Belt or chain, then belt history (no scanner). The engine code is in field P.5 of the registration document: EB2LTED and EB2LTEDH2 have a chain, every other code a wet belt. Ask for a dated belt invoice with mileage and check belt width through the oil filler. Bad: no invoice, a belt older than 6 years or past 100,000 km, or a rough, grey or frayed belt. Budget 800-3,000 EUR (Germany, 2026).
Oil use (no scanner). Check the level before and after a long drive and ask for refill records. Bad: more than 0.5 L per 1,000 km, blue smoke at cold start, or no records.
Turbo (test drive). Listen for a whistle and watch for blue or grey smoke under load. Bad: smoke, a whistle or low power from a blocked oil feed.
Brakes (test drive). Press the pedal after a cold start. Bad: a hard pedal with little assistance from a blocked brake vacuum pump.
Oil and service records. Check the oil spec and service dates on the invoices. Bad: overdue service, wrong oil, or no stamps. Overdue servicing can void the extended warranty.
Fault codes (scanner). Read the fault memory for timing or misfire codes. Bad: stored timing codes. A clean memory does not prove the belt is good.
Recall check (no scanner). Enter the VIN in the official recall checker for the car's country. Bad: an open belt or brake-vacuum campaign.
Running costs
Operational
€172
Workshop
€85
Fixed costs (tax, insurance)
€176
Total per month
€433
New-car depreciation (not included)
€429
Market
Listings on mobile.de in this generation with this fuel, gearbox and power.