Illegal adjustment of car mileage & Lemon Law

[Ranchu]

Hi,

I bought this pre-owned S350L from a car dealer in Turf Club. 

 

This dealer advertised at SGCARMART that this car has a mileage of 79,000 km and accident free. I still have that advertisement with me.

 

The car steering wheel vibrated very badly at 70km/hr and above on the second day I drove the car. The dealer told me to send the car to a workshop in Pioneer Road North myself to repair at their cost. The following were changed:

 

Engine mounting

Gear box mounting

All 4 Tyre rims (preowned)

All 4 Michellin Premacy HP tyres (preowned)

Front torsion bar & torsion bar linkage 

Front wheel axle.

 

After this change, the steering wheel vibration improved, but still vibrate a bit at speed above 90 km/hr.

 

Went down to C&C to do servicing this morning. Was shock to be told that according to their record, the previous owner had serviced this car at C&C this year January 15 at a mileage of 115,000 km, way above the 79,000 km advertised by the car dealer.

 

Can someone advised me if the lemon law applies in this case? With so many items changed, do you think this is an accident free car?

 

Anyone bought a preowned car and later discovered the mileage was tampered with? And what action have you taken?

 

Thank you.

[darksaint]

Hi,

I bought this pre-owned S350L from a car dealer in Turf Club

This dealer advertised at SGCARMART that this car has a mileage of 79,000 km and accident free. I still have that advertisement with me.

The car steering wheel vibrated very badly at 70km/hr and above on the second day I drove the car. The dealer told me to send the car to a workshop in Pioneer Road North myself to repair at their cost. The following were changed:

Engine mounting

Gear box mounting

All 4 Tyre rims (preowned)

All 4 Michellin Premacy HP tyres (preowned)

Front torsion bar & torsion bar linkage

Front wheel axle.

After this change, the steering wheel vibration improved, but still vibrate a bit at speed above 90 km/hr.

Went down to C&C to do servicing this morning. Was shock to be told that according to their record, the previous owner had serviced this car at C&C this year January 15 at a mileage of 115,000 km, way above the 79,000 km advertised by the car dealer.

Can someone advised me if the lemon law applies in this case? With so many items changed, do you think this is an accident free car?

Anyone bought a preowned car an later discovered the mileage was tampered with? And what action have you taken?

Thank you.

if you are able to get the service record from c&c think not only lemon law but also can report them for cheating if the record they sold you indicated lower mileage.

does the car dashboard mileage show 79K or 115k?

[Deko]

It is not lemon law. It is against Singapore Law. Return the car and file for police report.

[bbwannabe]

Yeah, it is illegal to mod the mileage.

 

By the way, better check the pre-owned tires. I have a feeling they are from 2006.

 

Never use tires that are older than 5 years old.

So, if you expect to use them for 2 years, then only accept pre-owned tires to be less than 3 years old.

(Not illegal to use older tires, just safe motoring)

[solar]

Agree with the feedback from the bros.

Allow me to add mine, on the vibration.

Couple of considerations from my past experiences.

Rim might be warped, recon ones, happens when they got hit hard, kerb, cracked, etc.

Rim balancing might not properly done. You see on the rim a few little tabs stuck on it, they are weights to counter balance the unevenness of the rim, as they may not be manufactured perfect.

These tabs can be repositioned.

Do check out the second point first before suspecting the first one.

[solar]

if you are able to get the service record from c&c think not only lemon law but also can report them for cheating if the record they sold you indicated lower mileage.

does the car dashboard mileage show 79K or 115k?

I believe even mileage on merc can be modded...

[kepiting1sg]

Get your wheels checked by a reliable tyre shop like SET or LS!

They should be able to advise you whether your rim has any problem!

[MBENZ]

Ifs your rim original or aftermarket ?

 

My S300 is very sensitive to aftermarket rim. Original rim has no problem.

 

As for the mileage, i think you can bring up with CASE. I heard from a previous car dealer that if they are found tempering with the mileage, they have to compensate the buyer accordingly based on the mileage adjusted. Meaning if yours is cheated of 36k km, it is equivalent to 1.5 years of usage, and the car dealer has to pay you back 1.5 years of depreciation cost. Not sure how accurate is this claim.

[PearlJam]

I think there is a legal case of being cheated on the mileage, especially if it has been advertised to have a much lower mileage at the point of sale.

I will get a lawyer.

[mulderang]

can share the name of the dealer so we can avoid them? Can go small claim I think , but the problem is does the dealer want to pay? They can just close shop.....

[asiadj]

wat if 1st owner tweak then sell to dealer.?

 

"wat if..."

 

dealer is clean?

 

"wat if"

[BabyA]

wat if 1st owner tweak then sell to dealer.?

"wat if...

Then dealer has not done their due diligence to check before they accepted the ride.

[PearlJam]

wat if 1st owner tweak then sell to dealer.?

 

"wat if..."

 

dealer is clean?

 

"wat if"

 

If a thief offers you a gold Rolex for $300 (never mind if he tells you it was stolen or didnt tell you), you can be charged for illegal possession of stolen goods.

You didnt steal it but you are liable.

If the dealer advertised the mileage, he is responsible.  That is cheating!

Don't have to worry about 'wat if'.  Let the dealer prove his innocence.  He can sue the guy he bought the car from.

Ignorance is not an excuse.

[asiadj]

So the story is.... Someone have to die.....

[asiadj]

I mean answer.. -D

[BabyA]

asiadj... ah, u meant someone have to die die answer. Hehehe

[thaiedwin]

Check your contract if they indicate the milage ? If there is is a legal document. This is not lemon law but Fruad .

 

But there is cases before : http://www.bmw-sg.com/forums/bmw-singapore-motoring-life/45241-used-car-dealers-tampering-odometer.html

[Kim Heng]

So whats the outcome? i just got cheated from 160k to 40+k mileage from direct owner.  

[asiadj]

call police?

[MBENZ]

bro Ranchu, anything done from your side to address the mileage issue ?