Looking to buy a new car but is it legit?

innocent_girl

Ive found a car i like. The picture didnt match the description of mileage so I called the seller and she told me that the speedometer has been changed. The total mileage is 56000. The speedometer was changed at 33000 miles and now reads 23000 mile so in total its 56000. She says she has all the appropriate documents to prove it etc. Shouldnt the speedometer have been put forward to 33000 when it was fitted so that it would now show the correct mileage? Is it legit?
Im told that when doing an MOT the technician just looks at the mileage on the speedometer and not any supporting documents. Is it illegal or what?
So confused i desperately need a new car.
TIA

innocent_girl

Ive done a history check on it on autotrader and it came out clear except mileage info.

sebo0607

Hi

A friend of mine had to have a new Speedometer a few years ago and the garage started the new one a zero but told him to keep the recipts and paperwork to prove the genuine mileage, when he sold the car.

mattyprice4004

Illegal? Really?

Of course it's not illegal to have incorrect mileage on display. It's illegal to misrepresent the vehicle by claiming the car has less miles than it has through. Looks like they're being honest though.

Renault Scenics have an issue with dodgy speedo clocks, when they're replaced Renault won't set the mileage back as they don't know the exact mileage when the unit failed.

BobQ

Its common practice and quite normal to do this. Its not illegal to have a defective spedometer, nothing has been misrepresented from what you say.

If the seller has the documents showing what was done and the reading when changed your only real gripe would be if the evidence was falsified nand you could probably check with the garage that did it whether their receipt is genuine.

Does the car have a service record that seems to match this information? If so I would not worry about it.

Tobster86

It's not illegal to have a defective odometer. It is illegal (trade descriptions act) to misrepresent a vehicles' mileage, which is not the case here.

A vehicle must have a working speedometer that displays the vehicles speed with no more than 10% over inaccuracy and no under inaccuracy. The speedometer is not tested in the MOT, but covered under vehicle construction and use regulations.

The speedometer and odometer can be the same part (usually the entire instrument cluster). Only the speed display has legal significance.

muckybutt

BobQ wrote: »

Its not illegal to have a defective Odometer, nothing has been misrepresented from what you say.

If the seller has the documents showing what was done and the reading when changed your only real gripe would be if the evidence was falsified nand you could probably check with the garage that did it whether their receipt is genuine.

Does the car have a service record that seems to match this information? If so I would not worry about it.

Odometer = a unit to measure distance
Spedometer = a unit to measure speed, theres a difference

oldagetraveller

My only concern could be that the actual mileage when the instrument was changed might be much higher than the indicated 33000. i.e. the thing could have failed at that mileage and another, say, 10000 miles completed before it was changed.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

2004 focus's have the problem with speedo/odo too and were commonly to fail.

most dealers wont adjust forward or aft a odometer, you can if you so wish to seek a independant who has the time and kit to do such work, but why pay extra?

as you see the HPI report has flagged a difference in mileage from its MOT before it was changed to the next year when it was as a discrepancy to check, youve checked with the seller, and say they have reciepts to prove mileage before so this shouldnt be an issue appart from doing the timing belt and services wich is where you calculate from OLD odo reading not the current.

rxbren

how many mots are there with the car?
if they have every mot from when it first needed one you can roughly estimate the mileage if they only have the one mot and the car is in great condition for its age then it may have been "clocked" at somepoint to bump its value by a past seller
although it could be an honest change in which case they should have all paperwork to support the change of odometer
personally id find something else

BobQ

muckybutt wrote: »

Odometer = a unit to measure distance
Spedometer = a unit to measure speed, theres a difference

I was responding to the OP who used the term speedometer, rather than making slightly pretentious remarks.

Mind you if pendantry is your sport, you might learn how to spell speedometer and to use apostrophies correctly.:D