Considerations when buying a higher mileage car

The BMW 507
The BMW 507 Roadster

It’s a well-known fact that cars lose a great deal of value once they’re driven off the lot. There are many other milestones that your car experiences in its life. Keep these in mind the next time you’re interested in purchasing a used car.

15,000 Miles – Your Car’s First Check Up

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Image via Flickr by Kristian Thogersen

While you’ll need minor maintenance like oil changes before the 15,000 mile marker, this is really a car’s first major check-up. At this point, the car needs to have the tires rotated, engine and air filters changed, and windshield wipers changed. The vehicle is still almost as good as new, although you’ll get a better deal on any car that’s been driven off the lot than you will on a new vehicle.

30,000 to 40,000 Miles – The First Major Maintenance Visit

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Image via Flickr by Thomas Nes Myhre

Many used cars fall into this category because the first lease on the car is up and it returns to the dealer. Maintenance includes all the standards that took place at 15,000 miles. A mechanic should check the power steering fluid, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and engine coolant. Spark plugs and brake pads often need replacing. If these maintenance tasks haven’t been taken care of, you can use it as a major bargaining chip for lowering the price of a used vehicle.

60,000 to 70,000 Miles – Time for New Timing Belts

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Image via Flickr by oskay

One of the most important maintenance tasks around 60,000 or 70,000 miles is getting a new timing belt. If the belt isn’t changed, it may cause serious damage down the road. The tires, brakes, and battery are a concern at this point as well. Before you buy a vehicle with more than 70,000 miles on it, you need to find out exactly what is in the car’s maintenance record. If anything is lacking, deduct it from the price of the vehicle.

100,000 Miles – Going Above and Beyond

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Image via Flickr by Robert Couse-Baker

At 100,000 miles, many buyers start to get queasy about purchasing a used vehicle. You can often double this mileage with the right care, but it’s important to find out as much as you can about the car’s earlier life. You’ll find many bargains on cars with mileage in this range. Reliability decreases beyond 100,000 miles and all the previously mentioned maintenance applies.

Considerations at Every Stage

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Image via Flickr by seanmfreese

When you’re buying a used car, you need to check out the vehicle’s history. Look for a car that’s been owned by just one person for most of its life. Look at the car’s maintenance records closely to see if it’s been well-cared for. Oil changes must take place regularly and tires need rotating about once every other oil change. The better a car’s care is, the longer it will live. While providing good care yourself will help once you own a vehicle, keep in mind that you can’t undo the past.

A used car is a great investment when you make sure you know what you’re buying. Most of the Big Motoring World Complaints receieved are easily avoided by making sure you know what maintenance you should perform on the car after you buy it.