Run To, Or Run From: B7 S4 with multiple "Engine Checked" on Carfax

[jessfour]

Considering purchasing a 2005.5 S4 with 51,000 miles. It's one owner, looks great and miles are extremely low. BUT checked out the Carfax and saw "Engine Checked" THREE consecutive times early in its life.

Would this be a deal-breaker for you? What do you think was happening with this car? Given that the checks were done every 700 or so miles, it seems as though they were monitoring or trying to pinpoint something. Note that the "Engine Checked" note doesn't show up again for another 40k miles...maybe it was solved?

Thoughts? Again, there was only one owner. So whoever had it either sucked it up if there was a problem or it wasn't really a problem and hence the owner kept it.


DateMileageComments

05/30/2005 Registered as personal vehicle

06/02/2005 46 Vehicle serviced

06/17/2005 50 Title issued or updated, Registration issued or renewed, First owner reported, Loan or lien reported

08/31/2005 2,500 Electrical system checked, Engine checked

10/03/2005 3,142 Engine checked

11/17/2005 3,952 Engine checked

Pretty uneventful for next 6 years then...

06/24/2011 45,754 Electrical system checked, Brakes checked, Engine checked

[LINDW4LL]

I'd see if you could get in touch with the original owner (assuming it's at a dealership). I wouldn't say it's a deal breaker, but definitely something to look into!

[jessfour]

It's currently at a dealership but not the original, servicing dealership. That dealer is located on Carfax but I doubt they'd disclose the original owner's name. They're pretty protective/reluctant to disclose that kind of info

[LINDW4LL]

It's currently at a dealership but not the original, servicing dealership. That dealer is located on Carfax but I doubt they'd disclose the original owner's name. They're pretty protective/reluctant to disclose that kind of info

True. If nothing was replaced even after all of the checks, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[anthonyisd3ad]

Engine checked doesn't necessarily mean check engine although it is somewhat close to each other. If you read on a recent thread people have complained about bringing their car to get serviced multiple times because the original problem wasn't fixed and most audi techs aren't even trained on cara like this. To me, it was brought to a dealer for service and shows signs of a good previous owner. That car assuming its in good shape body and mechanical wise should be a no brained. Don't sleep on these cars because they don't last long. Take it from a car dealer. Also, don't use car fax as a bible for buying a car. Sometimes info you see on there is false because they just receive info without proof and post it as history.

[LJH]

That is 7+ years ago......I would not be worried in the slightest.

Cheers,
Jim

[jessfour]

I think you guys are right. Sounds like it had an issue, probably not major, that warranted some follow-up. Plus, it was so early it was likely addressed by the warranty.

[B6JoeS4]

Just run. It's not worth the headache it could become.