Reset odometer on an S type

[dickew]

So there's a 2002 S type R, 72k, for sale. Seems OK except mileage at MoT 2006 is 75,890 and a year later it's 5,675. It appears the opportunity was taken to reset the odometer to zero when a new engine was fitted that year. Is that standard practice? I've never seen it done before, and is it grounds for concern?

[talksthetorque]

Not really, the only reason for changing the odometer would be .....if you changed the instrument binnacle for another one.
Everything else that hasn't been replaced is 144k old on the car.
I owuld take it that as you haven't been told about it up front, it was less than scrupulous of the seller.

However on a car that old, buy on condition anyway.

[dickew]

Thanks. Agree not a huge issue in the context of the age of the car, but makes the recorded mileage approx half the actual value and will undoubtedly be raised as a thing, as I have done, in the event of re-selling.

[captain_cynic]

talksthetorque said:

Not really, the only reason for changing the odometer would be .....if you changed the instrument binnacle for another one.
Everything else that hasn't been replaced is 144k old on the car.
I owuld take it that as you haven't been told about it up front, it was less than scrupulous of the seller.

However on a car that old, buy on condition anyway.

I wouldn't expect be paying much for a 16yr old S-Type that's had an engine swap anyway... so if he's selling it for shed prices that's all you're really risking. Whenever you're buying any car that old you're always taking the risk that you may end up having to give it to a scrap dealer.