Odometer vs. Lexus link app mileage reading

[MDT]

I have a now 1 year old NX Takumi. A few weeks ago I noticed that the odometer reading in the dashboard was different to that on the Lexus link app (app overstates by 37 miles). I queried this with the service manager at the dealer. He said he’d never come across such an issue and as he was also driving a newish NX would go and check his. Interestingly, he had the same issue with exactly the same mileage difference of 37 though of course his odometer mileage was a little different. He agreed to raise it with Lexus and came back with a reply. Several weeks on, on Friday his answer from Lexus GB was>

“I have heard back from the Systems team. There is an expected difference between the car and the App readout. The App takes its information via a signal sent from the DCM, as opposed to the car which is accurate and true.I hope this explains things.”

 The service manager added: “I hope that makes sense to you, basically you do not have an issue it is the way the app takes its data.”

While it’s a first world problem, it seems odd to me that the app mileage wouldn’t calibrate accurately with the odometer. I’m also wondering if the same issue is prevalent on other models using the app. Interested what evidence and thoughts the group has.

Best

Mark

Photos attached mine is the white NX with details all in 1 photo and the black SM at the dealer.

 

 

 

[Zotto]

It could be a "trick" that many car producers have (AFAIK all of them), to reset Odometer value to 0 after factory testing and transportation so to give to customer a car with "0" miles; probably Lexus max pre-delivery mileage setting is 37.

Of course nobody can modify mileage over this initial maximum level, and if someone does it in any moment the real mileage is always readable by Lexus tha knows where in memory data are located.

[Neo_gsf]

I noticed my RX450h had a similar discrepancy a few weeks ago.  I too put it down to what @Zotto says - I heard years ago dealers can reset the mileage once prior to delivery to the customer, so the data sent from the car to the App is picking up the true mileage from somewhere in the ECU I guess.

[NemesisUK]

2 hours ago, Zotto said:

It could be a "trick" that many car producers have (AFAIK all of them), to reset Odometer value to 0 after factory testing and transportation so to give to customer a car with "0" miles; probably Lexus max pre-delivery mileage setting is 37.

Of course nobody can modify mileage over this initial maximum level, and if someone does it in any moment the real mileage is always readable by Lexus tha knows where in memory data are located.

That was also my first thought but 37 miles is an awful lot of pre-delivery mileage!

[DanD]

2 hours ago, NemesisUK said:

That was also my first thought but 37 miles is an awful lot of pre-delivery mileage!

As I want to keep busy between contracts, I occasionally spend some time at Southampton docks loading and unloading cars onto and from ships. I have driven a variety of cars, from the run of the mill Renault, Toyota, Minis and BMW, to Alpines, McLarens, Bentleys, Rolls and other Range Rovers. Some of the ships are huge and can carry in excess of 8,000 cars over 16 floors. The cars have to be driven from and to car parks that can be 2 or 3 miles away from the docking areas. For logistical reasons, they can be moved from one car parking area to another, and can also be moved from one floor within a ship to another. On occasion, cars may be offloaded in Southampton from one ship, and re-loaded onto another. If you add movements at the factory, at the port of departure, at a potential transit port, at the port of arrival and then movements at the factory itself where the car is tested, at the preparation centre (some dealerships like BMW send their cars to an offsite, 3rd party prep centre) and finally at the dealership, you are probably not far off 37 miles.

[Al D-Much]

Just checked mine, 60 miles!

[PDM]

23 minutes ago, Al D-Much said:

Just checked mine, 60 miles!

Hi All,

Same for me.  I assume it it because the DCM uses gps data to track where it has been, rather than counting wheel revolutions.

I would therefore expect the readings to further diverge over time but have not monitored the delta between the two readings.

I guess this is because the lexus link functions are very much a bolt on for the existing MM19 infotainment systems through the wifi box rather than being truly integrated into the vehicle design from the beginning.

Paul