Bought a Clocked Car!
Discussion
…and there’s probably nothing I can do! Bought a cheap LHD ditch registered VW Transporter from a dealer in London on eBay classifieds which was advertised as having 99000 miles rather than the 230000 it turned out to have when we plugged in to read after purchase. I don’t really care as we’ve been through it and relaxed most parts anyway as preparing it for overland use in Continental Europe and to keep at our place there for when we visit. Yes I’m an idiot buying without checking but I don’t really care THAT much. Is there anything I can do complaining to trading standards or anything? Can’t really be bothered to do that much tho.
Moderator edit: no naming & shaming
I used to have an E46 318 shed, my ex wife bought one too and both had 100K miles on the clock. I had a quick drive in hers and it felt like a saggy sack of s
t compared to mine.
She had nothing but problems with it and I offered to check the error codes with INPA. When I connected INPA to the car I soon realised why it felt so ruined, it had been clocked by 70K miles.
I would imagine clocking is rife on German brands, my brother worked with someone who had a VW van and he had the "mileage corrected" before it went for it's first MOT.
I would imagine that a large percentage of German cars on 5K mile leases have mileage blockers fitted.
t compared to mine.She had nothing but problems with it and I offered to check the error codes with INPA. When I connected INPA to the car I soon realised why it felt so ruined, it had been clocked by 70K miles.
I would imagine clocking is rife on German brands, my brother worked with someone who had a VW van and he had the "mileage corrected" before it went for it's first MOT.
I would imagine that a large percentage of German cars on 5K mile leases have mileage blockers fitted.
With it being previously in a ditch I would have walked away..
A mate bought a German reg VW Transporter, advertised with 200 odd k kms , turned out it had done 640k km's.
We sifted through the paperwork and in that time had an engine rebuild ( 2.4 petrol 5 cylinder on lpg) and was an ex taxi.
A mate bought a German reg VW Transporter, advertised with 200 odd k kms , turned out it had done 640k km's.
We sifted through the paperwork and in that time had an engine rebuild ( 2.4 petrol 5 cylinder on lpg) and was an ex taxi.
Edited by Draxindustries1 on Friday 12th August 10:08
Joey Deacon said:
I used to have an E46 318 shed, my ex wife bought one too and both had 100K miles on the clock. I had a quick drive in hers and it felt like a saggy sack of st compared to mine.
That is often down to mechanical sympathy and appropriate servicing and preventative maintenance, rather than clocking.t compared to mine.I bought two 15 year old 1.8 Vectras to use in a banger rally. One had 105,000 miles and was very 'baggy', the other had 155,000 miles and felt really tight and drove surprisingly nicely. The latter was also much cleaner inside and had a very clean engine bay.
I have no reason to believe the mileage on either was incorrect, but it was obvious the higher mileage one had been better looked after.
Joey Deacon said:
I would imagine that a large percentage of German cars on 5K mile leases have mileage blockers fitted.
Yes and not just the 5k lease ones. I nearly bought a used m5 a few years ago, had 39k ish on the clock and another person on a car forum beat me to it and bought it. I was able to follow how he got on with it. He spent loads of money on a new exhaust and detailing etc and when it came back up for sale the mileage had just tipped 40k. He'd had it probably 18 months or so. Hmmm! I've seen a few other posts which raise a similar eyebrow. Clocking is rife, if you are involved in it or have done it, you are a turd, no ifs, no buts you are a scumbag dont you know...
Saw one recently, bundle of wires that connect into the loom/ecus in McLarens as a mileage defeat device, yes I know McLarens are expensive to buy, run and service, but its a supercar, if you are doing this then you dont really own one, you are playing at it.
There is a Facebook group called Dodgy Cars and its mainly crashed and repaired stuff that is undisclosed but many get a substantial haircut as part of the deal.
I tend to assume its happened unless can be proven otherwise, and to do that need MOT and service records, a chat with the owner etc, after a point with older cars it doesnt perhaps matter as much as you buy on condition but a McLaren thats done say 12k which is actually 42k is probably going to ambush the new owner with some massive bills and it would wipe 40 grand or so off the value.
Must be hard for honest traders (they do exist) to make a living when having to compete with very shiny, low mileage stuff thats cheaper than they can do, but if you buy it salvage, fix it up and clock it, of course there is a nice wedge in it.
Hope you get it sorted OP.
