PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

Jim B. · #6 06-14-2007, 08:07 PM

I hate this.

All dealers follow this policy. The last three vehicles I bought from dealers (Subaru, Volvo and Mercedes) did not release the history of the cars, but I was able to find out anyway, beginning with calling up or visiting the shops that had stamped the service books during the course of the car's history.

I think some shops and dealers would provide the basic information. It's important to me to get as much as possible, if I am going to buy that car.

One thing that always worked was a polite letter to the previous owner or the shop, with at least a $20 bill for "expenses" and a request to talk about the service history of the car, or for a copy of the records.

After a huge effort, I found it extremely worthwhile to have reconstructed the history of the cars I bought. The peace of mind, coupled with the practical knowledge, was worth the trouble it took.

Usually the best cars show up as used on the dealer's lots, but without books and records. If they are with the car, usually the detailer is instructed to discard them, to protect the so called "privacy" of the prior owners.

I have NEVER encountered an owner who minded talking about the car they had, after it was traded to a dealer. The dealers were another matter, some of them were un co- operative, but not all.

Also, sometimes records of repairs at Mercedes dealerships, are simply purged from the dealer's system after a few years. Simply put,the older the car, the less likely the records would be there.