whats happens if

[rozia]

a car mileage goes above 200'000 miles? does it go up to that amount? i have seen cars advertised up to 170'000 miles on the clock, but not mroe than that. How much does it reach to?

[MarkRae]

I guess you're not in the MG Car Club! I know people with lovingly cared for cars whose mileometer has rotated a couple of times at least...

[Buenchico]

Any decent diesel engine should last well over a quarter of a million miles. I've know people driving cars with over three times that on the clock!

[rozia]

so does the clock go back to 0?

[MarkRae]

It certainly does.

[Buenchico]

Unless it's a very unusual clock, all of the digits can show anything from 0 to 9. So the clock you refer to (showing 170,000 miles) will keep on going until it reaches 999,999 miles. Then an old-fashioned analogue clock (where the digits rotate) will advance to 000,000. (Electronic clocks might do the same, or they might simply stick on 999,999, depending upon how the circuitry is configured).

[rozia]

wow, so if a car that was 02 reg, and was advertised with only 5 miles, would this be correct, or would there be something to say its been round the clock twice

[MarkRae]

Analogue clocks just rotate as Chris has described. I've not encountered an MG with a digital clock which has anything that number of miles on the clock, though it's almost certainly bound to happen at some point.

[MarkRae]

A car with an O2 reg and five miles on the clock has either been "clocked" or has sat in a garage somewhere for nearly ten years.

[Buenchico]

Twice?
In the unlikely chance that it had 'been round the clock' at all, it would only need to do it once. But a million miles over 10 years is 100,000 miles per year, or roughly 2000 miles per week, which is approaching 300 miles per day (7 days per week). It's not impossible but it's fairly unlikely!

If an 02 car actually had 5 miles on the clock it's far more likely that a faulty speedo has just been replaced by a new one or, alternatively, that the car has a genuine delivery mileage on it (because, for example, the owner died and it took ages to settle the distribution of his estate).

[MarkRae]

Older cars had only six digits (including one for tenths of a mile) Chris.

[MarkRae]

Morris Minors too, it seems: http://www.myoldmap.com/dominic/morris1.htm

[Buenchico]

Agreed, Mark. (I've been driving quite a few when 99,999 has clicked over to 00,000). I was basing my answer upon the 6-digit figure quoted in the question.

[wildwood]

//so if a car that was 02 reg, and was advertised with only 5 miles, would this be correct, or would there be something to say its been round the clock twice//

Not really honest if then advertised with 5 miles. 'On the clock' it may be, but the mileage of the vehicle it is not.
The pedal rubber and wear on upholstery would certainly indicate its truer milage.

[MarkRae]

I'm pretty sure the pedal rubber and upholstery can be replaced...

[dzug2]

But is it likely to be 'advertised' as only having done 5 miles

Somehow doubt it

[TWR]

Rozia, if you are intending to purchase a fresh car there are many way's to indicate the cars age, as said look at the pedal rubbers, the steering wheel, Seats for wear, the floor carpet, the instep as you get into the car, the drivers door ( Dropping on the hinge) depending on the age of the car it should show a reading of normal running 10.000 P/A/ at the most 12.000 unless it has belonged to a company, comp cars are usually serviced well & should show that in the service book, My own car shows 165.000 but has documentation to prove the milage, with respect, if you are intending to purchase take someone with you that knows his / her/ mechanics before you get stung for your cash, & believe me there are a lot out there that will take your cash & think nothing of it about ripping you off.

[AlBags]

There's a BMW diesel I know that's now on over 350,000 on original engine.

[Zacs-Master]

My 11 year old Seat Toledo has 188,000 on the (digital) clock on the original engine and clutch and does 56 MPG. As I only travel 7 miles to work and back, I can't see the point of getting anything else. I'm sure it will read 200,000 if it makes it that far.

[ChuckFickens]

The record is held by a volvo p1800, currently at about 2.8million miles, the guys aiming to clear 3million with it!

http://autos.aol.com/...3-million-mile-volvo/