Author Topic: 150k miles today... and bad news (odometer fraud) (Read 2991 times)

Deutschbag · « **on:** October 06, 2006, 12:06:39 AM »

So I hit 150k miles today, or so I thought. I ran a carfax just for the hell of it to see why my car has a salvage title (I was surprised to find out the car had a salvage title when I went to register it). Come to find out the car not only has a salvage title, but also odometer fraud. After the math, it would seem that my car has about 80k in unaccounted for miles, so I'm actually more like 217k miles! The stupid asshole girl who sold me my car is a goddamn liar, not only did she fail to mention a salvage title, which I was willing to overlook since I'm fed up with dealing with car problems, but this is really goddamn annoying. Is there any legal action I can pursue? I don't even know if I have her contact info any more.

m42 fan · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2006, 06:35:47 AM »

Well, first calm down. The good news is that the mileage really woln't have much of an effect on the value of the car. Just look at Zozo (Mike)'s threads here and on bf.c about his car going over 200k. Lots of folks take their e30's and 318's far over that mark without trouble.

Having said that, the real determing factor in these cars is the level of care that has been given/is being given to things like maintinance, clenliness, tastefull "correct" mods, etc. Really the only thing that changed with you realizing the true mileage is that now your timing case has come due for a rebuild.

As for legal action, you probably do have a cause for action, but you probably would only win the difference between what you paid and what you would have paid had you known the actual mileage. I'm betting it's not worth all of the costs involved. The best thing about this is that you just learned an important lesson about doing your reasearch on a car before you buy it, and you didn't learn it buying something expensive like an E46 M3.

Hope I made you feel a little better

Brian

D. Clay · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2006, 09:57:04 AM »

Rule #1: No title - no money.
Never buy a car without the title or seeing the title if it goes to a mortgagee. In Texas, it says "Reconditioned" right on the front. Most states now have reciprocal agreements. No more going to another state and titling it there and then re-titling. The milage is also recorded every time a vehicle is sold to eliminate turnbacks. This doesn't eliminate replacing the odometer with a lower milage odometer as long as the milage is greater - i.e. keep a car for five years and 100,000 miles and then sell it with an odometer indicating 50,000.
Deceptive trade practice laws in most states entitle the victim to recover triple damages.

RidingSimple · « **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2006, 11:49:58 PM »

Rule #1-no carfax. no buy

asubimmer · « **Reply #4 on:** October 29, 2006, 11:52:01 PM »

I have 235k and still goin. BUT a seller MUST legally let you know that the car is a salvy.

rfritz · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2006, 12:27:26 PM »

260k FTW!!!! :eek:

sheepdog · « **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2006, 07:43:57 PM »

Being a salvage, you have no clue what mileage the motor has and chassis mileage is not a big deal.

As for legal action, unless you have proof it was never mentioned, it would be her word against yours.

Mileage will hurt less than the fact that it has a salvage title, however, look into what got it the salvage title and how long ago. As the car ages it gets easier and easier to write a car off. An Eta can be written off simple for a scratch in the paint. A small fender bender can write off almost any e30.

Basically what caused it to be slavaged, may not have been severe. If you can find out and maybe get some info you can still get nearly full value from anyone you sell it to.

Eurospec · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2006, 07:51:26 PM »

The OP just sold the car afaik.

Author Topic: 150k miles today... and bad news (odometer fraud) (Read 2991 times)

Deutschbag