VW Owner Guides
Practical reference material for VW owners in Simi Valley — everything you need to understand your service requirements, evaluate a used purchase, or make sense of a fault code or repair estimate.
Guides by Topic
Model Guides
Generation-by-generation breakdown of every major VW model — what improved between gens, which powertrain to choose, and what inspection points determine a good used buy.
Browse Model Guides →Common Problems
Timing chain, PCV, DSG shudder, carbon buildup, HPFP failure — the recurring issues across modern VWs explained with real repair costs and how to identify each before it escalates.
Browse Problem Guides →Service Guides
DSG fluid, Haldex AWD service, oil specification, timing chain windows, carbon cleaning — the services the ASSYST indicator doesn't prompt for and most owners don't know about.
Browse Service Guides →Blog & Technical Articles
In-depth articles on specific platforms and issues — MK7 GTI timing chain history, Tiguan MK1 vs MK2 buying guide, DQ200 DSG explained, and more.
Browse Articles →Pre-purchase inspection available in Simi Valley. Before buying any used VW, a pre-purchase inspection at German Auto Doctor gives you a complete picture of the car's condition — VCDS scan, DSG and Haldex history check, timing chain evaluation, and a written report. Schedule a pre-purchase inspection →