How much will COMPLETE service records add to resale value?

[shertex]

I was glad to find out that the MB dealer who sold and serviced the 1990 190e I recently acquired is willing to produce a COMPLETE set of service records (all 23 years) for the work done on the car. MB will give it to the old owner, the old owner will walk it across the street to me. Needless to say, this will be of help and interest to me during my period of ownership. More importantly, it will be a strong selling point.

Anyone care to put a dollar amount as to how much complete dealer service records would be worth?

[Stretch]

A bit difficult to say 'cos service history records aren't everything but for most cars I'd say between 10% and 20% increase. For some exotic / expensive vehicles it will be way way more. Take a look at the prices for W140s for example. Here in Holland I can get a shed for about 2000 euros but a decent one with documentation will cost closer to 10,000 euros (but then condition plays a big part in the price)

[Jeremy5848]

It also depends on the buyer and his plans for the car. Some care, some don't. For that car you could at least ask another $1000 but be prepared to negotiate. The records allow you to be more firm with whatever price you set.

[Junkman]

I don't care about records unless they indicate major work. A transmission replaced 50,000 mi ago has value if quality is documented. A clean car that has obviously been maintained is worth more than an uncared for car with records.

PO of my 84 SD made big deal about a new master cylinder. Front pads, calipers and hoses were shot. Front shocks were new, rears were shot. Records indicated that he over paid and couldn't ford a complete job.

[ah-kay]

How about $10K?

On the other hand, if you do a PPI then it does not really matter. My 2 SDL had stack of documents but I NEVER look them thru. The bottom line is that it might be of interest to buyer if the car has 350K and record shows engine or tranny were replaced in the last 100K or so. I meant interest not bump up prices. All others repairs are costs of ownership or bad workmanship if something fails prematurely.

[Zacharias]

The advantage in your case is that if the dealer produces them, you can probably be assured nothing is missing. A paper file of receipts can be "edited" to remove negative references (for example, three trips in the previous year for "loses power suddenly... stalls out and won't restart... no fault found" or something like that).

A complete file like that would motivate me to pursue a particular car, all things otherwise being equal. In the end, however, the purchaser has to still want that car. A file of receipts won't sell it alone. But knowing that repairs have seen factory parts installed is a bonus for me.

Hard to assign a dollar value to that. Given that the car looked very clean in the pics you posted, I would say the records will enable you to pursue a top-of-market price for it.

If you have an in to marketing to the local MBCA crowd, I suspect that history will do you wonders, tho....

[ah-kay]

Originally Posted by Zacharias

The advantage in your case is that if the dealer produces them, you can probably be assured nothing is missing. A paper file of receipts can be "edited" to remove negative references (for example, three trips in the previous year for "loses power suddenly... stalls out and won't restart... no fault found" or something like that).

Fraud, not full disclosure? It is not exactly illegal but frowned upon. One may conveniently forgot things to tell the buyer but editing out issue is blatantly lie. It has a paper trail and can get you into trouble or reverse the sale. Luckily I do not look for used cars in Quebec.

[daw_two]

Depends on the work, buyer, and seller.

Do you think me having the receipt from 2002 where the engine was replaced and the transmission was rebuilt adds value to my 1987 300SDL? It has a #22 head.

Yeah, I think that one receipt adds about $1500-$2000 to the sale price.

[JimFreeh]

If you have the ability to read people, it's not hard to tell if they are being honest or evasive. For a moderately priced car, a full history that shows consistent care is worth between 1 and 2k dollars over the value of one without any records.

Owners who have records are usually much more in tune with their cars, and I've found the cars with records to be in the best shape overall. As an aside, your level of enthusiasm for the car can help make the sale at a better price point, since the owner may be looking to ensure that the next owner will continue to care for the car as they did.

I've bought both ways (with/without), but a top dollar offer will require significant "proof" of the car's history.

I have a friend who is fanactical about servicing his cars. Over the years, I've purchased three of his Mercedes, and steered my cousin to one of his as well. My wife kids me about seeking out particular owners, not particular cars. BTW, all four were (and are) fantastic cars.

Jim

[shertex]

Just one example on this particular car....the head gasket was recently done. So new owner won't have to worry about it for another 100k miles, i.e not fear that he'll need to drop $1500 in the near future. It's one thing for an unknown person to CLAIM the head gasket's been done, quite another to document it. So that sort of thing has to add value.

[Bob338]

Originally Posted by shertex

It's one thing for an unknown person to CLAIM the head gasket's been done, quite another to document it. So that sort of thing has to add value.

Wouldn't add any value for me. I've owned cars for over 60 years and Mercedes diesels for over 35 years and have NEVER had to replace a head gasket. I wouldn't expect to have to in one I purchased if there were no signs of head gasket failure. It would be different for a component subject to wear such as a transmission or radiator. It would also be different if it's a rebuilt or new motor, or a rebuilt head. Or anything which extends the anticipated life of the vehicle.

[shertex]

Originally Posted by Bob338

Wouldn't add any value for me. I've owned cars for over 60 years and Mercedes diesels for over 35 years and have NEVER had to replace a head gasket. I wouldn't expect to have to in one I purchased if there were no signs of head gasket failure. It would be different for a component subject to wear such as a transmission or radiator. It would also be different if it's a rebuilt or new motor, or a rebuilt head. Or anything which extends the anticipated life of the vehicle.

On the M103 engine (or perhaps it's the M104) it's fairly common experience to have to replace them every 100k miles. But glad you've never had to contend with a head gasket. Just had to have it done on my 92 300D at 245k miles.

[eatont9999]

Condition of the car as it stands now is most important to me. Records do make me feel better about purchasing it and maybe I will be closer to your asking price but I don't put a dollar value on it.

[sixto]

Records are useful:

- when you flip... er... resell a car you haven't owned for very long

- to support your claim that maintenance hasn't been deferred such as an M103 head gasket

- when a buyer compares your car to a similar car without service records

So rather than make the car worth more, it makes the car worthwhile to a different class of buyer.

Sixto
87 300D

[t walgamuth]

I got "comlete" records from the dealer once but after i looked at them I could see they did not do all the work that had been done on the car.