Have your used Audi checked: on-site used-car inspection, from €289

Used Audis can be very reliable — or expensive, if the wrong patterns are present. The answer depends less on the brand than on the engine generation, gearbox type, service history and the question of whether the vehicle has been maintained in line with its weak points. checkdenwagen.de is an independent provider of on-site used-car inspections operating throughout Germany, based in Berlin and with a network of inspectors across the whole country. Our Audi used-car check is targeted specifically at the documented weak spots of each model series: the first- and second-generation 2.0 TFSI (EA888) burns oil through porous piston rings when worn — a known, measurable problem. The timing chain of the same engine can rattle when warm if the chain tensioner is worn. S-tronic gearboxes (DQ200, seven-speed dry clutch) have mechatronics whose failure means four-figure repairs. On the quattro model with a Haldex clutch, a missing oil change is the most common prior damage. Our inspector examines your prospective Audi for around 1.5 hours on site against a checklist of more than 100 points and delivers a digital photo report within 24 hours — as a clear basis for your buying decision or price negotiation. Four things set us apart from a quick test drive: we are independent of seller pressure. We measure with our own equipment. We read out all control units. And we know the typical Audi weak spots by model series.

Audi A1 (8X, GB): Often fitted with the DQ200 seven-speed gearbox — our first inspection point. Small engine bay, tight body, prone to rust on the sills and wheel arches on vehicles over eight years old. Audi A3 (8P, 8V, 8Y): Broad drivetrain range from the simple 1.2 TFSI to the S3 with DQ500. The DQ200 gearbox (1.4, 1.8 TFSI) calls for particular attention. Haldex check on the quattro model. OBD inspection for deleted DSG fault codes. Audi A4 (B8, B9): Complex multi-link axles front and rear — wear assessment on the lift. EA888 engine diagnosis for oil consumption and timing chain. Multitronic inspection on front-wheel-drive variants of older model years. Interior build quality as a mileage indicator. Audi A6 (C6, C7, C8): On Allroad versions, the air suspension is the main focus. TDI variants for DPF condition and EGR sooting. MMI diagnosis for a faulty hard disk or display fault (C6). Control arms and suspension bushings at high mileage. Audi Q3, Q5, Q7: On the Q7, air suspension, 3.0 TDI DPF/EGR, proof of the Haldex oil change. Q5 often with the EA888 engine — oil consumption and timing chain. Q3 with DQ200 on small engines. All variants: quattro all-wheel-drive test on the test drive. Audi TT (8J, 8S): Often driven hard — clutch and gearbox check especially important. Magnetic ride diagnosis via OBD on DRC variants. Roof watertightness check on the Roadster. How we inspect: the inspector combines the standard inspection points (100+ points, OBD, paint thickness) with a check strategy specific to the model series and engine variant. He knows which A4 has which Multitronic version, whether the specific Q7 has air suspension fitted, and which software generation the MMI runs. This information comes from the vehicle registration document and the vehicle identification query via OBD — even before the inspection begins.