Odometer Question

umbrellaman87 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 08:55 PM

Sorry if this has been posted before but I am curious:

When a frame-on or frame-off restoration is performed on a car, is the odometer reset to 0 or do you have to keep the original mileage? I've been checking out some BMW resto sites, mainly http://www.my2002tii.com and noticed that he reset his odometer. Is there any legal formalities with this or do all you have to do is rebuild the engine? Stupid question but it's been buggin me for a while. Thanks guys.

xceptor · #2 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 10:15 PM

It could vary from country to country but i doubt it.

My understanding is, is that if you want your car to be able to be registered (and subsequently re-registered) you have to prove original mileage if you are changing the odometer etc.

This is usually done with a certified stamp on the drivers-side door sill which says the original miles before the change and then goes on to say that the replaced odo had x amount of miles on it when installed etc.

Hope that helps, it's not in depth, but i think if you want your car to be able to be registered - you can't tinker with the odo yourself.

umbrellaman87 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 10:41 PM

Interesting...so if you were to do a complete resto, you'd have to get some type of certificate to have it properly registered? Thanks for the response.

xceptor · #4 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 10:54 PM

Pretty sure. I don't think that it's legal to do without some sort of certificate saying it. Most likely a dealer will oblige to do it for you (but stealers can be painful)

The reason for the certificate is so that you dont look like you're trying to rebirth cars. :P

danny522 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-14-2006, 10:10 AM

actually in the states you dont have to do that, but dealers make you sign shit when you buy a car that says you 'beleive' that its the original miles on the odometer and the miles are printed on the title so if you do change them it'll still give whoever the original miles when you purchased the car.

downsbs · #6 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 08:08 AM

The dealer usually keeps records of the milage of each car.
You should go to the dealer with your vin and get the last reported milage, otherwise you could put a lower milage and get into trouble if it is ever checked.

big_sur · #7 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 08:16 AM

there's usually a box when you title it that says "not actual mileage." on the 356 I just cleaned up the old odometer and stuck it back in there but it doesn't have a 100k spot so it has flipped over a few times in it's life. i usually just check the not actual mileage box and keep track of the miles since the restoration because i have no idea how many original miles are on it.