To Service or Not to Service a Car I'm about to Sell

Hi OzB's, my car is due for 60k/5yrs service tomorrow at local dealer, I am planning to sell this once I received the replacement car. I received an email just now that my new car will be delivered on the 6th of August, was not expecting this.

Question, should I consider servicing my old car tomorrow? Or leave it as I will be selling it anyway in few days. If I spend $600-$800 service fee tomorrow, will it boost the sell value or don't bother?

Comments

  • What car is it?

    • Forester Premium 2.5 2019

      • +11

        Won’t make any difference

        • -2

          Agreed
          Let the buyer work it out and dont say anything OP.

          Silence is golden is such cases.

  • +7

    Save your money

  • +2

    Just get the oil done if it's close to 10K since the last oil change.

  • +7

    What would you prefer if you were the purchaser? I'd be inclined to get a cheaper service from Lube Mobile or mycar. Some buyers may opt out if a service is due.

    • I would pay less if a car was serviced with Lube Mobile or mycar. It says the owner has no pride of ownership and ,at best, did the bare minimum. The owner values the service stamp more than maintaining the care. Also says the owner has no technical skills or knowledge, so one should be extra vigilant when buying this vehicle.

      • Ill bet there arent many people with the same standards. If its had an oil change on time the rest can largely work itself out

      • -1

        Also says the owner has no technical skills or knowledge…

        If the seller of a used car has a tonne of car knowledge I’d think he’s a car enthusiast, and pushes the car hard occasionally for kicks and I’d avoid. Maybe he’s a hoon-/Motörhead whatever you wanna call it.

        The car id wanna buy is from your gentle old grandma driver, not sure why, but seems right.

        • The type that drives once every couple of days to the local shops? Hell nah!

          • -1

            @Save 50 Cent: Driving like a grandma refers to slow to accelerate. Your concern is of low kms.

            • +1

              @cloudy: My concern is the car being used for very short trips only. Which is worse for the car than a quick acceleration every now and then.

              • -1

                @Save 50 Cent: You concern is valid, but you association that hoons travel far and grandma drivers drive short is perplexing…

                Can you explain to me how you came to this conclusion?

                • @cloudy: Fairly common stereotypes.

                  Grandma doesnt like driving and therefore doesnt go on long road trips. she drives to bingo on thursday, church on sunday and visits the grandkids every other week.

                  Hoons however love driving so will head off for a 2hr joyride every weekend, head to the local maccas carpark on friday night and drive more than twice per day just because.

                  • -1

                    @Euphemistic: Driving like a grandma doesn’t equal being a grandma. There are plenty of people who hypermile that are not 70+ in age.

                    • @cloudy: Its a stereotype. Its not real. Its just a colloquialism that pretty much everyone takes as the same meaning.

  • +2

    you dont have to service spot on the interval, you can push it slightly.

    I doubt you will see return on your investment of $800bux service in sale price

  • +7

    As a buyer I would like to see it done. If I was deciding between a couple of cars, a recently serviced car would potentially swing my vote.

    will it boost the resell value

    No but it may help you sell. It's a buyers market at the moment so your pricing needs to be sharp and you need a point of difference eg. Serviced last week, 12 months rego etc.

  • +5

    my car is due for 60k/5yrs service

    I am planning to sell this

    Now I know a Forester isn't a Toyota Camry, but I think you need to hand in your OzBargain badge

    Jokes aside;
    - trade in? don't do it
    - private sale? don't do it…yet. If you can sell it quickly (in the next month), then most buyers won't mind too much (just expect a little haggling). If it takes longer to sell, then get a basic oil change done at least.

  • The used car market is slowing at the moment, so the service could be the difference between your car selling before other similarly priced. Take it to a third party to have the service done, not worth the dealer premium pricing if selling.

    • +1

      Slowing? It's taken a massive dump. The prices you see on second hand listings are people thinking it's still 2022 and they will be holding onto them for months or years.

      I've watched a number of listings and they end up selling months later for 10-25% less than the price they had up there usually.

  • This shouldn't even be a question or a debate get it serviced period.

  • +1

    If trading it in don't bother.

  • Why arw ylu still going to thwbdealer?

    If selling privately, go to a non-dealer mechanic and ask them to do an oil change. Itll look better when selling.

    If trading, dont bother.

    • +3

      Why arw ylu still going to thwbdealer?

      Do you need an ambulance?

      • +11

        He's Welsh

        • +2

          Mae hynny'n gwneud synnwyr. Lloniannau

      • Nah. Just fat fingers and really poor autocorrection

  • +3

    someone is paying for the service. either you or the buyer.

    But it's not just the cost, it's the peace of mind for the buyer that it was recently serviced.

    Eg if you're selling the car for $10k and the service is $500, you can't just knock $500 off and call it a day. The buyer is taking a "risk" that there is potentially issues at service so they may want more money off to compensate for that.

    At least that's how I would view it as a buyer.

    The other question is, if you did get it serviced how confident are you that there's no issues?

    Ignorance is bliss etc.

  • +4

    Just do a regular service, oil and filter change at the local mechanic for ~$200.

    • Where did you find mechanic that charges only $200?

      • There are two on the main road in Hurstville, Sydney that charge $180. Others want about $220-$240, but are not getting it from me.

  • +3

    No one cares. Private buy just wants the best price, dealer won't give a sht at all.

    Both really only care about regular services - no one going to penny pinch on the next service due.

  • +1

    Get Uncle Ian to do the service.

  • +1

    If you want the most $ for the car, get an oil change done and that's it. I know if I was viewing a car and it was due for service, it already starts to create doubt in the buyers mind about servicing

    • +4

      and what else has been skipped…..

      • True. It could avoid most people's doubt for $200. Sounds worth it to me.

  • +1

    unless you know there's some noticeable issues, don't bother.

    If i'm buying a second hand car (and i did last year), the first thing i did was book it in for a service

  • Depends on the buyer and the price.

    Will you be supplying a rwc?

    Because if i had to get the rwc id be taking the car to my local mechanic who i trust to do my car services.

  • +3

    I wouldn't buy if a service was due and wasn't done.

    • +1

      This, if its due within 2 weeks of the sale date, thats fine ill buy and do my own service. If it was due 2 months ago its a sign it never serviced on time.

  • Hi everyone, just to give everyone an update. I skipped the 60k service and sold the car this week. What I can confirm based on my experience, Majority of the buyers only want to see the logbook and what were done on the last service. Got a good value around $28k+, 24-26k offer via MP/gumtree.

    I ended up with a company called CARS24. They did the inspection virtually, transferred the full funds early this week and car is for pick up tomorrow. Never thought selling car can be this hassle free tbh. I am not affiliated or anything, please do your own research.

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