Verifying original mileage

[smullo]

I recently bought a 1990 300CE with 69,000 miles on the clock.

To me (and I am no mechanic) I reckon it has done about 110,000 but the car was worth the money - even for that mileage.

However, I would like to know for sure if it has been clocked.

Are there any giveaway signs to look out for?

Cheers.

 

[sclass]

Yes check i did not own it

 

[Spike]

Even with 110k on the clock, the interior should show minimal signs of wear.

Just a little wear on the drivers seat bolster should be all that is visable. With 69k on the clock, I'd expect no real visible wear at all.

You could always look through any receipts/service records you have for the car and try and contact the workshops used or with a bit of luck a former owner or two

 

[teky]

excess wear on peddles is a give away but you cant beat a service history, you can contact the DVLA and for a small price get lots of info you could also go to a merc dealer and get a full sevice history its on their database

 

[mlc]

Spike is giving good advice. It is really hard to look at a car and put a mileage to it. Seats wear with use, but a petite lady driver causes hardly any damage driving 100k.

The only real check is history - who serviced it, when and at what mileage, plus annual inspections (MOT in UK). Anyone that cant offer at least some history is probably hiding it.

I am however really interested how you have decided that its done 110k miles?

Mark.

 

[mjtray]

Tecky gives good advice and is what I did on my old E280.

I looked in the service book and found the dealer who supposedly did all of the most recent servicing...went into them and they printed out a full service history report for....went on for pages!!!

Not only did this confirm the mileage, but it also enabled me to see exactly what had been done to the car.

I also wrote to the first owner who sent me copies of the invoices he kept when he had the car for the first 4 years of its life.

 

[smullo]

Thanks for the advice.

Dealing with the government department that controls cars in Ireland is a bit of an unknown. Plus we have only had the NCT (same as MOT in UK) here for about 4 or 5 years. But I think I will write to both and ask them for any info they have on the car.

It has had at least 6 owners.

The reason I came to the 110 ish number is due to the work needed of late. Suspension arms, a lot of electrics (sunroof, windows, seatbelt arms) and now the ABS. The interior is very clean apart from slight wear on the drivers seat and the arm rest.

I shall do some digging around.

Cheers

 

[sclass]

Probably it is clocked by all six previos owners.

Six owners 60thousand miles .The spedo will probably jump out if you ask it too . It will turn round and say not again. Hope this is helpfull. :roll:

 

[Spike]

The reason I came to the 110 ish number is due to the work needed of late. Suspension arms, a lot of electrics (sunroof, windows, seatbelt arms) and now the ABS. The interior is very clean apart from slight wear on the drivers seat and the arm rest.

Sounds about right... minimal wear + mine required drivers window motor, suspension arms and seatbelt presenter arm at about 115k.