Mileage Correction on Continental, can it be detected?

[puss]

I'm appealing to anyone who might have a clue about this. I'm planning to buy a Continental GTC, probably around 2008 is the newest I can stretch to, and I'm wondering if there's any way of detecting if a car has had its mileage 'corrected' (fiddled) in its past? It's always struck me as too much of a coincidence that any car being advertised for sale, especially by smaller traders, seems to have a mileage just below a psychologically significant figure, say 39k, 49k, etc, Bentleys included so I suspect that huge numbers of cars have had this done in their lives.
My intention is to take out a Bentley warranty on a car if I buy it privately so obviously if a Bentley dealership can detect this sort of activity when making a claim they'd no doubt reject the claim. Besides, I'd rather buy a genuine untampered car.
I appreciate that major discrepancies would show up when looking through service and MOT records so I suspect this sort of thing is usually done to knock off a few thousand rather than tens of thousands but I'd like to know if I take it to Bentley for a pre-purchase check if they can detect a 'correction'?

[POORCARDEALER]

puss said:

I'm appealing to anyone who might have a clue about this. I'm planning to buy a Continental GTC, probably around 2008 is the newest I can stretch to, and I'm wondering if there's any way of detecting if a car has had its mileage 'corrected' (fiddled) in its past? It's always struck me as too much of a coincidence that any car being advertised for sale, especially by smaller traders, seems to have a mileage just below a psychologically significant figure, say 39k, 49k, etc, Bentleys included so I suspect that huge numbers of cars have had this done in their lives.
My intention is to take out a Bentley warranty on a car if I buy it privately so obviously if a Bentley dealership can detect this sort of activity when making a claim they'd no doubt reject the claim. Besides, I'd rather buy a genuine untampered car.
I appreciate that major discrepancies would show up when looking through service and MOT records so I suspect this sort of thing is usually done to knock off a few thousand rather than tens of thousands but I'd like to know if I take it to Bentley for a pre-purchase check if they can detect a 'correction'?

Absolutely no way of telling if the car has been done by someone who knows what they are doing.

As for the 39, 49, 59000 miles thing...If we were to see a car for part exchange and it was on one of those mileages I would tell the person swopping in the price is to keep it below the next click ie 40,50 or 60K...customers are very mileage led and it makes a difference when selling them .

[Byteme]

The simplest method on a 2008 car is to check the MOT history on the VOSA website which records the mileage at all previous MOT tests. To do this you will need the registration document reference number which any honest seller should be happy to provide you with.

Mileages can be altered but a dealer should be able to compare what is shown on the display against data stored.

One reason you will find many of these cars with rounded off mileages is that they are advertised by agents hoping to sell on a commission basis while the car is still being used by the owner.

[graemel]

I think the problem is that any one having the milometer tampered with would do so prior to the MOT. Have the car thoroughly inspected by someone who knows what they are looking at prior to buying. Check the pedal rubbers and the condition of the interior which should help.

[Byteme]

graemel said:

I think the problem is that any one having the milometer tampered with would do so prior to the MOT. Have the car thoroughly inspected by someone who knows what they are looking at prior to buying. Check the pedal rubbers and the condition of the interior which should help.

True but it would only be possible to erase mileage since the last MOT.

[rabowman]

I think (not often !!) that the ECU's record the mileage regardless of Speedo reading.
Any dealer with the FULL diagnostic equipment will be able to verify speedo against actual.

I thought the old Warren Street traders had gone to car heaven !!

[Byteme]

rabowman said:

I think (not often !!) that the ECU's record the mileage regardless of Speedo reading.
Any dealer with the FULL diagnostic equipment will be able to verify speedo against actual.

I thought the old Warren Street traders had gone to car heaven !!

That's certainly true of the SZ series (Spirt/BTR/etc) cars. A common dealer trick was to remove the ABS fuse when driving cars that should have been transported. The odometer reading remained unchanged however the ECU recorded any mileage covered.

[puss]

Byteme said:

The simplest method on a 2008 car is to check the MOT history on the VOSA website which records the mileage at all previous MOT tests. To do this you will need the registration document reference number which any honest seller should be happy to provide you with.

Mileages can be altered but a dealer should be able to compare what is shown on the display against data stored.

One reason you will find many of these cars with rounded off mileages is that they are advertised by agents hoping to sell on a commission basis while the car is still being used by the owner.

Thanks for all replies so far.
By "data stored" in para 2 above do you mean in the car's ecu or at the VOSA site? Thanks

[Byteme]

puss said:

Byteme said:

The simplest method on a 2008 car is to check the MOT history on the VOSA website which records the mileage at all previous MOT tests. To do this you will need the registration document reference number which any honest seller should be happy to provide you with.

Mileages can be altered but a dealer should be able to compare what is shown on the display against data stored.

One reason you will find many of these cars with rounded off mileages is that they are advertised by agents hoping to sell on a commission basis while the car is still being used by the owner.

Thanks for all replies so far.
By "data stored" in para 2 above do you mean in the car's ecu or at the VOSA site? Thanks

VOSA.

There's little value added by all manner of changes to the test over the years but VOSA recording mileages is definitely one.

That said, stupid buyers, weak Trading Standards enforcement and "Tooth Fairy" value fines mean that a full and verifiable history is a must unless you want to take a risk.

[MULLINER]

As a simple rule speak with the registered owner or if you have any suspicions walk away there have been over 90000 Continentals built in the GT Spur and GTC range since 2003 so you are hardly buying a unique or one off car so there are lots of other to chose from.
It is interesting that we place such an importance on mileage as I have seen many good higher mileage vehicles than the ones with a low mileage which haven't seen regular service and use which causes more problems than one used and maintained properly.

Edited by MULLINER on Wednesday 2nd July 12:55

[enjoythemusic]

Well said MULLINER and I'd prefer a 'higher mileage' vehicle than the ones with a low mileage for the same reasons you state. These cars need to be driven, not remain still as simple garage queens.

[POORCARDEALER]

MULLINER said:

As a simple rule speak with the registered owner or if you have any suspicions walk away there have been over 90000 Continentals built in the GT Spur and GTC range since 2003 so you are hardly buying a unique or one off car so there are lots of other to chose from.
It is interesting that we place such an importance on mileage as I have seen many good higher mileage vehicles than the ones with a low mileage which haven't seen regular service and use which causes more problems than one used and maintained properly.

Edited by MULLINER on Wednesday 2nd July 12:55

Fully agree and often drive a higher mileage "user" myself, less depreciation to worry about generally

[keith9849]

Chaps

Bear in mind that MOT-wise the tester will take the mileage from the odometer reading, and if that is wrong (because the speedo-head has been changed) the MOT record will be misleading. The same will apply to the service invoices.

I have been told that a Crewe factory/main-dealer replacement has a dot etched into the glass, and the fact of replacement noted in the service book. It is my supposition that mileage-tampering is just as likely to go on in the early years (when the residual value of the car and very much affected by mileage) as later on.

Cheers

[SlartiF430]

I've found that there is only one sure (as possible) way of taking on the odometer con artists. I often buy exotica with sky high mileage (which for ferrari is around 40k!). I get a car that is barely run in, for the fraction of the price, full service history, that has generally been well maintained and is honest. I get a better ownership experience (I don't care about putting too many more miles on) and come sale time, I'm usually selling the cheapest [name_the_car) which means it sells reasonably quickly to the next guy that wants a supercar bargain. Of course, the car could still have been tampered with and I might be driving a car with 200k miles but I honestly think the chances of this are much lower.