Odometer correction

Status
Not open for further replies.
The_Ogre

The_Ogre

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 30, 2010
Messages
27,843
Reaction score
10,968
Location
Cape Town
Is it legal?

A buddy of mine bought one of these machines from DX. Spent about 10k on the thing which got me thinking.

He's a qualified mechanic working for himself and he says it often happens that he puts in a different engine into a car and then needs to adjust the kilos to what he recons the new engine has on it.

What's the law around this? What's to stop me from going to him and telling him to take 100k's from my car so I can sell it for more than what its worth? ::love:

:p
 
YingYang said:
Is it legal?

A buddy of mine bought one of these machines from DX. Spent about 10k on the thing which got me thinking.

He's a qualified mechanic working for himself and he says it often happens that he puts in a different engine into a car and then needs to adjust the kilos to what he recons the new engine has on it.

What's the law around this? What's to stop me from going to him and telling him to take 100k's from my car so I can sell it for more than what its worth? ::love:

:p
Click to expand...
What he is doing is ethical. What you are suggesting he do to your car is down right illegal.
 
There is no law preventing you from doing a odometer rejuvenation however, if you sell the car after the rejuvenation you have to inform the buyer. If you don't it is considered fraud.
 
Datura said:
What he is doing is ethical. What you are suggesting he do to your car is down right illegal.
Click to expand...
Its a hypothetical question, Dat! I would never take that chance, I'm just curious. That's all.

I actually never even know such devices existed.
 
YingYang said:
Its a hypothetical question, Dat! I would never take that chance, I'm just curious. That's all.

I actually never even know such devices existed.
Click to expand...

10k is a bit excessive, i've seen guys do it with a drill and some attachments bought from a hardware shop.
 
YingYang said:
He's a qualified mechanic working for himself and he says it often happens that he puts in a different engine into a car and then needs to adjust the kilos to what he recons the new engine has on it.
Click to expand...
Is that really how it works?
 
@Datura, it could be argued that what he is doing is NOT ethical. You forget that all the other parts of the car have experienced X amount of kilometres. Rolling back the kilometres you are implying that the entire car has only experienced the reduced amount of kilometres which is wrong. As most companies base value off year, model, and kilometres he would be causing the car to appreciate in value.

@YingYang please PM me his details so I can know who I shouldn't go to if I am looking not to be ripped off.
 
:erm:

Here I was always told it is illegal to change the KMs. That even if a new engine was installed, the KMs had to stay as they were....
 
XennoX said:
@Datura, it could be argued that what he is doing is NOT ethical. You forget that all the other parts of the car have experienced X amount of kilometres. Rolling back the kilometres you are implying that the entire car has only experienced the reduced amount of kilometres which is wrong. As most companies base value off year, model, and kilometres he would be causing the car to appreciate in value.

@YingYang please PM me his details so I can know who I shouldn't go to if I am looking not to be ripped off.
Click to expand...

Good point.
 
Venomous said:
:erm:

Here I was always told it is illegal to change the KMs. That even if a new engine was installed, the KMs had to stay as they were....
Click to expand...

It is not illegal to change the reading on the odometer. It is however illegal to sell the vehicle with a lesser clock reading and not inform the buyer about it.

Carte Blanche ran a story about this about 3-4 weeks ago.
 
Last edited:
XennoX said:
@Datura, it could be argued that what he is doing is NOT ethical. You forget that all the other parts of the car have experienced X amount of kilometres. Rolling back the kilometres you are implying that the entire car has only experienced the reduced amount of kilometres which is wrong. As most companies base value off year, model, and kilometres he would be causing the car to appreciate in value.

@YingYang please PM me his details so I can know who I shouldn't go to if I am looking not to be ripped off.
Click to expand...

^this.
Also it is illegal, the car registration is supposed to have the mileage on in it and it needs to be updated every time the license is renewed. How would someone explain that their car suddenly has less mileage on it than when it was licensed the previous year?
 
It's illegal - no matter what spin you want to put on it.

I have heard that you can also do it with newer electronic speedos as well, so just be careful out there - if a mileage looks suspiciously low, when compared with the rest of the car, it possibly is!
 
Fazda said:
I have heard that you can also do it with newer electronic speedos as well, so just be careful out there - if a mileage looks suspiciously low, when compared with the rest of the car, it possibly is!
Click to expand...

To add on to what Fazda said here:

If you are buying a used vehicle, phone the manufacturer and ask for a log of work done. They usually indicate the kilometres on the service record.
 
grim said:
Can't do that on newer cars with electronic odometers
Click to expand...

Im willing to bet that it will be even easier to do it on a electronic odometer, just need the correct diagnostic tool.
 
Why does your friend think it is justified to change the odometer when putting in a new motor? The distance covered impacts many parts on a car, not just the motor.
 
burn said:
Why does your friend think it is justified to change the odometer when putting in a new motor? The distance covered impacts many parts on a car, not just the motor.
Click to expand...

A con artist will justify anything!! ;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X