What has done the mileage?

[AntneeUK]

Just a curiosity I guess, but since my clocks are saying that the car has done 97k miles, which bit has done it? Is it the engine, the chassis, the ECU? If I replaced the engine for example, should the clocks be reset? As I say, just curious for now, but it will be helpful to know in the future if I get my way

 

[stebbi]

always thought most people go on the chassis on newer high mileage cars as its stuff like suspension and bushes etc which are going to wear out quicker.

whilst on an older car say mk1 golf it'd be the engine as if the chassis is in good nick then its more than likely the engine gives up the ghost 1st.

 

[AntneeUK]

OK, just wondering, hypothetically, if I was to replace certain parts, what has to be replaced with new before you can claim zero miles It would be a bit harsh if you effectively replaced everything and were still seeing 100k miles, don't you think?

 

[Tartan58]

Doesn't answer your question but on the opposite side classic Mini's can only be imported into the USA if they're over 25 years old (emissions etc) so what folk used to do was take an old wreck and replace everything, (engine panels the lot) apart from the rear bulkhead, with brand new parts and it would still be able to be registered as a 25 year old car because it still had one original part! (not sure if that loophole still exists or not)

Interesting concept thoughAntneeUK, also if you replaced enough parts could you re-register it as a new car - (doubt it!) I guess you'd have to start from nothing and build it from parts, then it would probably be classed as a kit car

 

[AntneeUK]

Yeah, I did wonder that. As I say, it's all hypothetical at the moment, since I can only just afford to replace the brake pads right now, but I'm thinking projects longer-term. The car is already high-mileage (ish) being at 97k, and one possibility is to fit a new engine further down the line (I mean a fair way down the line, not in the next few months) and I was wondering if the new engine would be considered 97k (or more by then) old or not. Likewise, if the transmission and steering was all replaced, would it still be that mileage.

When I've checked in to the feasibility and cost of what I'm thinking of I'll share it Suffice to say that I'm not planning on letting the LCR go any time soon. A few cosmetic things to do first, and then we'll see how money goes

 

[vroomtshh]

Legally, you can never reset your clocks to 0 miles, no matter what you replace. If the clocks stop functioning, you can replace them but you 'have' to keep records of it.

 

[AntneeUK]

OK, so I could legally replace the engine, transmission etc, and the clocks at the same time, so that the mileage shows only what has been accrued since the new parts were fitted, but provide evidence of what the readout was before hand? I have no problem with that actually, if that's legal

 

[vroomtshh]

Yeh basically, you could have your clocks reset, and keep records of it.
Its not so much of a legal issue tbh. i.e. it is 'illegal' but youd never get done for it.
But if you dont keep the records, and you come to your next MOT, or someone does an HPI, they'll just think your at it.

 

[AntneeUK]

I shouldn't imagine that anyone would believe that an LCR on a 52-plate would be at such low mileage when it came to being MOT'd anyway I'd have no issue with keeping a record of the mileage if the clocks were replaced. All I'm thinking is that should I get rid of the car in a few years time, that I'd like the new owner to know how many miles it's done in its current configuration. If it's not the same engine, gearbox, clutch and who knows what else, surely they'd prefer to know that than the total. Not withholding the total still, it just seems a bit, um, unnecessary

 

[Andrewcupra TDI]

i would imagine it would be quieried upon renewal of mot , last year 97000 this year 2000

well who would care what milage is on the clocks , say 200'000 miles , but 10,000 miles ago i replaced engine box , suspention etc etc

rather than clocks showing 10,000 miles with old mots showing a few years back it done 180, 000m

thats how id feel anyway

altho if you were wanting to keep low miles , could you not get a spare set of clocks and swapp back and fore evry now and then (if you were concerened etc )-

 

[AntneeUK]

Hmm, I appreciate what you're saying. I'm not trying to keep the mileage down, I just think that it should reflect what the actual mechanical parts have done

 

[vroomtshh]

i would imagine it would be quieried upon renewal of mot , last year 97000 this year 2000

well who would care what milage is on the clocks , say 200'000 miles , but 10,000 miles ago i replaced engine box , suspention etc etc

rather than clocks showing 10,000 miles with old mots showing a few years back it done 180, 000m

thats how id feel anyway

Thats exactly my thoughts. I'd rather have a genuine car with genuine mileage, and a huge list of receipts, with dates/mileage etc, showing whats been replaced/renewed/repaired

 

[AntneeUK]

Well, as I say, it's just a hypothetical question at this point. More a curiosity that I just had to know

 

[Muttley]

Everything on the car accrues wear with mileage. Anything that moves wears - body hinges, instruments, and the like, and even the components age - bolts corrode and stiffen, flex bushes harden, plastic panels crack, paint fades and etc. To zero-life it you'd have to strip it down to bare metal components, replace all moving parts, redo all surface coatings, replace wiring looms and etc.

That's why you are prohibited from "clocking". It gives a false impression of the state of the car.

Replacement parts, especially major assemblies, (engine, gearbox, panels etc) should be drawn to the attention of any buyer and supported by receipts. The receipts will only be dated, but your service record should indicate a bracket for the mileage.

 

[AntneeUK]

Fair enough, ta

 

[Andrewcupra TDI]

i would love to have the time space and money to todally stip a car down and rebuild it as it should have been done , all the goodies put on from day 1

 

[AntneeUK]

Yeah. I have no goodies on mine at all. Only things that have ever been changed, as far as I can tell, are required things like brake pads/discs, tyres, splitters and, um, petrol But, when they start going on... well, that's a different story