false odometer reading?

ILW

Have you spoken to the dealer yet?

neilsolaris

By the way, how easy is it for an experienced mechanic to estimate the mileage of a car? I know that wear and tear can be a clue, but should they be able to accurately predict the mileage of a car to the nearest 10K?

neilsolaris

ILW wrote: »

Have you spoken to the dealer yet?

My partner spoke to the dealer a while ago. The dealer refused to give a refund, saying that the car was sound, and also saying he didn't have the authority to issue refunds without consulting someone (even though he was the one who sold it!). My partner gave him until a certain time to agree to the refund, before escalating it.

Joe_Horner

neilsolaris wrote: »

By the way, how easy is it for an experienced mechanic to estimate the mileage of a car? I know that wear and tear can be a clue, but should they be able to accurately predict the mileage of a car to the nearest 10K?

Simple answer, no.

"Condition" will be influenced far more by how it's used (level of servicing / care, type of mileage, driving style etc) than just miles.

Even the popular telltales like upholstery, pedal wear and so on are very vague indications because someone who works in an office, vacuums the seats every week and always wears their leather sole shoes when driving will cause a lot less wear than the builder who gets in wearing his gritty overalls and work boots at the end of the working day and cleans it out once every Bank Holiday.

johnnyreggae

Just so we're clear - or did I misunderstand

You'd like to return the car you bought and get compensation because there was a mistake on the previous MOT certificate

fwor

neilsolaris wrote: »

By the way, how easy is it for an experienced mechanic to estimate the mileage of a car? I know that wear and tear can be a clue, but should they be able to accurately predict the mileage of a car to the nearest 10K?

On some makes of car the mileage is logged in the ECU. From what I can tell it is much harder to change this than the reading on the odometer.

The mileage on the ECU (if your make/model records it) can be read out on the diagnostic system at a main dealer - though they would charge to do this.

johnnyreggae - I think the OP is wanting redress because there is evidence that the mileage on the odo is not genuine.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

neilsolaris wrote: »

My partner spoke to the dealer a while ago. The dealer refused to give a refund, saying that the car was sound, and also saying he didn't have the authority to issue refunds without consulting someone (even though he was the one who sold it!). My partner gave him until a certain time to agree to the refund, before escalating it.

simple thing to do is to go into the dealership or traders office and be the authorative figure, not abusive but be SURE what you intend to happen wich is your refund, plus if they have auctioned off your part ex the value of that plus insurance costs and tax (fuel expenses are negligable youd have to fill up any car you bought).

if this car on finance, you could insutruct them to intervien or if you paid by CREDIT CARD you could also instruct those to intervien aswell.

i can see the path the dealer wishes to take, and thats shrug shoulders and tell you tough no refund but he has clearly not stipulated the cars actual mileage had changed for xyz reason and thus has broken the sale of goods act and you are entitled to a refund or replacement.

an odemeter can be altered by change of ECU aswell if the model logs the mileage through that, simply a change of ECU from a younger/lower miler car will display the younger/lower miler cars readings with it being coded to its imobiliser controller for it to be able to start of the key/card and keyless entry systems.

either case the trader or dealership failed to desclose key information wich resulted in you buying the vehicle based on it being the model condition and mileage, and now key information has been brought to light as to the mileage and concerns for condition and propper service intervals, aswell as possibly being devoid of a manufacturers warranty due to odemeter issues i cant see the trader or dealership surviving a court case intact.

you can officially reject the vehicle by handing in a letter and getting a reciept from the CS desk, sending an e-mail to the dealership/trader principal formally rejecting the vehicle and formally follow that up with the same letter via recorded delivery (you must have proof of postage to enable proof at court you sent those letters).

at that point of rejecting the vehicle is no longer yours, but your still responsable for tax and insurance if it is to be kept on the road, the dealership are abliged to come and collect the vehicle at no expense to yourself once they have handed back your money, you cannot use the vehicle, and you must keep all travel expenses as a result of rejection of vehicle to claim back from the dealer/trader.

a mechanic can tell the vehicle is higher miles than it should be by interior wear and tear, but as to how high the mileage is would be impossible to judge, ive seen 25k cars with such a worn steering wheel and seat youd be sure it had done 100k, bu tthe previous owner may have been obese (hence extra seat wear) and had a steering wheel cover wich dry out the wheel and cause it to flake and look old.