2018 AUDI A42.0L DIESEL

The 2018 Audi A4 presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a clean pass on 9 March 2026 at 63,520 miles. The sole advisory that day was a deteriorated front registration plate, a minor cosmetic issue unlikely to cause a retest failure. This outcome marks a notable improvement over the preceding years, where the tester repeatedly flagged worn suspension bushes and tyre defects. The record suggests the previous owner addressed the underlying mechanical wear, moving from a pattern of borderline advisories to a fully compliant test result. The mileage accumulation of roughly 7,940 miles per year is entirely typical for an eight-year-old executive saloon, indicating consistent daily use rather than prolonged standing or extreme high-mileage abuse. The annual tests from March 2023 through March 2026 show steady, predictable jumps of around 10,000 to 16,000 miles between tests, with no suspicious gaps or sudden spikes that might indicate a rolled-back odometer or long-term storage. The 2023 failure at 31,735 miles for two front tyre structural defects, followed by a pass just two days later at 31,787 miles, confirms the owner replaced the damaged tyres promptly rather than deferring the repair. Despite the clean recent result, a buyer should still inspect the front suspension closely. The March 2024 test at 36,512 miles flagged worn upper suspension arm pins or bushes on both sides, a common wear item on heavier saloon cars. Although the 2026 pass suggests these components were replaced, verifying the condition of the new bushes and ball joints under load remains prudent. The repeated presence of engine covers and undertrays obscuring the tester’s view in 2023 and 2024 also means a physical underbody inspection is essential to rule out oil leaks, corrosion, or hidden exhaust deterioration that the MOT may not have fully assessed. Tyre maintenance appears inconsistent historically. The 2023 failure for a bulged nearside front tyre and a deeply cut offside front tyre, combined with the 2025 advisory for a nearside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit, indicates previous owners ran tyres to the edge of legality rather than replacing them proactively. A buyer should check the date codes and tread depth of all four tyres, including the spare if fitted, and examine the inner sidewalls for uneven wear that could point to tracking or suspension geometry issues. The 2025 advisory for an offside rear child seat obstructing the adult seatbelt inspection also warrants a functional check of all belt retractors and buckles to ensure nothing is jammed or frayed beneath the trim.