Buying Advice on Used DSG Vehicles

[Corso Marche]

Title of the thread says it all really. Looking at a household load lugger - Touran or similar. Must be an auto.

Is there anything can be looked out for when buying second hand with the DSG? Any early warning signs etc to watch for and avoid.
It's great if a vehicle has service records/invoices, but as is often the case with used cars if there's no history with the vehicle is there anything can be checked for, or early warning signs etc?

[Whataguy]

If the box has a service interval, check that the oil has been changed when due. Usually every 40k miles I believe.

Sadly my car doesn't have a DSG oil change interval, which means that the life of the gearbox isn't likely to be as much as the gearboxes with change intervals.

[zedx19]

40k service intervals, nothing else to look out for really. My 2017 Golf GTi DSG is on 60k now, serviced at 40k, zero problems, great box (and car).

[SteBrown91]

zedx19 said:

40k service intervals, nothing else to look out for really. My 2017 Golf GTi DSG is on 60k now, serviced at 40k, zero problems, great box (and car).

Not all are 40k intervals. The 7 speed wet clutch in the later VWs etc are 80k intervals

[Corso Marche]

Thanks all. But that's the issue really - if buying a 2nd or 3rd owner used car it's a hell of a lot more difficult to establish maintenance history. So if a car has no invoices or complete service history with it are there any signs with the DSG which might point towards a lack of gearbox servicing or impending future troubles?

[RayDonovan]

SteBrown91 said:

zedx19 said:

40k service intervals, nothing else to look out for really. My 2017 Golf GTi DSG is on 60k now, serviced at 40k, zero problems, great box (and car).

Not all are 40k intervals. The 7 speed wet clutch in the later VWs etc are 80k intervals

My 2019 Arteon is 80k. DSG still pretty smooth at 60k..

[catso]

Corso Marche said:

Thanks all. But that's the issue really - if buying a 2nd or 3rd owner used car it's a hell of a lot more difficult to establish maintenance history. So if a car has no invoices or complete service history with it are there any signs with the DSG which might point towards a lack of gearbox servicing or impending future troubles?

I'm on my second DSG car now and had no gearbox bother.

The first, a 2004 Audi A3, 3.2 was one of the earliest models (and therefore the least reliable?) but in 90k miles I never had any problems with it, I did service on schedule though. For what it costs, it's not worth skimping IMO, my S4 (on 38k miles) had the first oil change/service at around 30k due to it having a minor leak at the rear of the gear/transfer box so it had to be drained anyway.

But, even if no evidence of service, I would suggest that if it drives/shifts OK then you should be good but get it done straight away for peace of mind.

[Corso Marche]

catso said:

even if no evidence of service, I would suggest that if it drives/shifts OK then you should be good but get it done straight away for peace of mind.

That's how I'm leaning at the moment, should I end up in a situation where I can't verify services on the box.

[Basil Brush]

The box on my '09 A3 has been playing up for a few months now, but it only starts getting jerky when the box is hot after a longish journey or a while in stop start traffic, so you wouldn't pick it up in a short test drive.