Clocking

Slattsy

Is it possible to clock new cars these days, even cars that are 2/3 yrs old, with all the technology out there now, or can clocking only be done on older cards ?

This might sound like a stupid question to some here but im genuinely interested in finding out.

Thanks.

CiniO

Slattsy wrote: »

Is it possible to clock new cars these days, even cars that are 2/3 yrs old, with all the technology out there now, or can clocking only be done on older cards ?

This might sound like a stupid question to some here but im genuinely interested in finding out.

Thanks.

Every car can be clocked.
Some newer cars keep their mileage in few spots, so if you don't clock it careful enough (f.e. only odometer reading) then it might be very easily discovered that it was clocked, just by reading real mileage from other device (like ECU).

Where To

'Did you know that the majority of digital odometers overestimate mileage?

We at LegitHonestElectronics can correct this anomaly for you for an extortionate fee.'

CiniO

Where To wrote: »

'Did you know that the majority of digital odometers overestimate mileage?

We at LegitHonestElectronics can correct this anomaly for you for an extortionate fee.'

Hahahah nice one.
But actually that's not true.
While vast majority of speedometers overestimate the speed, then vast majority of odometres are very precise.

Gary ITR

CiniO wrote: »

Hahahah nice one.
But actually that's not true.
While vast majority of speedometers overestimate the speed, then vast majority of odometres are very precise.

Your sarcasm detector must be broken

colm_mcm

Gary ITR wrote: »

Your sarcasm detector must be broken

Mine too didn't even read the second line of the post in question

eth0

How many km per year before people start thinking it's clocked?

Anan1

eth0 wrote: »

How many km per year before people start thinking it's clocked?

That depends on how stupid the person doing the looking is. The Irish don't seem to be able to grasp the idea that documentation (ie service history and past NCTs) is the key to verifying mileage.

CiniO

Gary ITR wrote: »

Your sarcasm detector must be broken

Ohh come on.
There wasn't any sarcasm.
It sounds like realistically worded advert tbh.
How do you think all those mileage correction companies advertise?

sean1141

CiniO wrote: »

Ohh come on.
There wasn't any sarcasm.
It sounds like realistically worded advert tbh.
How do you think all those mileage correction companies advertise?

Seriously:eek:

Slattsy

Ok, so clocking can still be done on top of the range new cars.
I'm really surprised at this, I would have guessed that with all the technology available to manufacturers that it would be impossible.

CiniO

Slattsy wrote: »

Ok, so clocking can still be done on top of the range new cars.
I'm really surprised at this, I would have guessed that with all the technology available to manufacturers that it would be impossible.

Firstly technology availbale to manufactureres is virtually available to anyone else as well.

And secondly what business would manufacturers have in making it impossible to clock a vehicle?

Slattsy

CiniO wrote: »

Slattsy wrote: »

Ok, so clocking can still be done on top of the range new cars.
I'm really surprised at this, I would have guessed that with all the technology available to manufacturers that it would be impossible.

Firstly technology availbale to manufactureres is virtually available to anyone else as well.

And secondly what business would manufacturers have in making it impossible to clock a vehicle?

Fair point I guess. That's what I get for assuming things :P
On the market for a car and it crossed my mind, I now know.

As pointed out above the only was of knowing for sure is going through the log book and checking the mileage for every visit to a mechanic. Quite obvious once there's a log book available and that hasnt been altered.

Anan1

Slattsy wrote: »

As pointed out above the only was of knowing for sure is going through the log book and checking the mileage for every visit to a mechanic. Quite obvious once there's a log book available and that hasnt been altered.

You need to ring every garage who stamped the service book to verify what was done, and when. I looked at a car for sale once that had its 60k mile service stamped in the book - when I rang the garage, it turned out that the owner had told them not to do the necessary cambelt, water pump & tensioner replacement, but rather to just change the oil & filter for the stamp. Quite apart from the issue of clocking, it's simply stupid to pay full whack for a car that doesn't have a history of being properly maintained.

Slattsy

Can you get the log book before purchase though? Or is down to the seller's discretion..

shawnee

Looked at an 07 car recently with 140k on it. I would say the car had more like 340k covered. Drivers seat was worn and gearchange etc was loose. However there is really no way of knowing if it was clocked. Nct records are not available to me and then again it could have been clocked before it covered nct. Most cars in Ireland are not covered by service history so its buyer beware

lifer_sean

Slattsy wrote: »

Can you get the log book before purchase though? Or is down to the seller's discretion..

If they have a service history, they would be very foolish not to show it to you.

In my experience, it is very rare to get a service history for an Irish car, maybe 1 in 10 ? If an Irish car does have a service history, then it was probably owned by a fussy person, and is probably in very good order. However, insisting on a service history will heavily restrict your search.

UK car on the other hand always (99 out of 100?) have a service history. If a UK car does not have a service history, then I would assume that the service history got "lost" because it didn't suit someones agenda. I heard before of a NI dealer burning service history books in a barrel behind the garage.

Don't fall for the "it's in the post, we'll send it on to you later" line - in this case it doesn't exist and will never arrive, they are hoping you will forget about it.

As regards clocking, I have seen 3 year old cars in UK, with over 170k miles, showing wear consistent with 50-60k miles, being sold to Southern dealers. When was the last time you saw a 3 yr old car advertised here with 170k miles ?

Gary ITR

The unfortunate thing is a car with lower miles and no history is worth more than a high miler with a comprehensive history. Personally I know what Id prefer but far too many peple focus on the wrong things when buying a car. Quazzies Accord is a prime example of this, comprehensive main dealer history with 180k miles on board. He sells it and a week later it pops up on donedeal with half the mileage, a jacked up price and no history

Guy:Incognito

shawnee wrote: »

Looked at an 07 car recently with 140k on it. I would say the car had more like 340k covered. Drivers seat was worn and gearchange etc was loose. However there is really no way of knowing if it was clocked. Nct records are not available to me and then again it could have been clocked before it covered nct. Most cars in Ireland are not covered by service history so its buyer beware

There's plenty of ways of knowing. If people only bought cars with service histories and left the ones without them well alone , a culture of maintaining cars properly and keeping service records would develop.

cadaliac

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

There's plenty of ways of knowing. If people only bought cars with service histories and left the ones without them well alone , a culture of maintaining cars properly and keeping service records would develop.

That's just not going to happen in Ireland. Unfortunately.

Anan1

cadaliac wrote: »

That's just not going to happen in Ireland. Unfortunately.

Then people will keep buying clocked and poorly maintained cars.