Common car model problems: source-linked inspection guides | DVI Reports

Model guides

• Peugeot 308 1.6 THP: common problems and used-car checks — First-generation Peugeot 308 1.6 THP/EP6 inspection guide: timing/VVT, ignition, oil leaks, brakes and documented history. Do not apply it unchanged to the T9.
• BMW X1 F48 used-car problems and inspection checklist — Buying a used BMW X1 F48: battery, powertrain, electronics, xDrive equipment and—where fitted—plug-in hybrid charging checks.
• Audi A4 B9 2.0 TDI: common problems and buying guide — Used A4 B9 diesel inspection priorities: suspension, dampers, transmission, EGR/DPF, service records and campaigns.
• BMW X3 G01 common problems: used-car inspection — Buying a G01 rather than a G45: xDrive, transmission, diesel/petrol engines, brakes, suspension and digital service records.
• VW Golf 7 common problems: TSI, TDI and DSG checks — Used Golf VII inspection: TSI/TDI powertrains, boost and EGR codes, transmissions, brakes and service records.
• Peugeot 3008 1.5 BlueHDi common problems: camshaft chain, DPF — Used Peugeot 3008 II 1.5 BlueHDi inspection: camshaft-chain campaign, service history, DPF/AdBlue and gearbox.
• Renault Kadjar 1.5 dCi common problems and buyer checklist — Used Kadjar diesel inspection: starter battery, DPF/EGR, fuel delivery, gearbox, suspension and service history.
• Dacia Duster II common problems and used-car checks — Used 2018–2024 Duster II inspection: petrol, diesel, LPG, 4x4, electrics, suspension, brakes and servicing.
• Škoda Superb III common problems: TDI, TSI and DSG — Used Superb III buyer guide: engine and DSG, DPF/EGR, 12 V battery, suspension and electrical systems.

Buying guides

• How to check a used car's history before buying — VIN, RAR Auto-Pass, service records and an independent inspection: what to check first and what a history report cannot prove.
• How to use an OBD scanner when buying a used car — Scan before and after a test drive, understand cleared codes and readiness, and combine a VIN report with a pre-purchase checklist.
• Bringing a car from Germany or the Netherlands to Romania — Purchase documents, export, transport and preparation for RAR. Two practical routes for private buyers living in Romania.
• Buying a used car in Germany: documents, transport and VIN checks before travelling — Prepare documents, an independent inspection and export before travelling. A Germany-specific route for buyers based in Romania.
• Cars from the Netherlands, Belgium or France: checking for odometer rollback — RDW, Car-Pass and HistoVec: what to request, how to verify records and how to handle gaps in mileage history.
• carVertical review: is a VIN report worth paying for? Public examples explained — An editorial review of provider documentation and public demonstration screenshots: usefulness, limitations and checks before purchase.
• Checking cars on OPENLANE, AUTO1 and mobile.de: a buyer's guide — B2B auctions or classified ads? Check eligibility, vehicle records, total costs and contractual terms before committing.
• Five warning signs that call for a structural-damage inspection — Welds, alignment, panel gaps and safety systems: what to notice at a viewing and what a specialist needs to measure.
• Free VIN checks vs paid history reports: what is worth paying for? — Compare technical decoding, national records and commercial reports. Pay to answer specific questions while accounting for data gaps.
• How mileage affects a used car's price — Compare asking prices at different mileages, work through an illustrative calculation and understand why there is no universal discount per 10,000 km.
• How to analyse a RAR Auto-Pass report — Review recorded mileage and gaps without treating missing data as proof of fraud.
• How to check a used car's price before buying — Compare like-for-like listings, calculate a median and check history and upcoming costs. Use the car valuation tool for an asking-price reference.
• How to check whether a used car was a taxi or used for Uber/Bolt — Look for usage and maintenance records, then compare wear. A VIN report or scan cannot reliably identify every former ride-hailing car.
• How to read a VIN history report: a beginner's step-by-step guide — Check identity, chronology, mileage and damage without confusing missing records with an absence of problems.
• How to read an inspection sheet: brakes, emissions and defects — Review values from a photographed inspection sheet and prepare notes for a workshop.
• How to read OBD codes from a scanner photo and create a report — Photograph the screen, review fault codes and add them to a diagnostic report.
• How to scan a VIN from a registration document or vehicle — Find the VIN, review its 17 characters and decode available vehicle details.
• How to spot possible odometer rollback — Compare dated readings, understand RDW mileage assessments and learn the limits of diagnostics. Warning signs without premature verdicts.
• Romanian car registration and fees, step by step — Ownership transfer or first registration? Documents, RAR, tax formalities, insurance and verified fees, with vehicle-dependent costs separated.
• Serious or minor OBD codes? How to set priorities — P0300, P0016, P0520, P0420 and P0456 examples: when to stop, defer a purchase and why a code cannot establish repair cost.
• Total loss in Germany or Italy: what it means and what to check in a VIN report — Separate economic loss, structural damage and registration status. A large repair estimate alone does not establish a total loss.
• Traders vs private sellers: how to verify a used car's history — Check the contractual seller, document provenance and record authenticity. A seller's label never replaces evidence.
• Used BMW X5 E70 and F15: pre-purchase checks — Generation-specific identity, cold-start, xDrive, diagnostics and service-history checks.
• Used car pre-purchase inspection checklist: what to check — A practical checklist for documents, bodywork, engine, road test and independent inspection.
• What to do when a seller refuses to share the VIN: warning signs — Request the VIN privately, offer to verify it in person and pause payment when the vehicle's identity remains unclear.