Hi

First post and its a question.

A work collegue has just brought a 2003 1.9 TDi octavia auto.

I think its been clocked as the mot website would suggest its mileage was 160000 odd miles and its new mot suggests 80000.

Its the 90 BHP engine in Ambient trim.

Where are the VIN plates located on the car, ie stamped in the boot, on a bulk head on a plate in the engine bay?

It dash is showing 80000 miles as well.

I have Vagcom as i have Audi A4.

Is there any thing in vagcom that will show what the original mileage was or has this gone because somebody has over writtern the number on the instrument pack.

Thanks in advance, I am just trying to help some one out but it would have to be said some need more help than others!

Chassis number is available more or less under the LH windscreen wiper.

For further investigation, does the MoT website log the test station issuing the certificate?

Thanks for that

Yes the mot website logs the station number.

Trouble is my collegue isnt asking the right questions on the phone.

And he left himself wide open in the manner he brought the car.

A cash sale from a "trader" in a railway car park who's only contact is a mobile phone number - you couldnt make this up.

Police are not interested, mot people not interested and vosa / dvla mot that interested.

Garage where the car had its service history have said they now the name of the previous customer but the registration doesnt tally up.

Trouble is the data protection act stops you getting hold of certain info.

One to watch out for is we think a hpi mileage check gets its info from the computerised mot. So a normal hpi as apposed to a mileage history isnt worth a carrot.

Were about is the engine number on the engine?

The way you're describing this, I've got good news and bad news.

The good news is that I'm not certain the car's been clocked.

The bad news is that I think it may be cloned or stolen!! :eek: My reasoning being to do with the data from the servicing garage.

I think there is a chance its been cloned.

Another "switched on" work mate is going to look at it and check the vin and engine number.

The VIN should be on a sticker attached the passenger side suspension turret, it should also be visible on the passenger side lower windscreen. The vin may also be on a sticker located in the boot under the carpet on the left close to the spare wheel.

I think, under applications in Vag com there is EDC mileage check, which may work on the Octavia.

check out the VRM on the insurance database from DVLA - if it's cloned it may well have dual insurance policies...

Thanks for all the replies - looks like it has only been clocked as all vin locations seem to match and look like they have been there from the beginning.

Hopefuly my work collegue will look at this as education!

Thanks again.

being that your suggesting that the "average" can should have done double the number of indicated miles compared to this one, what is the interior like?

v5 lists the previous owner does it not? With a bit of research on the internet, etc it could be possible to locate the address/telephone number...

IME a "genuine" trader is normally happy to supply contact details for whoever they bought the car from too.

Also *if* the car was a lease car (check the number plates as a good clue), then it might be possible to get a service history from the lease company and that should record mileage too.

Does the service schedule book look "proper", ie various dealer stamps, etc, or has all the servicing been done by one garage? and filled in with the same handwriting/pen/dealer stamp (ie. more likely to be fake).

The VIN should also be stamped into the bulkhead behind the engine.

As for the service book, if it is an ex lease car, then there is always the old missing service record when it is returned to the lease company, particularly if it has been used as a pool car. In this situation, the lease company could have sold it with a print out of the services and work they have paid for. The new owners could then easily go to any skoda (perhaps even any VAG dealer) and get a new service book stamped up with the relevent services.

Thanks for all the advise, I think have enought info to close this thread off.

He has been stiffed and learnt a lesson in life(I hope).

The police arnt interested as it hasnt been registered stolen.

Apparently Trading standerds are in contact with Autotrader to get more contact details but I wont hold my breath on this one.

The car is actually in good nick so knowing that these cars can do big mileages I have told him to keep it till it dies.