Suspect odometer reset

[karlsson1974]

Me again... yes I'm sorry I've been away for some time but I'm back with many questions!

The car: Late 2000 318ci coupé;

The issue: I strongly suspect that the odometer is not showing the genuine mileage;

The question: Is there any way of finding out what the actual mileage is? Is there some sort of way that the mileage is still stored somewhere in the car's memory (or whatever?!) or am I just in wishful thinking mode here?

THANKS

[witeshark]

Late model cars have seals that would be broken if the odometer has been tampered with.

[6speedchick]

also check a car fax and look at the mileage

[zibby]

If odometer was in any ways tampered with, that would be an asterix(*) displayed next to actual milage.It can not be avoidable.In my knowledge ,it applays to E46 cars and newer.

[Dirty_Tool]

Originally Posted by zibby

If odometer was in any ways tampered with, that would be an asterix(*) displayed next to actual milage.It can not be avoidable.In my knowledge ,it applays to E46 cars and newer.

Its actually a dot and it displays on e46 and even earlier cars like e36 etc. mileage tampering is very difficult on newer BMWs as the miles are stored redundantly in several places such as the Instrument Cluster, the EWS module, the lamp control module and the Key. it is also stored in other modules but more discretely such as the DME (for OBD fault code mileage recognition.) if you really suspect tampering then do as others said. 1- runa carfax and see what it has to say. 2- check for the manipulation dot next to the mileage in the cluster. 3- take the car to a BMW dealer and have them read out the mileage from the key to see if it matches the miles displayed on the cluster.
BR,

[german-speed-demon]

it's even tough to tamper with an e30 mileage. but as dirty tool stated, mileage is stored in multiple places throughout the vehicle.

[karlsson1974]

THANKS to all of you who have replied! But I'm stil la bit confused...

1) to witeshark - Where are these seals that you mention?
2) to 6speedchick and Dirty Tool - What's a carfax - sorry for this dumb question!
3) to zibby and Dirty Tool - Where would this dot show? Is it on the screen display next to the mileage?

Again - thanks for your help!!!

[Dirty_Tool]

Dot shows in the display right next to the mileage.
Carfax may be a USA only thing.... CARFAX used car VIN number search, auto history check, vehicle history reports
take a look at the link.

[karlsson1974]

Thanks for your quick reply Dirty Tool!

In fact the Carfax system is North American - I just put in my VIN and it doesnt recognise it since it is says that this is not a North American VIN... I assume there is some European equivalent... So I'll look into this and let you know.

In any case... will the CarFax system identify what the odometer should be reading? Or am I confusing things?

Cheers!

[6speedchick]

Originally Posted by karlsson1974

Thanks for your quick reply Dirty Tool!

In fact the Carfax system is North American - I just put in my VIN and it doesnt recognise it since it is says that this is not a North American VIN... I assume there is some European equivalent... So I'll look into this and let you know.

In any case... will the CarFax system identify what the odometer should be reading? Or am I confusing things?

Cheers!

It will tell you what the mileage was at points in the cars history you can judge it from there....and every owner and if it was in a accident

[karlsson1974]

Hey thanks 6speedchick ;-) I guess since I'm in Europe I'll have to look for another alternative?

[johnnyBgood]

Also your local BMW dealer has service records with dated mileage, just give them your vin # you can just tell them you want to check what services were done & @ what mileage..... I know this, because my brother recently purchased a 2000 328i off of an ebayer here in NJ, he was told the car only had 42,000 miles on it, when in fact it had 129,000 miles on it.......when he called the BMW dealer to find out if the car was up to date on its services....that's when he found out.....he threaten to sue, & the guy gave him back $4,500. the difference in price based on that mileage....
johnny,