Buying a 2022 VW Tiguan with oil overfill warning

30-12-2025 09:36PM #1

Hello!

Looking for some advice. I'm looking to buy a 2022 VW Tiguan Rline Black edition. It has 48,000km on the clock. I got a pre purchase inspection carried out and all looked good except:

car drove 7,656km with oil overfill warning (total distance unknown over what period)
light oil misting on PCV pipe

Other than that report showed all the following in normal range:

ash mass in normal range 13g
soot mass normal range 20g
last regen 197km
DPF back pressure normal 10hpa
injector flow normal range
no smoke
runs smooth
no noises when hot or cold

Garage serviced it when they took it in so oil at normal level now and no warning light any more.

Would the oil overfill sensor and oil misting on PCV pipe be a red flag to walk away from the car?

Any help or advice greatly appreciated!!

User1998 · 30-12-2025 11:07PM

Never seen a Volkswagen give a warning for overfilled oil on the dash. Was this information stored in the ECU?

Dirty Nails · 31-12-2025 12:03AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058430472/buying-a-2022-vw-tiguan-with-oil-overfill-warning

Nothing to be afraid of there. Oil level sensor is too sensitive, less than 1/4l will do that. Main dealers don't fill them to the upper mark at service to compensate for oil dilution. Possibly even owner topped it up at some stage. They will use oil.

31-12-2025 12:06PM

Thanks so much for the replies!

It must have been stored - see below picture.

I'm afraid of costly repairs down the line possibly caused by an overfill but the other tests they were able to undertake all are within normal ranges.

It has 4 services to date but only the first was at a VW dealer. Current oil level is now at 60-70%.

Screenshot_20251230_123100_OneDrive.jpg

Lenar3556 · 31-12-2025 12:54PM

Looks like the previous owners driving pattern was not conducive to modern diesel - too many short journeys, which is giving rise to oil dilution and very frequent DPF regen.

That DPF is full again, with regen only 197km ago.

They shouldn’t have driven it for 7000km with the oil overfill warning on, but it’s unlikely to have done much harm.

Nothing in the above would put me off it, but do you need diesel? And will you be doing the miles and journey types to avoid this pattern continuing?

31-12-2025 01:37PM

Thanks a mil for the comment!

Would the ash level not give an indication as to how it was driven? It's not too high in the DPF. And the pressure is normal.

I do school runs (3 miles each way so short) plus 1 or 2 30 min drives a week at 80-100km.

I did think petrol might be a better option but they are quite hard to find in 2022 RLine. Also I currently have a 2.0 diesel and I just love the way it drives! Afraid the petrol wouldnt quite be the same!

Witcher · 31-12-2025 02:13PM

You're only asking for heartbreak with a diesel, and that car especially, doing those distances.

...Ghost... · 01-01-2026 12:25PM

If your driving doesn't suit diesel, don't buy diesel. If you like instant torque, try an electric car.

Busman Paddy Lasty · 01-01-2026 01:43PM

Great feedback here. In the past I had a diesel doing short journeys and it was an awful experience.

I'm not an EV zealot but you could get something similar to Tiguan, assuming Skoda badge is OK for you. VW id4 same platform but I like a well specced Enyaq.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-enyaq-iv-80-rwd-sportlinecall-jonathan-on/41074419

01-01-2026 02:53PM

Thanks everyone for the replies! Really appreciate it! Will have a look into some other options!

Buying a 2022 VW Tiguan with oil overfill warning

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