Tommygunn Posted July 4, 2018 Report Share Posted July 4, 2018 Is it possible to find out the true mileage of a car by doing a more in-depth analysis of the vehicle? I've been reading that the vehicle ECU can be read and will be more or less accurate to what is displayed on the odometer, or not. Can this be done at home with an OBDII gadget or would it need to be taken to a specialist with the right equipment to examine the ECU? Cheers, Tom. Link to post Share on other sites
hitmanNo2 Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Depending on the age and make, yes, but with dealer level software. For instance, I know you can look at the distance run parameter on Ferraris that will identify how many miles have been driven in each gear from data stored in the transmission's control unit. You can then see if the total matches up with the mileage on the dash. Spoiler, it probably won't because Ferraris tend to get rolled back as standard... It's probably best to go comb through paperwork and make sure mileage all matches up. Then check the car for excessive wear in high traffic/wear places and see if it matches up with what the mileage states. Link to post Share on other sites
amateurstuntman Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Old MOTs should have the mileage on them. Link to post Share on other sites
hitmanNo2 Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Indeed. I don't know what it's like in Italy but you can see the MOT history online over here. The main concern is roll backs before the first MOT. Lots of lease cars get utterly thrashed and pile on the miles then, bloop, now it's done hardly any miles. Magic. Link to post Share on other sites
RedRob Posted July 6, 2018 Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 The biggest clocking problem at the moment is private people with a car on a PCP deal. These have a maximum total mileage, after which fees are charged for any excess mileage. Faced with a potential excess charge, some are buying a device over Ebay, for example, that plugs into the OBD socket and enables them to reset the mileage to a more "contract friendly" figure. As there is usually some service history, this results in the car being sold with unwarranted mileage - apparently it is not illegal, so the user gets away with it but the finance company take a kicking on the residual value. Link to post Share on other sites
amateurstuntman Posted July 7, 2018 Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 Go here: https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/ Feel free to check my car. SWP468P You will see it being imported in November 2006. You will also see the Odometer reading increasing slowly over the last 12 years. You will also see the odometer reading flip-flopping back and fourth between miles and kilometers as morons test it. Link to post Share on other sites
Tommygunn Posted July 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2018 Do those ELM327/OBDII gadgets allow the for the reading of ECU mileage? Tom. Link to post Share on other sites
amateurstuntman Posted July 11, 2018 Report Share Posted July 11, 2018 I'm afraid the answer is "Depends". If the reader is capable then it may not be capable with all cars... Link to post Share on other sites
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