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re: <misc> Re: Odometer Tampering - informational

>From: "David R. Quick" <quickd@domain.elided>

>I was informed by this local dealer here in Upperstate New York that they
>are very cautious about taking cars from Vermont.  The salesman said that it
>is NOT illegal in Vermont to roll back an odometer, but it is illegal to say
>you haven't had it done.
>
>He went on to say that if your instrument cluster on a digital odometer BMW
>is taken out and re-installed for any number of different reasons, the
>odometer gauge will be reset to zero on the cluster.  But, the shop's
>service department takes an accurate reading before the replacement and that
>goes into the nationwide service records for your BMW.
>
>So, if the car has been worked on by a BMW authorized service department,
>then the true milage of the car will be known, otherwise you might be out of
>luck!
>
>- -Dave Quick
> BMW CCA

The digital odo's are only reset if major components are replaced.  Simply
pulling the cluster will do no more harm than replacing your battery.
Later clusters in E34/32 cars will read out the VIN# for verification of
changes to the entire cluster, ie. from a wreck.  Lots of folks with high
mileage actually intentionally fry the cluster to wipe the miles rather
than own up to 200k for resale purposes.  TMW (true mileage unknown) is
easier to swallow than 200k.  Watch out for that "true mileage unknown but
it has about 60k" line.
- -Phil Marx  BMWCCA #6021 (reset from #56021 for $200)