What Does Putting Miles On A Car Mean
The phrase might seem a little funny if you havent heard it in context before. Just to make sure everyone is on the same page, putting miles on your car means driving it on the road.
If you drive 5 miles to the store, you just put 5 miles on your car.
When you get in your car and start it, look on the dashboard. Youll see a digital or physical counter that counts the miles youve driven. This is called your odometer and displays the total number of miles you put on your car.
How Many Miles Should A Used Car Have
When shopping for a used car, its commonplace to pay special attention to the condition of the vehicle, in addition to the vehicles mileage. Of course, while buying a used car with low miles has its obvious benefits, it shouldnt necessarily be the deciding factor when comparing a few vehicles that you have your eye on. Some makes and models of cars perform better than others even with high mileage, so you need to consider the brand and overall performance ratings in order to make a sound decision. Below, weve compiled a few important things to consider when reviewing the mileage on used cars:
Why Mileage Matters
In most cases, the first service for a used car is usually between 30,000 and 40,000 miles by the 70,000-mile mark, the service visit is usually more expensive and might require more work, such as changing the timing belt, according to Edmunds. By the time you hit 100,000 miles, the car may be less reliable even though its still driveable.
If youre finding cheaper vehicles that have more than 155,000 miles, you may want to put the brakes on a potential purchase, despite the savings. By that stage, the car is at a higher risk of breakdowns, which means costly repairs and frequent inconveniences, according to Samarins.
When Mileage Doesnt Matter
Managing Mileage with Your Used Car Purchase
How Much Mileage Is Too High For A Used Car To Have
Car Buying Tips For New and Used Cars
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There are many factors that go into determining how many miles is too much for a vehicle to have when buying a used car. One is its history. How many owners has it had and how well have they taken care of it .
A one-owner car that a granny drove could be great on mileage, but you might be looking at internal issues from the vehicle not getting driven enough. On the flip side, the vehicle may have quite a few miles on it, but you have the maintenance records to show that it was well taken care of.
Of course, everyones situation is different, but on average a vehicle can put on approximately 12,000 miles a year. So, if youre looking at a car with an odometer that says 86,000 miles and the car is eight years old, youre well within that average range, which would be 96,000 miles in this case.
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Do Bmws Break Down A Lot
When compared to other car manufacturers, BMW cars dont break down any more than them. They suffer similar issues as most other makes, and a lot depends on how the owner looks after the car. Most people with BMWs that break down are guilty of being a bit lazy in their approach to maintenance.
With that being said, BMWs tend to have some common problems that may cause minor break down issues. Mainly, the problems stem from the electronics systems in the cars. Some owners experience issues with electric windows, remote locking, and other electronic elements. Thankfully, the problems are never serious enough for the car to stop working, and they tend to have quick and affordable fixes.
So, as an overall answer to this question, BMWs dont break down a lot. If you collected up the average number of breakdowns across all car manufacturers, then you wont find BMW near the top!
Used Truck Mileage Shopping Tips
Keep in mind, the average truck in the US is around 12 years old, which maybe puts the average mileage around 144,000. While shopping for used trucks, dont think about how many miles it has on it now but how many miles you will actually get out of it.
If the truck you are thinking about purchasing has 50,000 miles on it, that usually means you can drive it another 90,000 miles before you get to the average. If the used truck has 100,000 miles on it, its still nearly 4 years of driving to arrive at the average. In a lot of cases, youll be fine buying a used truck with 150,000 or even 200,000 miles on it, since maintenance helps them last way beyond what some people have come to expect.
When thinking about mileage on a used truck, dont take it literally. Look into the history of the used truck, its prior owner, locations its been driven in, how it was driven, and if its been regularly maintained. If youre willing to begin with a good used truck, even with a lot of miles, a good maintenance plan and quick repairs should see your used truck long into the future.
