Hi everyone,

I recently bought a used 2015 Audi S4 with DSG and want to ensure everything is in good shape. I’ve heard a lot about the importance of checking a car's history, but I’m unsure which services provide the most comprehensive report.

I’m particularly interested in verifying the maintenance records, accident history, and whether there are any open recalls. Are Carfax and AutoCheck reliable for this, or are there other tools I should consider?

Any tips on what to look for in the report would be greatly appreciated.

 

thanks in advance for any help

 

Carfax is a good resource when buying a car but keep in mind they only get data if the repair shop provides it. Most dealers and bigger / chain shops do but not all indy's report. With that said, my advise is to look at the maintenance history available from the service and see if you can find a dealer who may have serviced the car. After that, I'd recommend doing your own baseline maintenance if you are unsure of when fluids etc were changed. For example the DSGs are due an oil change every 40K miles so if the car has 75 or 80K on it and you don't see a recent service, its time. Same with coolant and brake fluid. Also the best resource is the factory's maintenance schedule book. Take a look and see what it says about the various maintenance intervals. Also check out dealer web sites will recommend things like replacing the AWD clutch fluid every 3 years, brake fluid every 2 years and the diff's fluid every 10 y /120K. Best to sink an extra 1K into the car now knowing you are totally on schedule. PS - this also gives you a chance to consider using premium fluids. remember the biggest part of the job is the labor so don't go cheap on the fluid.

 

With that said, my advise is to look at the maintenance history available from the service and see if you can find a dealer who may have serviced the car. After that, I'd recommend doing your own baseline maintenance if you are unsure of when fluids etc were changed. For example the DSGs are due an oil change every 40K miles so if the car has 75 or 80K on it and you don't see a recent service, its time.

 

This report typically includes details such as previous owners, accident history, outstanding finance, mileage discrepancies, and whether the car has been stolen or written off. Conducting a history check helps buyers make informed decisions, ensuring they avoid potential risks and hidden issues.