My 2012 HSE sd4 auto is ready for it's service, do I take it to my garage for the service to keep the service book up to date or do the service myself? not a problem as I was a HGV fitter for 45 years, just thinking is it worth taking it in when I could do it for the sake of the service stamp at 12 year old.

I do as much work myself as I can. Saves a fortune. Would you make the cost of going to a garage back if you sold the car, I doubt it.


Not only that it's a bit of fun doing the repairs and maintenance, fighting the car

DIY you know then its been done properly. 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Service it yourself, and document what was done and when.
That's good enough for a 12 year old car, actually it's probably better than a stamp in the book from a garage. Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate. The replacement for the SE.
2009 Rimini Red SE TD4. Almost sold.
2006 Tonga Green i6 HSE. Gone.

Having been an hgv fitter I'm surprised you're even asking 🤔 Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

i service everything i can and document it plus receipts at the end of the day its had the jobs done it needs regardless of whether you sell or not at 12 years +( same as mine ) it becomes expensive taking it to a garage . 2009 FL2 S now gone
2011 FL2 HSE AUTO
2012 FL2 XS AUTO
2000 Kawasaki er 5

I do not trust many garages. Why? I had a top of the range Jaguar serviced by a main dealer, and found that they never checked brake pads because it was not on the schedule. Its a safety issue, no not according to the service schedule. Many dealers use a drum of oil for every car that comes in. Special oil for your DPF filter sir, no, profit first if you please. I remember a BAC111 airliner that had a broken Spa in the wing due to stress corrosion. Fix it gov. not likely, not on the maintenance list, you are fired if you say any more. Yes that's capitalism at work. Do the job yourself, at least you know its done right. I have just bought a twelve year old sd4 sx for £1800, HIGH MILEAGE, SKETCHY SERVICE HISTORY, BUT IT GOT THIS FAR,AND ITS IN FAIR CONDITION TOO.

When I was working as a HGV Driving Instructor I met a LOT of people from all sorts of professions a couple I met were JLR Vehicle Technicians and JLR salesmen, they BOTH said the same JLR do the absolute minimum and charge you over the odds for it. 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

I have always done my own servicing and work, I will do it myself then, I was just asking what you guys thought about keeping the book up to date, always did my Disco 3 myself and when I sold that the chap that bought it was not put of by no stamps although I did have all the paperwork and a record of all the work and parts, it was only when I got a Disco 4 that I started taking it in for service.

If you're selling a 3 year old car I'd say most buyers would expect a fully stamped DSH but a 10 or 12 year old it doesn't matter. People will buy on condition. Always a bonus if you can show a buyer a stack of receipts for service items and parts replaced if you have done it yourself.
My 14 year old Discovery 2 went to its new owner with a folder full of receipts. Buyer was delighted to have proof of parts actually bought and fitted over a rubber stamp in a book. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

Although I have a full dealer history and documents, I agree with Bob that it is unlikely anyone will give you any extra if you sell an older car.
A Good History might make it easier to sell, but my experience indicates that no more money changes hands.

I think that regular proper servicing may be more important as a means of safeguarding lives, that is, yours and your family.

I think it is wise to document anything you do to your car, be it servicing or modification. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

I do everything myself. Always did so. On super sports cars, normal cars, off-roaders and motorcycles.
I NEVER EVER trust ANY dealer or workshop. Never!
I document everything I do, receipts and pictures, kilometers, descriptions. I have a huge book for each vehicle.
The point in doing it yourself is, that you do it properly. If not, then it's not worse than a typical dealership or workshop.
And when you take something apart, you do all the other little or bigger things that show up while doing the first job. And you discover things that have to be taken care of, either as a repair or a preventative job.
I don't mind if it is tire inflation, sanding down a whole bodywork in prep for new paint, oil changes, changing a front screen or polishing the crank shaft and balancing it to 1/5000 of a gram, or maybe recovering the roof liner, reflowing a new catalyst or re-upholster a seat. If I don't know how to sew leather, I sit down and study and rehearse, until I can. I am not educated in any of this, but I keep studying and keep asking until I learn it. Or manage it.
And I am VERY particular about tools, parts, oils and filters.
No break downs so far in 40 years+, but of course there's no security in this. Anything can happen at any given moment. DIY or dealership. It's about trying to be preventative and up front in many cases.
All my cars and motorcycles were always old when I bought them.
Happy wrenching!
And service manuals and forums are also a BIG help in all these jobs, in my humble view.
On new cars and motorcycles, I understand that the owner may want to uphold the warranty, more so as many new cars are so tuned compared to 30 years ago, that they are very sensitive, plastic engine parts etc, but as soon as that it is out of warranty, diy all the way.
Get quality spare parts!

so yes, forget the stamps, and do it yourself. I never look at stamps of any car or motorcycle, but take a close look at the actual condition, other documentation and ask about it, etc. You will soon find out what's been done and what has not. Most of it anyway. Stamps in a booklet is absolutely NO guarantee for or against anything.

Kind regards,
Redfox.