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How To Make A High Mileage Vehicle Last
Whether you absolutely love your current car, or cant afford a new one for the time being, you want your car to run for a long time. Not only do you need to get around, but if a high mileage vehicle is in good working order then some of its value can still be recouped at the end of its time with you if you do decide to sell or trade it in. While it wont last forever, there are steps you can take to keep your car going for as long as possible. Be sure to Make repairs immediately: When something breaks, repair it as quickly as possible and do not drive the car until the problem has been resolved. Your problem is unlikely to go away and will likely just get worse and may lead to other more severe issues. As soon as your check engine light comes on or you start hearing some unusual sounds coming from under the hood, take your car to a mechanic to get it checked out and repaired.
Is Buying A Car With Over 100000 Miles Bad
A reliable vehicle with more than 100,000 miles is likely capable of traveling another 100,000 miles or less. If you put about 12,000 miles on the car each year, you may be able to use it for up to 8 years. In this case, its also important to consider the age of the car. If its a 3-year-old car, it means that its owner has been putting more than 30,000 miles on it each year. Due to the tough life it has had, its engine and other components may have sustained more wear and tear than usual.
It can be somewhat risky to buy a vehicle that has racked up more than 100,000 miles. Even if its well-maintained and has about 100,000 miles left in it, such a car is already past its prime. Generally, vehicles are likely to start experiencing problems after the 100,000-mile mark. Also, in most cases, they no longer have a valid manufacturers warranty, meaning you have to pay for repairs out of your own pocket when something goes wrong.
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What Will My Car Do If My Alternator Is Bad
I remember in High School I had this 1989 Honda CRX Si, and I loved that vehicle. It was small and quick and maybe sometimes too fast. Well, I was on my way to work when, of course, I was speeding. As the police officer pulled up behind me, my headlights started to flicker.
As soon as I saw that I forgot all about being pulled over, I knew the day was about to get a lot longer. I shut off the engine as quickly as possible to save as much power in the battery as possible.
There is no need to waste the amount of juice I have left while I am getting a ticket. Thankfully I had enough power still in the battery after getting my ticket to make it to town to park the vehicle before the battery ran dead.
So the first sign of a failing alternator is flickering headlights. Strange sounds and a dead battery are two more signs that your alternator is failing. The peculiar sounds would be whining and grinding coming from the alternator.
When an alternator is failing, it can be an array of causes, but the grinding would be because of a worn or damaged internal bearing. The whining would be caused by the voltage regulator on the alternator requesting more voltage than the alternator can provide.
One of the most prominent indications that you will notice very quickly is failing electronics. When your alternator is failing, it cannot give the power that your vehicle requires. When this happens, all electronics in the car will start to slow down.
Hurts The Resale Value
Mileage will hurt the resale value of your car. Buyers will use mileage to calculate how many years they can own the car. The higher mileage a car is, the shorter the new owner will own it.
If youre planning on selling your car and you want the highest possible price, then maybe you should limit the mileage.
Out of curiosity, I ran a quick price check on KBB.com. I looked at what my fake cars value is depending specifically on its mileage. Ill be using the 2018 Honda Civic LX 4-Door sedan, as an example in good condition, which is super reliable so this isnt unrealistic.
The price for the car with 15,000 miles is $19,080, and the price for the exact same car with 150,000 miles is $9,427. An enormous difference of around 10 grand.
15,000 miles150,000 miles
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How Do I Maintain My Car After 100000 Km/miles
For many vehicle owners, they want to get their bang for the buck. Whether youve purchased a high mileage car or you currently own one, you might be considering ways to maintain the car. More often than not, maintenance after 100,000 kilometres can get expensive. However, major maintenance and repairs can extend the lifespan of your car. Here are ways to maintain your 100K KM car:
Keep Your Engine Clean
Few people bother to have their engine cleaned, but it’s also an important part of regular maintenance, according to Gold Eagle. Get this done once a year, every year. This is because the engine can get fouled with grime, dirt, sludge, and other contaminants as your car runs. That can make your car run hot, cause strain on the systems, and reduce life span. Talk to your mechanic about a good fuel injector cleaner and stop the issues before they start.
