Do cars still get clocked?

[Ari]

You very rarely seem to hear about cars getting clocked these days. Has the problem largely gone away with digital odometers?

[dmitsi]

Yes they still get clocked. Friend sold his golf with 115k on it. For sale the next week, other end of the country with 74k.
He informed whoever he could.

[lordlee]

Its far worse than you could imagine these days. Just it's not as easy to tell.

[powwerr]

There are places in the local papers advertising "digital milage correction" perfectly legal.

take car, tell them the number you want it to and off you go..its what happens after thats the tricky part.

[v8will]

My understanding was that mileage correction is not illegal but not declaring it at time of sale is.

[Lucas North]

It's a lot more widespread than you think, especially on German cars where the interior might be more hard-wearing and can cover the mileage more easily.

VERY prolific on high end cars where mileages have massive impacts on the value.

[Herman Toothrot]

I had great difficulty finding an Audi a6 that wasn't clocked recently...

[GT03ROB]

Yes, I belive its actually easier with the digital speedos!

Funny thing is I wanted to get the mileage adjusted legitamately on my Elise, and nope couldn't be done!

[SteveS Cup]

I bet it's even more common now it's digital! With the right tools it's basically bullet proof!

I bet the amount of lease cars going back to the garage for each service that's been clocked would be unbelievable!! Esp time to sell / give back! 3 yo car, no MOT certs... easy as pie.

[Dracoro]

Ari said:

You very rarely seem to hear about cars getting clocked these days. Has the problem largely gone away with digital odometers?

I think it happens MORE these days. Many cars hide their mileage much better these days, it's easy to "correct" the mileage (plug in equipment and away you go - none of this opening up the dash and odo business).

I think the main reason you think you hear about it less is that many people with clocked cars don't know it's clocked.

Makes me laugh when I see 4 year old TDI german repmobiles with 20,000 miles. Most people don't buy these to do small mileages.

[mercfunder]

Yes, it does still go on and obviously quite profitable.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/c...

[davepoth]

It was the old "It's digital - there's no way it can be cracked" thing, which usually lasts about 20 minutes.

[Ari]

OK, so how do you guard against it?

I guess a stamped main dealer service book is a good start?

[mercfunder]

I thought you could get a stamped main dealer history off Ebay, check the mileages against previous MOTs on the Govt website.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

Edited by mercfunder on Tuesday 18th January 14:52

[lordlee]

To be fair I'd you have a brand new car, say an Audi on the long life service schedule then what is to stop you from getting the first oil service done by yourself and then say after 18months getting the mileage put back to 16k and putting into Audi for it's '1st' service. Who's to know and you may have just wiped off 20k from your car which I'd imagine is a bonus if you have a limited mileage lease contract.

[Ari]

Do buyers of brand new Audi's really indulge in such practices?

I'd have thoughht it more likely dodgy dealers buying high milers and shaving 20K off to add a grand or two that is the more likely scenario.

[redtwin]

"check the mileages against previous MOTs on the Govt website."

Assuming the car is old enough to need MOTs...and the previous owner hasn't disconnected the speedo inbetween them or services.

Buy on condition, leafing through a book of inky stamps won't do anything more than stain your fingers.

[Berger]

Suprisingly the dealer couldn't ADD miles onto the odometer in my van.

The whole clock set electrics failed requiring replacement with an all new set under warranty so started back on 000000 again.

It confuses them when it is brought in for service, and the fuel card milage is doubled up on itself.

Edited by Berger on Tuesday 18th January 16:13

[redstu]

I seem to recall in another thread someone said that the odo changes but the true mileage is still stored in the ecu and can't be changed. Think it might have been bmws.

[Steve996]

redstu said:

I seem to recall in another thread someone said that the odo changes but the true mileage is still stored in the ecu and can't be changed. Think it might have been bmws.

Nope my understanding is that the guys who know how to do it properly have got that bit nailed too.......