How to recognize twisted mileage?
According to statistics in Germany, every third car sold has signs of an odometer manipulation. One can only guess how much of these cars, as well as the arriving "new import" from Italy and other European countries, have accurate readings. But "masters" always leave their marks.
The situation is similar to a cat and mouse game. Manufacturers are constantly improving the software in their cars, which should protect them from hacking. But scammers find loopholes in just a few days. According to experts, buyers are in a bad position because fraud is difficult to detect.
Ways to check
Twisted mileage is difficult to prove technically, but good diagnostics and a thorough examination of the car help to find hidden mileage.
Documents
Each vehicle must have an up-to-date maintenance document. At the time of inspection, the mileage is also recorded in the book. Thus, based on old records, the distance traveled can be restored. Typically, repair bills also contain mileage information.
Some service providers record data about the car and enter the chassis number in their database. In this case, you need to be prepared to submit the necessary documents, as well as pay a certain amount. If the seller categorically refuses such a check, cancel the transaction.
Check your car carefully. A look under the hood shows when the last oil change was made. Usually somewhere in the engine compartment there is a mark about when and at what mileage new oil was poured. This data should correspond to other documents.
Technical condition
Traces of wear characteristic of cars that have traveled quite a lot, can also suggest that the figure on the odometer is not true. It is worth considering that this factor will not provide accurate information, but is only indirect evidence. For example, if the previous owner was neat, then interior wear will be minimal.
However, some elements will still suggest intensive use. For example, worn pedals, worn steering wheel factory braid (if the steering wheel is not replaced). According to Auto Club Europa (ACE), such tracks appear after running at least 120 thousand kilometers, but not earlier.
Some repair shops store data about the cars that they have been servicing for years. If you have names or other information from the previous owner, the car can be easily identified, and with it the service history and mileage.
And finally: in the case of mechanical odometers, the intervention will be immediately visible with the uneven position of the numbers on the dial. If the machine has an electronic odometer, then signs of erased data will always be visible in computer diagnostics.
