Over years of working in a mechanic shop and shopping Craigslist, I’ve noticed here and there that people will claim that their old car is still equipped with its original factory-installed fuel pump or fan belt or water pump or whatever, despite the vehicle’s high mileage. “Pulled the brakes apart today. The car is still using the original brake rotors.”
Usually this is 3 or 4 owners in.
Unless they have access to every service record from day one, and know that they aren’t missing any, how do they know that it’s an original part? Do they just see dealer-installed OEM parts and assume they’re the original ones? Kinda confused here. Maybe I’m missing something obvious.
I’m the third owner of my 2008 Sienna. Second owner kept records since 2013, and nowhere does it mention anything about suspension. The engine was swapped at 201k miles with a unit out of a 2010 with 110k miles. Lots of maintenance. No suspension.
I just swapped the struts and springs and boy did it make a difference, not just in ride quality but in height! New suspension gave that van a solid 1.5-2" lift (I didn’t measure, but it’s very obvious).