Audi or BMW — what we actually found
Side by side from 134 Audis and 299 BMWs buyers asked us to inspect before purchase. The average car we check scores 60/100.
Head to head
| Audi | BMW | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars inspected | 134 | 299 |
| Average condition | 64/100 | 65/100 |
| In good shape (60+/100) | 67% | 64% |
| Holds up to (avg dips below decent) | ~107k mi | ~111k mi |
| Repainted or replaced panel | 75% | 73% |
| Structural repair found | 3% | 2% |
| Fault codes recently cleared | 27% | 27% |
Green = the better number of the pair. Condition reflects the mix of cars that came to us — age, price, model — so treat small gaps as a tie.
How they score
How long do they stay good?
Good cars by mileage
▬ Audi▬ BMW▬ all cars
Good cars by age
▬ Audi▬ BMW▬ all cars
Share in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). Dashed grey = all cars we check.
Most common faults
Oil leaks · Engine
63%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
47%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
40%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
31%
Cracked or torn suspension bushings · Suspension
28%
Oil leaks · Engine
57%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
42%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
35%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
27%
Electronic components issues · Engine
19%
Trajectory by generation
Share in good shape when inspected at the same age (5–10 years, age-adjusted), by model-year generation; dashed = all-brand average. All brands →
Whichever badge wins on paper, the car in front of you is its own story. Get it inspected before you pay.
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Based on 433 inspections · updated Jul 12, 2026