I'm going to look at a '91 240 with 120k showing on odometer. The digital pictures show a peach car with no rust or anything. Engine is pristine looking, interior is like new, etc. The carfax is clean though it only show two reports...the new car report with 45 miles on odometer from '91 and the report from it's new dealer listing (no mileage listed just no open recalls as per Volvo of America). No other mileage reports. The digital picture of the instrument panel looks almost like there is condensation on plastic cover, but it could be dust. I'm gonna look at car in person...I've worked on 240's quite a bit and know what to look for. I'm suspicious about mileage as I know how easy it is to swap out instrument cluster (especially if Carfax doesn't show any contradictory mileage reports). Any ideas on how to confirm mileage?

Thanks,

-instant

generally speaking if the sate in which the car is currently registered demands safety and emissions inspections each time the car is evaluated there will be a mileage then record inputed into the inspection record.

that is a good way to ascertain a linear record of the car.

This is an issue with any used car. Are you concerned here because 120K is low?

Why focus on an instrument-panel swap? Could be that; or a disassembly & rollback; or an odometer broken and unrepaired for some time.

I personally don't rely on Carfax. Many states have a title lookup via DMV and that can help.

I look at condition and the seller/ story/ history.

Condition's tricky though. My current driver is a 92 245 w/ 209K miles; previous car was an 90 245 with 292K. Both are nice but the 90 was nicer (one-owner 240 fanatic) than the 92 and both are much way better than the 1-owner 86 w/ 144K that I bought last year from folks in MI (whom I know) who don't think cars really need maintenance. It's a parts car that will never go back on the road.
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85-92 240s/ 245s - parts cars & drivers

I'm with you, jfh.

I'd rather have a nice 200k car with good history & maintenance records, than a completely unknown 120k car.

I never buy a car from someone I don't like and miles mean nothing on a 240...our wagon had 289k when we bought it but the previous owner had babied it and ipd'ed the suspension ,it looks like it is new inside and out and people are amazed when they learn the mileage....Kris

That is a tough one. Unless you have some documented service records or something else that you can go off of the only other thing that helps is to take a look at the brake pedal pad. If that sucker is worn through you can probably guess that the mileage showing is not correct or if the pad shows little to no wear then you can assume that someone has swaped that out too, old used car trick.

Mark