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How Many Miles Is Too Many On A Used Car What To Consider When Buying A Car With High Mileage
While mileage is a factor it isnt the only criteria you should consider. When it comes to high mileage vehicles you should try:
- Opt for the most reliable brands. Vehicles from manufacturers that are known for producing highly reliable vehicles are still valuable even when they have a lot of miles on them.
- Its best to purchase from a dealership rather than a private seller. When you purchase a used vehicle with high mileage from a dealership, you are typically offered a warranty which will cover the expenses if in the worst case scenario the car breaks down in the next thirty to ninety days.
- Of course, youll want to check the vehicles service history because even a couple of missed oil changes can take a toll on a vehicle.
How many miles is too many on a used car? When you are shopping for a used car and you come across one with high mileage dont let the odometer scare you. If you can secure a warranty. Also, if the CarFax history checks out just fine then you can be confident that you are making a wise purchasing decision.
How Many Miles Are Too Many
One of the first things most of us look for in a pre-owned car is the number of miles on the clock. While miles matter, there are a few other important areas you cant afford to miss.
Lets be honest what youre really looking for in this post is numbers. What number should you never, ever go above when youre looking at used cars? What number is enough for a car to keep running until you get your dream job with the paycheck allowing you to purchase your dream car?
We have good and bad news. The good news is that we do have some statistics that will be useful. The bad news is that theyre only part of the equation. The number of miles on the clock should certainly be taken into consideration, but there are a few other questions you need to ask.
OK, lets talk numbers. What you need to look at is how the car has been treated at the important milestones of its service history. A car thats got 29,000 miles on the clock but has never had any attention from a mechanic, could be in significantly worse condition than a car with 73,000 miles that has been serviced every year. If the service record indicates that the car has been treated like another member of the family, the chances are that whats under the hood is in as good condition as the exterior.
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Should You Buy A High Mileage Car
That question isnt as simple as it sounds because there are a few factors to consider. High mileage cars can be a smart, bargain buy – but the car should have a full service history and we advise a history check, too. For a car thats done more miles than an average car of the same age, wed want to know everythings in order before putting any money down.
Lots of miles on a relatively young car can be indicative of a hard life, but with proper maintenance, cars can have a life expectancy of over 200,000 miles. In that time, you need to make sure the cars had all the oil changes, services etc it needs to have had to be in good running order.
What Are Good Miles For A Used Car
What determines a high-mileage car? Theres no hard and fast rule. However, according to the United States Department of Transportations Federal Highway Administration 2019 data, the average car owner puts about 14,300 miles annually on their vehicle.
So for a car thats four years old, you might reasonably expect it to have around 57,200 miles. But its essential to consider how an owner drove the car, whether city, highway, or a mix of miles, and how well the driver cared for the car.
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Do Bmws Have Alot Of Problems
There are certainly BMWs that have been plagued with frequent, costly issues. It is not hard to find horror stories and complaints about reliability. However, on the opposite end, there are also plenty of BMWs that surpass 100,000 miles with no issues, or few minor issues.
How To Take Care Of High
Heres a simple, two-part solution for looking after high-mileage cars:
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How Often Was The Car Maintained
This question is absolutely crucial for anyone looking at used cars, and is especially vital for those considering cars with mileage readings in the hundred thousands.
Buying a used car means considering both deferred and upcoming maintenance. Deferred maintenance refers to any upkeep and repairs that should have been done, but were ignored by the previous owner. Upcoming maintenance, on the other hand, refers to all the common issues that arise in cars that register mileages around 160,000 km and over.
So, how often should a car be serviced? Some experts believe that cars should go in for maintenance at the 5,000 km, 10,000 km, 20,000 km, 25,000 km, 50,000 km, 70,000 km, 90,000 km, and 160,000 km marks. Always remember to ask about the car’s maintenance history AND request for the maintenance records so you can double-check if the seller is telling the truth.
Aside from servicing, you should also ask the seller about regular upkeep like washing, keeping the car covered during heavy rains and snow, and doing touch up jobs on the paint. Although these questions seem superficial, dirt, dust, and mud can cause headlights to fade and certain parts to rust.