My cousin once bought a Pug 205, his second car, a diesel, turned out that had been clocked by some huge number (cant remember) but the best bit was that it had previously been a van, he was really annoyed and upset but in hindsight he added another 100k plus to it, got good mpg, it never broke and he sold it at what was prob 250k or more and it was still working well, it looked absolutely knackered but somehow it kept dragging its sorry carcass round.
Saw one recently, bundle of wires that connect into the loom/ecus in McLarens as a mileage defeat device, yes I know McLarens are expensive to buy, run and service, but its a supercar, if you are doing this then you dont really own one, you are playing at it.
There is a Facebook group called Dodgy Cars and its mainly crashed and repaired stuff that is undisclosed but many get a substantial haircut as part of the deal.
I tend to assume its happened unless can be proven otherwise, and to do that need MOT and service records, a chat with the owner etc, after a point with older cars it doesnt perhaps matter as much as you buy on condition but a McLaren thats done say 12k which is actually 42k is probably going to ambush the new owner with some massive bills and it would wipe 40 grand or so off the value.
Must be hard for honest traders (they do exist) to make a living when having to compete with very shiny, low mileage stuff thats cheaper than they can do, but if you buy it salvage, fix it up and clock it, of course there is a nice wedge in it.
Hope you get it sorted OP.
My cousin once bought a Pug 205, his second car, a diesel, turned out that had been clocked by some huge number (cant remember) but the best bit was that it had previously been a van, he was really annoyed and upset but in hindsight he added another 100k plus to it, got good mpg, it never broke and he sold it at what was prob 250k or more and it was still working well, it looked absolutely knackered but somehow it kept dragging its sorry carcass round.
Is there an easy way to get the mileage out of most/some/any cars via the OBD-ii port? Of course, the MOT history might catch it if the owner has been careless, but if they've always given the mileage the correct 'haircut' before it got inspected, you'd be none the wiser!
I do recall years ago when I worked in a vehicle data company, we had a few providers for mileage data. One provider would pay Halfords 20p or so for each mileage & number plate combo they could get. So of course, if you had a battery / wipers / bulb fitted, they'd note the mileage down if they got the chance. Boom, gotcha!
But, if the owner was fastidious about doing everything themselves, what's left to check?
I do recall years ago when I worked in a vehicle data company, we had a few providers for mileage data. One provider would pay Halfords 20p or so for each mileage & number plate combo they could get. So of course, if you had a battery / wipers / bulb fitted, they'd note the mileage down if they got the chance. Boom, gotcha!
But, if the owner was fastidious about doing everything themselves, what's left to check?
Dog Star said:
I know people on the trade. I know a guy who does “mileage corrections”.
Basically I assume that any car with silly low mileage is clocked - stuff like BMW M cars at ten years old with 30k on the clock. Yeah, chinny reckon!
Just ignore what’s on the clock, look at the car.
Mine is 7 years old with 36k and t my current rate will only have done about 45k at 10 years old so they do exist.Basically I assume that any car with silly low mileage is clocked - stuff like BMW M cars at ten years old with 30k on the clock. Yeah, chinny reckon!
Just ignore what’s on the clock, look at the car.
Baldchap said:
Joey Deacon said:
I used to have an E46 318 shed, my ex wife bought one too and both had 100K miles on the clock. I had a quick drive in hers and it felt like a saggy sack of st compared to mine.
That is often down to mechanical sympathy and appropriate servicing and preventative maintenance, rather than clocking.t compared to mine.I bought two 15 year old 1.8 Vectras to use in a banger rally. One had 105,000 miles and was very 'baggy', the other had 155,000 miles and felt really tight and drove surprisingly nicely. The latter was also much cleaner inside and had a very clean engine bay.
I have no reason to believe the mileage on either was incorrect, but it was obvious the higher mileage one had been better looked after.
Trevor555 said:
OP if it's any consolation my friends T5 has now just gone over 200k
It still drives great.
Judder from the clutch when cold is the only negative I can think of, he'll do it eventually I guess.
But I've felt clutch judder on low mileage T5/T6's
Think their clutches/flywheels are shrite
Thanks yes, it’s a T5 and have already replaced flywheelIt still drives great.
Judder from the clutch when cold is the only negative I can think of, he'll do it eventually I guess.
But I've felt clutch judder on low mileage T5/T6's
Think their clutches/flywheels are shrite
& clutch as precaution. Good to know re mileage.
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