me with the service history

They have the often buckets of sh!te because they were not serviced as to keep up the Manufacturers warranty hence they got for 'Much Cheapness' 

So you want to know you can purchase a Skoda / VW Used car warranty. 

 

They do sell them to you, only later if ever you need to claim to tell you it is invalid. 

If you have the charm, good looks and brass neck just go into a Skoda Dealership with the reg number and ask them to please print off a "complete record".  But then it might not tell you much as it only really lists services and "maintenance work" that has been listed on the computer system, it may exclude some services either done elsewhere or not done at all.  A "service" now is little more than an annual (or less) change of engine oil and filter and a look see for other chargeable work, it doesn't really cover the engine let alone the the whole car.

 

If you want a Superb have a look at the relevant Superb forum and ask if anyone has access to such records (as some do with other model(s)).

 

If Cinch have priced for no service history and this id truly reflected in the asking price then if you get the service history you have benefited on the price - but, without any service history you have to accept that the car might not have ever ben serviced or very little absolute warranty minimal so buyer beware.

 

2 hours ago, nta16 said:

If you have the charm, good looks and brass neck just go into a Skoda Dealership with the reg number and ask them to please print off a "complete record".  But then it might not tell you much as it only really lists services and "maintenance work" that has been listed on the computer system, it may exclude some services either done elsewhere or not done at all.  A "service" now is little more than an annual (or less) change of engine oil and filter and a look see for other chargeable work, it doesn't really cover the engine let alone the the whole car.

 

If you want a Superb have a look at the relevant Superb forum and ask if anyone has access to such records (as some do with other model(s)).

 

If Cinch have priced for no service history and this id truly reflected in the asking price then if you get the service history you have benefited on the price - but, without any service history you have to accept that the car might not have ever ben serviced or very little absolute warranty minimal so buyer beware.

 

Thanks for the info. It does seem that obtaining the complete service history is so hit and miss that it is impracticle as a means of ensuring the quality of a used car. Evenn if I can get the complete print off it doesnt necessarily show every service and or work done. That being the case what is one to do. especially given there arent that many for sale, If i wait for a complete service history I could be waiting for ever.

 

What is one to do? Seriously, tell me. I asked Cinch if i could have the AA do the test drive and inspection and they said no. Im not sure yet how much the AA charge either, but perhaps other dealers will allow it. Is that overkill? 

Service history as it used to be was killed by electronic service records and gdpr. It’s unfortunate but nothing can now be done to get anything detailed about a car such as the one you want from cinch. The dealers of basically all types, franchise, and car supermarkets don’t care as long as there is a minimal history on the online system to satisfy the definition of service history, or say it hasn’t got history and knock a few hundred quid off.

Their view is anything else that could break will be covered by a warranty or will be the buyers bad luck.

As you say Woohah the best you can possibly get is a printout of the basic service history. 

You buy on condition and inspection, road test perhaps, knowledge obtained from places like Briskoda where owners have owned the model and actually used it, in and out of warranty if the model is older enough.  You can say which engine it has and find out if any engine have particular flaws, same for gearbox, suspension etc..  Of course you do need to be a lot more specific with details, if you put the actual car up and who's selling it where sometimes members might even know the car or actually looked at it for sale now or before.

 

Most on here (not me, I'm the opposite, why people buy modern VWs is almost beyond me) will perhaps be biased towards the good elements of the car and marque but there are so many threads and posts here to also find the issues.

 

As I put if you have the VIN some even have access to look up details including perhaps service history.

 

One thing to note is that last year VW UK finally fell in line with VW in the rest of Europe (the world) and admitted the rubber cambelts didn't need changing at 50K-miles/5yrs (to late for me and others).

 

I'd want to plug in a scan tool and see what error codes have been left or are on the vehicle but I expected you might have to do that out of sight of the sales people, it'd be part of any inspection check on a modern car, I'd work them into any negotiations, if negotiations are still available now.

 

To know how good any car is as an example of that model you'd probably need to drive a few others, preferably same engine, gearbox, suspension, age/mileage.  Cinch style buying seem simple poke and hope buying which suits many - but you only have a short time to bounce it back if you've made a mistake.

 

i really appreciate the responses here which have been very helpful, especially as its been ten years since i bought a car and it looks like a lot has changed (ill ask about whether im completely out of date re haggling elsewhere). I will investigate the scanner tool i guess it will be useful after purchase if not before?

 

9 hours ago, Woohah said:

Thanks for the info.

If you PM me the Registration Number I will check if anything is on ERWIN for you.

 

Thanks. AG Falco