Buying Guides
Buy the car, not the story
Practical used-car buying guides built around evidence: service history, fault scans, cold-start behavior, leaks, gearbox health, and the repairs that change the real price of ownership.
Start here
Three routes into a safer buying decision: checklist, risk signals, and diagnostic proof.
Universal Used-Car Checklist
StartDocuments, service proof, cold start, leaks, tires, brakes, scan results, and test-drive behavior.
Engine Risk Signals
SignalsTiming risk, oil consumption, turbo stress, cooling health, emissions faults, and bad maintenance patterns.
Diagnostic Scan Before Buying
ScanStored faults, cleared codes, gearbox warnings, emissions readiness, sensor patterns, and battery health.
High-intent buyer research
Fast pages for the common searches buyers make before viewing a car.
BMW 320d F30 Reliability
The F30 320d can be a strong used BMW when the exact engine, service history, emissions health, and gearbox behavior are verified before purchase.
Mercedes C220d W205 Common Problems
A W205 C220d is often durable when maintained, but diesel emissions hardware, electrical health, and gearbox behavior decide the real ownership cost.
Audi A4 2.0 TDI Buying Guide
The Audi A4 2.0 TDI rewards careful buyers who verify timing service, emissions condition, S tronic history, and long-drive usage before purchase.
VW Golf 7 DSG Problems
Golf 7 DSG reliability depends heavily on the exact gearbox, fluid history, previous driving style, and whether early mechatronic symptoms are ignored.
BMW B47 Engine Problems
The B47 is generally stronger than the N47, but EGR/DPF health, boost control, cooling condition, and service intervals still decide buyer risk.
Mercedes 9G-Tronic Reliability
The 9G-Tronic can be smooth and durable, but low-speed behavior, fluid history, software/adaptation state, and electrical health need checking.
Audi EA888 Water Pump Issues
EA888 water pump and thermostat housing leaks are common enough that every used Audi TFSI buyer should inspect cooling evidence before purchase.
Volkswagen DSG Mechatronic Problems
DSG mechatronic risk is manageable only when the exact gearbox, service history, fault memory, and test-drive behavior are checked properly.
The buying logic
A used German car is rarely expensive because it is German. It becomes expensive when previous maintenance, diagnostics, and known weak points are ignored before purchase.
Invoices, dates, mileage, fluids, parts, and previous diagnostics.
Cold start, idle, smoke, shift quality, braking, vibration, and temperature.
What the car costs after overdue maintenance is added back in.
1. Before you visit
- Ask for VIN, engine code, gearbox type, and full service proof.
- Request a cold-start video with idle audio.
- Confirm oil, coolant, brake, and gearbox service history.
- Check common failure points for that engine family.
2. On-site inspection
- Look for coolant residue, oil leaks, uneven tire wear, and cheap repairs.
- Scan every module before and after the test drive.
- Drive cold and warm: low-speed, highway pull, braking, and reverse.
- Check paperwork matches mileage, ownership, and maintenance claims.
3. Decision rules
- No proof means the price must include catch-up maintenance.
- One major red flag beats ten cosmetic positives.
- A clean scan supports the deal; it does not replace inspection.
- Budget first for fluids, leaks, tires, brakes, and cooling health.
Brand shortcuts
Jump into the brand hub before inspecting a specific model.
BMW
->Cooling, oil leaks, engine-family timing risk, and service history.
Mercedes-Benz
->Electronics, diesel emissions, 7G/9G behavior, and suspension cost.
Audi
->EA888 timing/oil behavior, cooling, TDI risk, and DSG/S tronic history.
Volkswagen
->DSG service, MQB cooling issues, sensors, TSI/TDI maintenance sensitivity.
Related reading
Articles that help before viewing, scanning, or negotiating a car.
BMW B47 DPF en EGR koopsignalen
B47Hoe u een gebruikte BMW B47-diesel kunt inspecteren op DPF-lading, EGR-geschiedenis, koelingsfouten, gebruik tijdens korte ritten en zwak diagnostisch bewijs.
2026-06-09
BMW B48 Eigendomssignalen: wat u moet inspecteren voordat u koopt
B48Een praktische B48-inspectie met betrekking tot de koelstabiliteit, olielekken, ontstekingskwaliteit, boostgedrag, onderhoudsgeschiedenis en diagnostisch bewijs.
2026-06-08
DPF Regeneratie versus verstopping: lees het bewijsmateriaal voordat u onderdelen vervangt
DPFBegrijp de roetbelasting, asbelasting, drukverschil, uitlaattemperatuur, rijpatroon en waarom geforceerde regeneratie geen universele reparatie is.
2026-06-08
Koopsignalen voor Mercedes 9G-Tronic: schakelkwaliteit, vloeiende geschiedenis en diagnose
9G-TronicHoe u een gebruikte Mercedes 9G-Tronic kunt beoordelen op basis van koude inschakeling, schakelen op lage snelheid, aanpassingsgedrag, lekken, scangegevens en servicebewijs.
2026-06-08
De verborgen kosten van een openstaande dieselthermostaat
BetrouwbaarheidEen te koude diesel verbruikt meer, regenereert het roetfilter vaker en kan de olie verdunnen. Zo herken je het patroon vóór aankoop.
2026-07-05
Voorspellen transmissie-adaptatiewaarden problemen?
KoopadviesAdaptatiedata kan slijtage of drukcorrectie tonen, maar vraagt om bak-specifieke context, een goede proefrit en controleerbaar onderhoud.
2026-07-03
Benzinepartikelfilters: gids voor de occasionkoper
KoopadviesModerne direct ingespoten benzinemotoren gebruiken soms een GPF of OPF. Begrijp hoe ritprofiel, misfires, olieverbruik en drukdata de filter beïnvloeden.
2026-07-02
Hulp bij aankoop
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Stuur ons model, bouwjaar, motor en kilometerstand. We helpen de belangrijkste risico's vóór aankoop te herkennen.
Dit is aankoopadvies, geen mechanische keuring op afstand of garantie. Controleer de auto altijd ter plaatse met diagnose en onderhoudshistorie.
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Checklist output
- Cold-start and test-drive inspection steps.
- Known failures, symptoms, and root-cause clues.
- Deal-breaker vs negotiable issue guidance.
- Maintenance catch-up budget and ownership cost signals.