Ferrari Mileage Scandal?

[asphaltgambler]

It's odd to me what the manufacturer is getting / profiting from this? No question the 'owner' profits but with all the paper trail that is left from registering a car, emissions testing, State inspections, dealer servicing all someone would have to do...........is look on the interwebs.

Also, it is correct that ever since digital odometer read-outs have been in place, so have there been initially dealer only scan software to modify the reading. It is necessary when the instrument cluster fails and a technician replaces it, then needs to code the correct mileage. Most manufacturers allow only basic administrative levels of mileage transfers where the cluster info is scanned, recorded then that info is uploaded to the replacement cluster.

But there are limited aftermarket scan tools/ software where that process is streamlined and the technician directly inputs the figure manually. Again the assumption is replacing a failed cluster, inputting exact existing mileage.

The cluster is has only display capabilities with a simple memory chip. The DME (ECM) and the trans module ( if automatic) stores the mileage as well. So if the odometer reading was changed, the DME, trans as well as other drive train related modules do not. So connecting a scan tool would immediately reveal this.

However, more common in ever day vehicles the cluster is just swapped out for lower mileage readout from a salvage yard, assuming there is limited paper trail.

[legion]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

It's odd to me what the manufacturer is getting / profiting from this? No question the 'owner' profits but with all the paper trail that is left from registering a car, emissions testing, State inspections, dealer servicing all someone would have to do...........is look on the interwebs.

Well, if you buy the car new, are the only owner, only have it serviced at the Ferrari dealership, get in no accidents, and don't have to do emissions testing, I think it is conceivable that the only external records of the vehicle's mileage are with the dealership and Ferrari. It sounds like the tool may update those records as well.

[asphaltgambler]

But isn't every new dealer service records online or transfer to third parties like Carfax now?

[legion]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

But isn't every new dealer service records online or transfer to third parties like Carfax now?

I think it is spotty, at best. Carfax searches public databases (and pays to look at some private ones).

Think about the case in the original article. Guy buys a LaFerrari new from the dealership, let's say the mileage is something like 8 miles when he buys it. He drives it for a few years and let's say he puts 10,000 miles on it. He's had only oil changes and required service done at the dealership. Then he pays the dealership to reset the mileage to zero. (This part is speculation.) Because it was done with a factory tool at the dealership, it updates the dealership and Ferrari corporate databases. He drives it for a few more months, puts 100 miles on it, and sells it to an unsuspecting new owner. From the new owner's perspective, he can see that it had 8 miles on it when purchased new and has 100 miles on it now. I'm going to assume the original owner tosses the service records and the new owner doesn't think to ask.

[lowyder993s]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

But isn't every new dealer service records online or transfer to third parties like Carfax now?

As a survey on 1...my mileage gets reported by an independent Ferrari garage here...never knew...

[Fast Freddy 944]

Originally Posted by legion

Report: Ferrari has device to roll back odometers to 0 | Fox News

You don't want to mess with Italians!

[matthewb0051]

Can't you just jack up the rear end and put it in reverse to take off miles?

[Don Ro]

Confession time:
When my BIL and my sister went out for an all day Sat. picnic @ noon with their friends, I took (keys in ignition) his hopped up custom car show winner '41 Ford out for a spin to my g/f's. The flathead was built! Ported, relieved, polished, with 3 Strombergs and a mean dual exhaust. I freaked when I looked at the speedo upon return...so I backed the car up around the neighborhood to the original mileage.
I was 14 yrs. old back in '59...full of piss and vinegar...and desperate to show off.
I got away with it...Whew!
.

[Neilk]

Wow, look at this low mileage Ferrari! Haha, gotta love Google Ad words or whatever it is called.

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

Hmmm another former disgruntled employee whistle blower.

Disgruntled is irrelevant. Number of parties are looking like scum here.

The dealer, Ferrari and owner of the car Mister CEO AZZHAT of Sara Lee.

[porsche moose]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ferrari-salesman-blows-whistle-says-231410317.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

[sammyg2]

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/947764-ferrari-mileage-scandal.html

[Rtrorkt]

i like the double whammy here, roll back the mileage and avoid the sales tax.

[p911dad]

911's with the electronic speedometer also have a little reported speedometer problem.
A local 911 wrench told me all a person needs to do is pull the speedo and disconnect the power wire. It disables the speedo and the cruise control. One could disable the speedo before a long trip or for months at a time and the next owner will never be the wiser. Highly illegal and unethical, however there are probably a whole lot of older "low mileage" 911's out there with false readings that really can affect values. Buyer beware. If it's too good to be true..

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

How many here have plans to buy a Ferrari?

Irrelevant- Its not about anyone here.

The issue is largely about deception to gain valuation AND a very significant sum. Add the fact how Ferrari valuation are highly sensitive to mileage.

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Specifically, Root alleges in his lawsuit that the Deis Tester was used on the 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari owned by Sara Lee CEO C. Steven McMillan on or about October 22, 2015, to set the odometer to 0. Root alleges that McMillan paid the technician cash to perform this operation, that Ferrari was aware of it, and that the dealer sought to keep the reset secret to evade potential regulatory and/or criminal consequences and to maintain loyalty from McMillan. Rolling back the miles on McMillan's car could make it worth up to $1 million more.
---------

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by p911dad

911's with the electronic speedometer also have a little reported speedometer problem.
A local 911 wrench told me all a person needs to do is pull the speedo and disconnect the power wire. It disables the speedo and the cruise control. One could disable the speedo before a long trip or for months at a time and the next owner will never be the wiser. Highly illegal and unethical, however there are probably a whole lot of older "low mileage" 911's out there with false readings that really can affect values. Buyer beware. If it's too good to be true..

Big news......NOT. This is sofa-king COMMON knowledge.

It's half a century old data.

[intakexhaust]

A little known fact. Suppose a manufacture (-any- made here or other country of origin) has a vehicle still in their possession but is used on a track, testing adding miles OR worse is damaged. It can be repaired and mile reset before delivery to an authorized dealer without any disclosure of its poor history.

This also holds for example if, a customer special order and is built, already with assigned serial number and is greatly damaged while in the possession of the manufacturer. They may elect to repair and forward to the dealer without notification.

I know this for a fact that PCNA in the days of their port in Charleston, SC was hit by hurricane Hugo. So take it from that but cars were damaged and completely refinished before dealer delivery -without customer knowledge.

Carry on-

[p911dad]

Bob Kontak, I am a long time 911 owner. I thought I was reporting something maybe useful to those with less knowledge about these things than you or I. Maybe you should back up and think a bit before you jump in with your flamethrower. "sofa-king"