I watched an '86 560SL on EBay, with a starting bid of $6600.00, that went for a week or so with no bids. I missed the auction end, by mistake, and asked for more info on the car anyway. I also ran an Autocheck report, which listed 'lien recorded' just before the final entry, which was the latest registration 'event'.

The info provided by the seller satisfies my questions about the value of the car regarding the mechanical condition. However, he claims the odometer hasn't worked for some time, so the actual mileage is not known. He claims to have driven it an aproximate 1500 miles in his 1 1/2 yrs. of ownership. The last recorded mileage is 171,000.

Anyone here familiar with the state of MA titling system? I'm very leery of the lien on the Autocheck record, and the odometer thing is also troublesome, as to export the car to Canada, I think the basic requirements are that the title be 'clear' and in my name (do I have it re-titled when there to pickup at the MA DMV?), and the odometer reading on the car should be 'in synch' with the title?

I really want this car, but could it be that no one bid because of this Carfax report?

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1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus

R-uuuuun awayyyy!!

Yes, that was my thinking too. I emailed back about my concerns and he hasn't replied. That was about 5 days ago. Does this 'lien' thing mean that he doesn't 'own' the car, or that someone else has the first rights to any money from the sale? In MA, does the title document actually list the lienholder on it? I mentioned to him that I'd need a fax or photocopy of the title document in advance of sending any money. I also made an offer somewhat less than his EBay price. I'm wondering whether I should up my offer, or just forget the whole thing because of this title business?

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1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus

Yup. Run away.
There will be another.

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85' 300D No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."

well the thing about autocheck is they don't show when a lien is released.when was the lien reported and when was the last event.how many days apart??i think either way as others have said run don't walk away from it.i went thru this last spring on a 300ce.bought the car from a dealer who just had the car on the lot for a buddy of his that moved to florida.he was supposed to get the title from him,3 weeks later i hear he was coming up from florida to take care of it.he was to show up on a wednesday.never showed.so i took the vin number off the car and talked to the local dept of transportation and they ran the number for me.turns out the guy was telling me it was registered in another state,but it was actually registered here in the state and there was a lien on it from a local bank.i just said to heck with it give me my money back and we'll call it good.well he didn't want to give me my money.well i think i had him over a barrel so to speak.talked to the d.o.t. and they said if he didn't give me my money back they would look at pulling his dealer license.after this ordeal i will never deal with a car with a lien against it.

In MA. if the vehicle has a lien on it at the time of sale (dealer or outside financing) the lienholder is mailed the title directly from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. If the lien is placed on the vehicle after the sale (ie: paid cash then got loan) the owner is supposed to furnish the lienholder with paperwork showing the lien was recorded on the title. There is some room for fraud, because the seller could have copied a clean title (to show you) then recorded the lien.

Regarding the odometer, if the seller told you that it is broken then the vehicle is TMU (true mileage unknown). There is a checkbox on the title stating mileage is in excess of mileage shown.

You do not have to title vehicle to take it out of MA. You should title it where you register it. MA. does not have temporary tags so you are on your own transporting it.

I would call the MA. RMV to confirm ownership and lien status.