Odometer Tampering - How to Detect
#1
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Odometer Tampering - How to Detect
When shopping for a SC430, what is the best way to detect potential odometer tampering?
The obvious answer may be to check CarFax, but what if the owner rolled back the odometer before a scheduled state inspection or official dealer visit?
Is it difficult for an owner to roll back the odometer on an SC430? I've seen some suspiciously low mileage older SC430's for sale, which is what made me think about this question.
The obvious answer may be to check CarFax, but what if the owner rolled back the odometer before a scheduled state inspection or official dealer visit?
Is it difficult for an owner to roll back the odometer on an SC430? I've seen some suspiciously low mileage older SC430's for sale, which is what made me think about this question.
#2
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (1)
you can't roll the odometer back. only change it to a lower mileage one.
they're also low mileage because older people buy these cars and don't drive it often. it's not surprising you found a low mileage SC430.
Mine had 64k miles and I bought it 10/10.. mines a 2002. thats 8 years with only 64k miles. pretty low. but there's plenty out there that are garage queens with barely any miles on it considering the year
they're also low mileage because older people buy these cars and don't drive it often. it's not surprising you found a low mileage SC430.
Mine had 64k miles and I bought it 10/10.. mines a 2002. thats 8 years with only 64k miles. pretty low. but there's plenty out there that are garage queens with barely any miles on it considering the year
#4
Moderator
Another way to check is to grab the VIN and check the car's history on the Lexus Drivers site. Mileage is a component part of the information. If the combination meter has been changed out it would be very obvious.
#5
The reason that mine shows that way was due to a new dealer recording the mileage wrong when the car arrived. Human error caused the discrepancy and the reason I know this is I know the complete history of my car from day one to my garage.
#6
Lexus Test Driver
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Checking the CarFax is an easy way, but most cars have really huge gaps and lack detailed history (like my car). Or history may be incorrect (Like in Playtym's case). The good thing is, it would be very difficult to change the odometer reading (you can't just 'roll-back' the numbers).
In addition to CarFax or checking the VIN Lexus, I would check how worn the seats are, see if there's any 'play' with the doors (up/down), see if the letters/numbers on the interior buttons (radio, nav, steering wheel controls) are worn, paint is worn on the key fob buttons, the key itself is worn...These will give you some insight as to how old a car is. I'm sure there's other things too that I missed.
In addition to CarFax or checking the VIN Lexus, I would check how worn the seats are, see if there's any 'play' with the doors (up/down), see if the letters/numbers on the interior buttons (radio, nav, steering wheel controls) are worn, paint is worn on the key fob buttons, the key itself is worn...These will give you some insight as to how old a car is. I'm sure there's other things too that I missed.
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#8
Lexus Test Driver
Checking the CarFax is an easy way, but most cars have really huge gaps and lack detailed history (like my car). Or history may be incorrect (Like in Playtym's case). The good thing is, it would be very difficult to change the odometer reading (you can't just 'roll-back' the numbers).
In addition to CarFax or checking the VIN Lexus, I would check how worn the seats are, see if there's any 'play' with the doors (up/down), see if the letters/numbers on the interior buttons (radio, nav, steering wheel controls) are worn, paint is worn on the key fob buttons, the key itse
lf is worn...These will give you some insight as to how old a car is. I'm sure there's other things too that I missed.
In addition to CarFax or checking the VIN Lexus, I would check how worn the seats are, see if there's any 'play' with the doors (up/down), see if the letters/numbers on the interior buttons (radio, nav, steering wheel controls) are worn, paint is worn on the key fob buttons, the key itse
lf is worn...These will give you some insight as to how old a car is. I'm sure there's other things too that I missed.
#10
It's important to check that whomever services your car properly document the odometer reading.
The Lexus dealer who changed my oil on my LS460, one month prior to me deciding to sell it, miss-reported the OD by 3000 miles. They reported it as 36,xxx miles instead of 33,xxx miles. When I went to sell it to Carmax they would not buy it because the OD reading was 2,000 miles less than previously reported service per Carfax. They suggested I keep the car and drive it for another 2,000 miles and then bring it back.
I checked the oil change receipt from the dealer and it also had an incorrect reading.
The Lexus dealer who changed my oil on my LS460, one month prior to me deciding to sell it, miss-reported the OD by 3000 miles. They reported it as 36,xxx miles instead of 33,xxx miles. When I went to sell it to Carmax they would not buy it because the OD reading was 2,000 miles less than previously reported service per Carfax. They suggested I keep the car and drive it for another 2,000 miles and then bring it back.
I checked the oil change receipt from the dealer and it also had an incorrect reading.
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