Then I saw another 4.6is

[edogg]

More pics on their dealership website.

2003 Bmw X5 4.6is AWD 4dr SUV In Lynnwood WA - Western Auto Brokers

They're right up the street from my work...

ETA: What's the dot in the odometer picture? On the trip odometer right under where it says "miles"?

ETA2: I also just noticed in the odometer picture, it says it's 78 degrees. It hasn't been that warm around here since last summer!!! What gives with that? Picture taken inside a hot garage? Old picture?

ETA3: Ok last update...I just ran this through a BMW VIN decoder (from the dealer website) and it was optioned with xenon headlights. Seems to be a pretty bad salvage attempt. And makes me skeptical of the whole dealer.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by edogg

ETA: What's the dot in the odometer picture? On the trip odometer right under where it says "miles"?

That's called a "manipulation dot" and is to be steered clear of at all costs (if you ever want to resell). It occurs when a used odometer with lower mileage than the engine (ECU/BCM) is installed. If you use an odometer with a higher mileage, no dot appears.

The "right" way to do this repair is to buy a new cluster and have it coded. This particular truck could have 200,000 miles on it... who knows. I thought it was illegal for a dealer to sell a vehicle like this without stating the mileage is unknown or something.

Edit: Still looks like a nice truck... if he would sell for $4000-5000 I'd still go take a look. But I doubt that's the case.

[edogg]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

That's called a "manipulation dot" and is to be steered clear of at all costs (if you ever want to resell). It occurs when a used odometer with lower mileage than the engine (ECU/BCM) is installed. If you use an odometer with a higher mileage, no dot appears.

The "right" way to do this repair is to buy a new cluster and have it coded. This particular truck could have 200,000 miles on it... who knows. I thought it was illegal for a dealer to sell a vehicle like this without stating the mileage is unknown or something.

Edit: Still looks like a nice truck... if he would sell for $4000-5000 I'd still go take a look. But I doubt that's the case.

It's not illegal to resell a car with a bad or tampered odometer. All you have to do is fill out a disclosure statement saying that the actual mileage is unknown.

RCW 46.12.665: Odometer disclosure statement required—Exemptions.

If someone wants to buy a car in that shape, that's on the buyer.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by edogg

It's not illegal to resell a car with a bad or tampered odometer. All you have to do is fill out a disclosure statement saying that the actual mileage is unknown.

RCW 46.12.665: Odometer disclosure statement required—Exemptions.

If someone wants to buy a car in that shape, that's on the buyer.

Oh I know... but he says in the ad the X has 97k miles... which it doesn't. And yes, if the buyer is okay with any discrepancy a sale is legal. But the buyer needs to be aware of that discrepancy to be okay with it.

Plus, he's asking $10,500... which is a TON of money for something that hacked together. It's a $4000 to $5000 truck IF it drives alright.