Service history opinions

[Paul S]

I'm hoping to pick up a 2004 Elise 111s next week from a performance specialist dealer and just thought I'd get some thoughts on a small dilemma.

The car has all the stamps in the book where they should be, at the right times from Lotus specialists. I have receipts for the first couple but the last owner didn't supply receipts for the most recent specialist which has worked on the car. I called them myself and the guy who did all the work confirmed everything has been done to the service schedule, including cambelt change. He also gave me dates and details of everything done to the car including the fitting of an MLS head gasket 18 months ago and brand new pads and discs last November. He believes it's a good honest car and by the sounds of it the last owner spent hundreds and never skimped on quality. However he's reluctant to send out copies of the paperwork for data protection reasons.

The dealer I'm getting it from is putting the car through full mechanical check and body shop work to sort out a couple of scratches and refurb the wheels so all in all I should be getting a mint condition motor for which I have a complete and detailed service history, plus the reassurance of head gasket and cambelt changes.

The dilemma is the lack of receipts - I'm happy the car is in great nick and all work can be verified but I have one eye on resale. Any opinions would be welcome,

Cheers,

Paul

[albutch]

Paperwork is nice to have but condition as seen at the time of sale is the important thing. You'll never have trouble selling a car that survives inspection.

Having said that, unless I'm absolutely sure that the cambelt has been changed as stated, I would change it just to be certain. Its not a very expensive job compared to the value of the car and the cost of repairs if the belt fails.

Good luck with the purchase, is it a local car?

[strawman]

The specialist can give you copies of the receipts. They just need to blank out any names/addresses/card details if they're worried about it. Failing that, get hold of the previous owner and ask him to give them permission to give out copies.

[Dennis]

Agree as the guys who did the work for copies of receipts or at least a list of work they have done on headed paper etc.

[Paul S]

Cheers guys,

I'm certain the cambelt was done as the guy I spoke to knew the car inside out.

I have tried twice to get him to send me copies and mentioned blanking out any personal details but he's sticking to his guns on it (in a way it's admirable that he is prepared to protect his customer's info that much!).

As I say he did tell me everything over the phone and I have no reason to doubt him so I have a comprehensive list of work done, which could of course be verified by anyone who gives him a call as I did so it's the next best situation to actually having the receipts I guess. It's a great car which I fell in love with when I saw it and I guess that's my problem - as albutch said it's difficult to resist a car that survives inspection!

I'm seeing a couple more over the weekend which will hopefully either put my mind at rest or put me off it

[elanman999]

Paul,
Being older, more cynical and having the T shirt, IMHO be very careful of receipts without full details on. That is Owners name, vehicle reg no, mileage and date. There are over 10000 Elise's (I think) and a receipt saying "Elise cam belt change " is worthless, it could be for any one of them.
As albutch says ,if it's a nice car go for it and have the belt changed anyway.
Cheers
John

[nigelh]

All good advice above. If the specialist is trustworthy, or the previous owner tells them to release the paper work then all sounds good.

On the head gasket front, the only note of caution I'd say is that some cars go for many thousands of miles with no problem, whereas on the other hand when one goes it can often be followed by another if the job hasn't been done 100%. If it were me, I'd want to see a good few miles on the car since the gasket change - or keep back a few quid just in case.

[softlips]

I've never saved receipts from garages, just the report of what's done and the service book, you don't always get a receipt if paying cash (so I'm led to believe). No one has ever asked for them either. The price I got for my S1 was very good and I had done virtually all the work myself. I had saved receipts for all the parts and documented the work on the TADTS forms every year. The buyer was more than happy - he had looked at a few with full documented dealer history and decided mine was better.

If there are doubts about the cambelt, get them to change it, it's not a long job and worth it for piece of mind - I would have done it when doing the HGF myself.

[Paul S]

Update:

Still working on filling in the details on the car but in the meantime went to see another couple.

One was again a fantastic condition car and had all the paperwork for the services that had been done, including cambelt.... but had a 3 year gap between the last 2 services! A strange blip as it has obviously been very well looked after otherwise. A gap worries me more than a lack of paperwork as at least I know servicing has been done on schedule with the latter.

Going back to see the original car again tomorrow - hopefully can be a bit more objective this time and not so blinded by 'first viewed car syndrome'!

[PaulT]

If it's any help, my 2002 111S hasn't had a service with a dealer or specialist for about 4 years. Cambelt changed (by some smashing people) and I've just changed the oil & filters at regular intervals. Runs like a bag of knackers. I'm kidding, it's a good 'un so you never know when there's been a blip in the paperwork, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a shed.

[yasmar]

If it's any help, my 2002 111S hasn't had a service with a dealer or specialist for about 4 years. Cambelt changed (by some smashing people) and I've just changed the oil & filters at regular intervals. Runs like a bag of knackers. I'm kidding, it's a good 'un so you never know when there's been a blip in the paperwork, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a shed.

But you like sheds??

[PaulT]

I see the legal exec is back on song

[Paul S]

Thanks for all the feedback so far, all very useful.

Shame I won't get to the next meet but I want to buy in the next week or two before prices start creeping up.

I guess it may be worth asking if anyone knows the car-it's the black 2004 111s at Redline in Knaresborough. Spent the last few years in the midlands by the service history but also had early services at Bell and Colvill and Christopher Neil

[PaulT]

Might be worth asking on MLOC - I'm sure if they've heard of it they'll help you out.
Shame you can't make the meet - even without a Lotus it would be worth popping along. There's 11 Buckles Inn meetings a year, you'll manage one I'm sure

[Paul S]

Well I'm sat in the Redline showroom waiting to hear from someone at MLOC - there's a sticker in the window so it must have belonged to someone on there.

It looks like its coming down to a gamble-shoud I just go for it and hope I can get in touch with the last owner???