How to tell a car hasn't been clocked?

[arj7]

Hi all
Ive been looking at 17/18 plate Audi S3 amongst other cars even the RS3 and my concern is whether any of these cars have had their 'mileage corrected'
I know it's a thing that happens but what are the kind of tell tale signs of it happening?

If I bought off a dealer is that more likely to be the genuine mileage and condition?

Any advice is much appreciated

Thanks

[Ron99]

In my experience, most performance cars with petrol engines don't do many miles because of the running costs (fuel, brakes, tyres, servicing etc).

[hyphen]

Mileage listed on MOT certificates and on the online checker should help.
Also is the wear and tear consistent with the mileage?

[arj7]

hyphen said:

Mileage listed on MOT certificates?
Also is the wear and tear consistent with the mileage?

But whats wear and tear, tyres and pads can be changed. If its had a stopper in it the mileage could be false.

If you are buying a car there are only so many checks you can do.

[paddy1970]

It used to be possible to check on the old audis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jcQi_gUhR4

Not too sure for the new ones...

[hyphen]

arj7 said:

But whats wear and tear, tyres and pads can be changed. If its had a stopper in it the mileage could be false.

If you are buying a car there are only so many checks you can do.

Pedals are a good one, if the rubber is very worn.
Seat condition/bolsters
The buttons used the most perhaps.
Seatbelt.
Bonnet chips.
Also is there paperwork with the car? As many garages write the mileage down on invoices/service docs.

Chances are that is someone is trying to make a few grand by clocking it, they won't be spending money on a full set of pads and tyres.

But yes, only so much you can do.

Edited by hyphen on Wednesday 12th August 12:06

[CubanPete]

No MOT data until it is 3 years old.

Service history and a phone call to the servicing garage.

Professional check.

[Stig]

CubanPete said:

No MOT data until it is 3 years old.

Service history and a phone call to the servicing garage.

Professional check.

Indeed, but the latter is unreliable. Just had a service reminder for my Cupra which I thought was odd as it was only serviced in Jan? It prompted me to check the paperwork and the servicing dealer had mistakenly added a '1' in front of the mileage!

So now trying to get the records corrected from 18512 to 8512 miles (not yet done 12k miles in it)!! They managed to get it wrong in the service book too (which I insisted they stamp).

What a shower...

[Monkeylegend]

Stig said:

Indeed, but the latter is unreliable. Just had a service reminder for my Cupra which I thought was odd as it was only serviced in Jan? It prompted me to check the paperwork and the servicing dealer had mistakenly added a '1' in front of the mileage!

So now trying to get the records corrected from 18512 to 8512 miles (not yet done 12k miles in it)!! They managed to get it wrong in the service book too (which I insisted they stamp).

What a shower...

My car went the other way for it's first MOT and service at a Mercedes dealer. They knew the car, sold it to me and had done all the servicing but clearly the MOT guy couldn't read a row of digital figures correctly.

The car had actually done 180,830 miles but they recorded it on the MOT as 18.083 so they reduced it by 162k miles for me.

It now has an MOT history that shows it did a further 236k miles in the year to the next MOT where they managed to get it right.

[ZX10R NIN]

If it's been done properly you'll never know so buy on condition & if it's in good condition then buy.