MB Service History Papers

[KMA880]

Hi All,

Have a quick query want to run past you guys.

Recent purchased a 1 owner SL320 1999. Car is in good condition though a lot of the invoice papers missing. Service book shows 4 MB stamps from new and the 2 independent stamps.

I want to get a copy of invoices from the 4 MB Dealers to highlight exactly what was done. Gave one of the dealers a call and they said they would not be able to provide me with the printouts. The reason being the system does not hold records this far back.

Spoke toa friend and he said you can get copies but may need to quote the VIN and chassis number. Can anyone help on how i can recover copies of invoices or paperwork for the first few services.

Thanks
Kash

 

[Doodle]

The above seems to imply that your friend knows more about the records held by a dealer than the dealer themselves (even though I suspect the dealer is giving a standardised answer), which is mildly amusing. There may or may not be any records on the central MB system, but I suspect they won't tell you much more than the information you already have.

I'm also wondering if there's a certain level of data protection coming into play here. The detailed invoices for the work pertain to someone else's account and therefore handing them over could constitute a breach?

 

[bolide]

A lot of the dealers around in 1999 have disappeared or been bought more than once since then. New owners tend to dispose of old records. I doubt you'll have any joy

Nick Froome

 

[R2D2]

I have previously contacted a supplying dealer and been given print outs of the complete history and every invoice with itemised work. I can see the problem being that the records might not go back that far. MB have a system which shows every MB dealer the car has ever been booked into and why it was booked in. You will need the VIN number though.

 

[martyz]

as above,you did not have title to the vehicle when the work was carried out therefore they are not obliged to furnish you with that information.

re Doodles post

 

[Doodle]

MB have a system which shows every MB dealer the car has ever been booked into and why it was booked in. You will need the VIN number though.

How detailed is that information though? The printouts I've seen just say "18k service" or whatnot, i.e. not much more than what's in the service book. It would cover warranty or repair work I guess, but again it wasn't massively detailed.

 

[KMA880]

At present i just have a MB stamp in the service book so anything rather than nothing is good. As for data protection i simply thought they would cut out the previous owners details, address etc etc...

The dealer is Rose & Young, now www.mercedes-benzofredhill.co.uk/....
I was told the VOSA site can give you historical paperwork... Will keep trying...

K

 

[markjay]

It's a long shot, but if you can find-out the names and addresses of the previous owners (you would have the details of the last one on the V5C anyway), then - assuming they are companies or private individuals and not leasing companies - you could write to them and ask if they kept any records or invoices. As said - long shot.

 

[219]

When I bought my W124 ( the one that was subsequently written off in my drive ) from a breakers yard with no history whatsoever , then discovered that it had been a one owner car and that the owner had continued to service it at the supplying dealer right up to trading it in about three months before I bought it , I was directed by the previous owner to MB Glasgow , where I also knew some of the staff anyway , and asked about getting the history printed out .

In my case , I got reams of paperwork , from the original PDI , up to the last service three months earlier : a summary of 17 years and 430,000 miles of servicing , and copies of invoices for just about every job you could imagine , as well as prices charged ( including one for £6500 for a new engine being fitted to a 15 year old car ! ) . The previous owner was MD of a company and all the expenses were just put through the business with the car never wanting for anything . He only traded it in for a new SL on his retrial , and the garage put it out to auction where the breaker bought it , and I was lucky enough to walk in and offer to buy it complete before anyone removed anything

It drove like a new car when I got it , never gave a moments trouble in my 18 months ownership and I was well p*+***d off when that uninsured driver demolished my garden wall and wrote it off .

 

[markjay]

..He only traded it in for a new SL on his retrial ...

Well he had to pay for these layers...


Sorry - could not help it


Retirement, off course. D*** predictive text.

 

[Doodle]

I was told the VOSA site can give you historical paperwork... Will keep trying...

Historical MoTs, yes, for about the last 5-6years. Don't think they hold much else that is publically accessible.

 

[KMA880]

It's a long shot, but if you can find-out the names and addresses of the previous owners (you would have the details of the last one on the V5C anyway), then - assuming they are companies or private individuals and not leasing companies - you could write to them and ask if they kept any records or invoices. As said - long shot.

Last owner died !
Bought it off a private dealer.

 

[jaymanek]

There is a central records office in europe somewhere.. I spoke to milton keynes who gave me their number... They had basic information (from before the IT changes) but nothing detailed.

 

[KMA880]

Cheers

Thanks Jay - Am gonna try the MB Dealer again and speak to someone other than the receptionist...

 

[jaymanek]

dealers are useless... back then the dealers were individual franchises so you need to speak to milton keynes head office and ask for the number of the central records office... IIRC it was in netherlands.

 

[markjay]

Why not just assume that everything needs doing... and give it a good comprehensive service: Engine oil and filter, air filter, fuel filter, spark plugs, brake fluid, coolant and ATF? Will do the car no harm....

 

[Chrishazle]

When I bought my 2001 S203 (one owner, full MB service history) I was missing a couple of service invoices. After much tribulation with MB Brentford and mutterings about Data Protection they eventually agreed to send me prints of the service invoices - with the heading (containing owner's name etc, which I'd given them from the V5!!) cut off.

The story with my 1993 968 cabriolet was similar but different. I could not get the incoices for the first 3 services as Porsche did not keep them electronically. However, the remaining invoices (from the supplying dealer) they printed and sent to me with no fuss or quibble!

The dealer should have access to the invoices and should be able to print them for you, even if he cuts the top part off so he's not giving you the owner's name, address etc!!

 

[jaymanek]

The change of systems was between 2000-2002ish so records after that should just be a matter of the dealer printing it off.

Records for cars up to around 2009 are held on the national database.. although this is a pig of a system and trying to get a MB employee to look on this is like asking them to dunk their heads in a latrine for half an hour.

Most models after 2009, the servicing is held on the DSB (digital service booklet" database which is easier to use and even some of us indies have access. Note that no invoices or repair work is recorded on here.

 

[Sp!ke]

We managed to confirm the mercedes service history on my old stretched W123 which supported its very low mileage.

Only basic info (mileage and service dates) but the info is out there if you are persistant enough.

 

[dan1502]

I contacted the dealer responsible for the majority of servicing for mine. They are willing to provide some information but I think it is just service information and none for additional work. They are not willing to confirm whether or not warranty work has been carried out and if so, what was done. Before releasing any information they want copies of the reg document and id to prove ownership and would blank out any previous owner details on the documents (though I've got most of those already). I've not followed it up yet as I don't anticipate learning much. Despite mine not being due a service yet I've done pretty much everything since buying it anyway (just brake fluid to go which will be done shortly). I would just like to know the history. Edited to add I've printed off the MOT history going back as far as you can online which shows whether there were advisories as well as failures. That's worth doing before buying a car if you can get the details from the owner in advance.