BMW Low Miles - Mileage blocker risk

[jaisingh340I]

Dear Fellow Forum Users

I wanted your valuable opinion.

I won't say which dealer and exac model- but they have advertised a Diesel BMW 2019 with only 30,000 miles.

4 Owners - with the 1st being BMW.

My friend pointed out to me that this seems very low for diesel and its age, and suspects the milage may have been tampered with.

Is he correct in his reasoning to be suspicious or could this be overthinking things?

And is there is anyway a consumer can mitigate the risks of buying a car that has been tampered with, or is the only way is to buy the newest car possible? As this obviously comes with a premium.

[danb79]

Do the miles tally up with MOT's or service history?

I bought a 2002 Jap import E39 540i with 53k miles on it in 2023... Loe mileage can mean nothing if it's been a car that's been lightly used... No need to go cynical from the off

Due diligence is what's needed to begin with

[jaisingh340I]

First MOT 2022 = 23 k miles
THEN only shows MOT in August 2025 = 24,600 miles (+ 1500 miles)
2026 = 30,000 miles (+ 5700 miles)

? This is using TotalCarCheck APP

[nikaiyo2]

Mileage blocker or not I would not touch a low mileage diesel with a stty stick.

[Collectingbrass]

A Carly ODB reader will check the mileage stored in the control modules around the car. Whether the mileage blocker has affected these or not I don't know but there are enough BMW diesels out there that you can afford to walk away from one that doesn't pass the sniff test.

[Trevor555]

jaisingh340I said:

First MOT 2022 = 23 k miles
THEN only shows MOT in August 2025 = 24,600 miles (+ 1500 miles)
2026 = 30,000 miles (+ 5700 miles)

? This is using TotalCarCheck APP

I buy cars for a living, for dealers.

I would not buy that car.

[jaisingh340I]

Thanks Trevor

Do you suspect it's been tampered with mileage blockers ?

What mileage would you say a 2019/2020 diesel should have ?


Im confused on what happened as first owner was BMW who did the first MOT in 2022

But then there was no MOT until 2025... Which does not make sense as someone would not buy the car off BMW to not use it/SORN it


Then last MOT was this year

[Trevor555]

jaisingh340I said:

Thanks Trevor

Do you suspect it's been tampered with mileage blockers ?

What mileage would you say a 2019/2020 diesel should have ?


Im confused on what happened as first owner was BMW who did the first MOT in 2022

But then there was no MOT until 2025... Which does not make sense as someone would not buy the car off BMW to not use it/SORN it


Then last MOT was this year

I can't comment without seeing the car, and paperwork.

But it's what we call in the trade a "story car"

There's a reason there was no MOT's, and the low mileage between.

Plenty of cars for sale out there, don't buy one that's got too many questions attached to it.

None of my dealer friends would entertain it, remember that when you come to sell it.

Presume you've asked the dealer why the MOT gap?

What did they say?

And if they say it was illness, car sorned, then a death, then keeper changes due to bereavement to sell. I'd need very solid proof of all that.

Edited by Trevor555 on Monday 7th September 11:18

[TwistingMyMelon]

Ive got a 2019 /20 BMW 430d with only 30k miles on it

First owner BMW and im the 3rd owner

I actually wanted a petrol but the spec was too good plus it was a BMW approved so I knew it was OK, although TBH I wouldnt trust any dealer.

I only do 8k a year if tha.t.

BUT WHAT YOU HAVE A DIESEL & DONT DRIVE MUCH>>>> PANIC ??? I wanted a straight six rear wheel drive BMW before they die and with older proven technology. I also wanted to do a few Euro trips . Life and kids have got in the way of that, but Ive just done a 1000 mile trip across the UK & Scotland. I also dont really do short journeys in it, as I use my bike .

Point being its all feasable, Ideally I would have had a petrol but the 430 was a turbo'd 2.0 and 440 out of budget.

Also I can see that mine sat in a car park for months at a time in bertween sales, which makes sense as BMW pre reg cars esp as mine was last bulk of an outgoing model .
There is method to madness somtimes

OP - only you have seen the car in question, but somtimes there is a reason why things are. Having said that, if it bothers you there are plenty more fish in the sea.

Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Thursday 10th September 12:12

[jaisingh340I]

Hi Trevor

Yes they are saying some people don’t MOT their cars after buying them as they possibly keep the cars as “show cars”. And was trying to convince me it’s better that is hasn’t been driven much.

I’ve told them I’m not interested.

[Rob_R]

A diesel BMW as a show car?

You definitely made the right decision walking away from that one.

[Alex_225]

No one is keeping diesels as show cars let's be honest, so sounds like one avoided. Some cars do have low mileage but if there is a load of faff around a car and there are others you could go for instead, save yourself the headache.

I was looking at a 650 convertible about a year ago and a black one came up with extremely low mileage. Turned out it had been a car in Ireland, had only been serviced once according to the trader and just raised more and more questions around how it had been used/looked after. I eventually bought one with 65k on it, nice condition and a history that tied in with the mileage.

Good luck with the hunt OP.

[Cheddarbang]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Ive got a 2019 /20 BMW 430d with only 30k miles on it

First owner BMW and im the 3rd owner

I actually wanted a petrol but the spec was too good plus it was a BMW approved so I knew it was OK, although TBH I wouldnt trust any dealer.

I only do 8k a year if tha.t.

BUT WHAT YOU HAVE A DIESEL & DONT DRIVE MUCH>>>> PANIC ??? I wanted a straight six rear wheel drive BMW before they die and with older proven technology.

Yeah exactly. Not every car is shady and some people have an engine type and fuel preference, regardless of mileage.......but we need to remember this is the most cynical, most miserable, most risk averse car forum in existence, so I'm not surprised by the comments.

"I buy cars for a living" lol, that has as much credence and value as "I'm an influencer with 1.000.000 followers". Who gives a st.

[_Rodders_]

jaisingh340I said:

First MOT 2022 = 23 k miles
THEN only shows MOT in August 2025 = 24,600 miles (+ 1500 miles)
2026 = 30,000 miles (+ 5700 miles)

? This is using TotalCarCheck APP

That looks very suspicious to me.

[Uncle Meat]

I thought there was a lot more data BMW could get than just mileage.

I'm sure I've heard of crazy things like 'number of times reverse gear engaged', although the one I would want to see is the number of hours the engine has been running.

[jaisingh340I]

It also had an undertray advisory on the last MOT in 2025. Is that normally to hide the DPF from the MOT tester (which may have been tampered with)? As I read MOT testers are currently not allowed to inspect further if there is an undertray.

[Cheddarbang]

jaisingh340I said:

It also had an undertray advisory on the last MOT in 2025. Is that normally to hide the DPF from the MOT tester (which may have been tampered with)? As I read MOT testers are currently not allowed to inspect further if there is an undertray.

No. It's to do with being a risk to the public if it falls off the car at 80mph.

You can inspect the DPF from the engine bay and has nothing to do with the undertray.