I
keep 3-ring binders for all of my vehicles.
Each vehicle gets its own binder.
I put the service records and receipts into clean sheet protectors in
chronological order and I try to keep everything. When I do an oil change, I try to write out
on a blank sheet the date and mileage.
It’s not easy to keep “perfect” records, it takes discipline and
deliberate effort.
For
this car, I am going to keep my usual 3-ring binder. I ported all of the service records I got
with the car into the binder, just like I would have done if she were mine
since new. In addition, I am going to
keep a running spreadsheet of the costs.
I am going to record all of this so some of you can learn “this is what
it costs to make an S52 ‘good’”. I am a
little afraid to know the total cost of ownership. I am sure it’s a lot.
The
previous owner kept a small notebook with the records while he owned it. He even recorded every tank of gas. I am going to leave his notebook just the way
I got it and keep it inside the 3-ring binder too.
In
this blog I will always post retail prices of parts. You can certainly buy BMW parts for less than
what I post here (I do). But, BMW has a
habit of adjusting retail. And in the
interest of history, I will stick to their retail prices. The dealer I buy from does not inflate retail
prices, but many BMW dealers do, especially on service/wear parts. When you read this blog and see an "r" after the price, that means I am showing you a retail number. If I show an "a" after a price, that's the actual price I paid. This will help me better keep track of the value I put into the car, too.
The blog will account for every penny spent but I may not discuss every little piece. So the running totals may jump up unexpectedly between posts. But the 3-ring binder will always be right.
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| The 3-ring binder of receipts for this car |
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| The 1200 mile service, I think?, for this car, in German |
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| Note pad with every record, hand written by previous owner |
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