millage clocked

[leckford]

Hello all. Myfirst post here, but i've enjoyed reading most of posts on this forum.

Had a mk2 gti years ago and i'm in the process of returning to the vw fold by buying a 2000 mk4 gti golf. A concern of mine however is that the 2nd service stamp looks a little dodgy. It's the only stamp which is a non vw dealer stamp, and the millage looks like it was written in and then changed by 20k, down ofc. The current milage corresponds to all the following service enters in the service book.

It's a trademan who's selling the car and has a semi-plausible explanation that the garage entered the invoice number instead of the millage, which he says he has checked. Basically can people change the electronic millage counter in the mk4 golfs, or are these bascially tamper proof?

thanks in advance
Laurence

[mkpp786]

Hello all. Myfirst post here, but i've enjoyed reading most of posts on this forum.

Had a mk2 gti years ago and i'm in the process of returning to the vw fold by buying a 2000 mk4 gti golf. A concern of mine however is that the 2nd service stamp looks a little dodgy. It's the only stamp which is a non vw dealer stamp, and the millage looks like it was written in and then changed by 20k, down ofc. The current milage corresponds to all the following service enters in the service book.

It's a trademan who's selling the car and has a semi-plausible explanation that the garage entered the invoice number instead of the millage, which he says he has checked. Basically can people change the electronic millage counter in the mk4 golfs, or are these bascially tamper proof?

thanks in advance
Laurence

Im not sure how to check if it has or hasnt been clocked, although they arent tamper proof, im pretty sure the digital counter can also be clocked.

[Eshrules]

most common way to check the mileage, is to get hold of all previous MOTs if not available, at least the last 2 or 3 of them, hopefully before the present seller had it in his posession.

i very much doubt they have 'clocked' the mileage though as you have things such as HPI reports which often log the mileage as well as a register in the UK which retains mileages on cars registered with them. if in doubt about the dealer stamp, ring them, ask them for a copy of the invoice or for an explanation if they can give it, as to why the paperwork was amended.

[leckford]

Ok thanks, i've got a HPI check done which is completely clean. i'll try to ring the dealership in question and see if the story checks out.

[ini]

The mileage can be easily changed with the correct hardware/software, but it is illegal not to declare it when you sell a vehicle.

[leckford]

Can the correct millage be checked with vag com if it's been changed?

[Sam]

Can the correct millage be checked with vag com if it's been changed?

There's a section of the ECU that records true mileage. I can't for the life of me remember where to find it though.

I'll do some searching.

[indian jalepeno]

There's a section of the ECU that records true mileage. I can't for the life of me remember where to find it though.

I'll do some searching.

Hi mate, did you have any joy with the above? reason why I am asking is that the A4 i've just bought only came with 1 MOT (stoopid of me I know)and now i've noticed that the instrument panel has been tampered with.

Thanks in advance

I J

[indian jalepeno]

Had it VAG COM'd yesterday, no luck i'm afraid. It couldnt find the true mileage of the car. All it could do was tell me the mileage of the clock fitted at the time and all came up good. Only proves though that it hasnt been electronically adjusted, not to say that its a total new unit. Oh well.

[vwnige]

if you are still suspicous look for other signs such as wear of the steering wheel and pedals also look if the dash has been tampered with.