It's quite common that the dealership will withhold records.
My experience includes anywhere from Toyota, Honda, to BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. I would much prefer to buy a car from an owner who has paper service records on hand as opposed to one who does not.
Not to say that the one that doesn't have service records is selling a bad car, but what if the next guy we sell the car to is as discerning as us? It can be a deal breaker for some! Case in point - I found a Lexus IS250 in manual transmission. The dealership would not let me see what work has been done to the car but kept assuring me the car is in great shape and maintenance is up to date.
While Lexus is known for their reliability, I had to decline the sale because there were no included service records from the previous owner, and despite the vehicle allegedly being dealer-maintained. It was just a chance I didn't want to take, especially the opportunity chance if and when I sell the car in the future. There will always be guys like us who want it all!
