2015 Audi A7 3.0L Diesel · VD06 AMD

Tyre structural integrity is the dominant mechanical theme in this A7's MOT history, with a serious failure recorded just five days before the most recent pass. On 24 December 2025 the nearside front tyre was marked as Dangerous due to a bulge caused by separation or partial failure of its structure, an immediate prohibition item at the time of test, and the offside front tyre was also flagged for perishing or cracking. When the vehicle returned on 29 December 2025 it passed, but the advisory record shows that both rear tyres were also noted as slightly damaged, cracking or perishing, alongside rear brake pads recorded as wearing thin on both sides. Aside from this cluster, the 2023, 2024 and early 2025 tests were clean with no advisories at all, meaning the deterioration is concentrated in the final test of the sequence rather than representing a long-running pattern across the car's life. With 55,739 miles recorded over eleven years, the vehicle is running at roughly 5,000 miles per year, which is notably below the average for a car of this age and type. There are no extended gaps in the MOT record visible, with tests appearing annually from 2023 through 2025, suggesting the car has remained in regular use rather than laid up for long periods. Low annual mileage of this nature generally means that wear-related items such as brake discs, callipers, suspension bushes and CV joint boots tend to deteriorate more from age, standing corrosion and dried-out rubber compounds than from outright mechanical wear, while tyres are particularly susceptible to sidewall perishing and structural separation from prolonged low-load running combined with age-hardened rubber. The fact that all four tyres were effectively flagged within the same fortnight supports the age-related degradation theory rather than a mileage-driven wear issue. For a prospective buyer, the priorities on inspection are the tyres, the rear braking system and any signs of underbody corrosion that may have developed during the vehicle's eleven years on the road. On a physical inspection, all four tyres should be examined closely for sidewall cracking, bulges, blisters or uneven shoulder wear, and the DOT manufacture date stamps verified, as the recent advisories indicate the rubber compound is reaching the end of its service life regardless of tread depth. On the rear axle, the brake pad wear advisories on both sides warrant a check of remaining pad material and a visual inspection of the rear discs for lipping, scoring or surface corrosion, as light use over the years tends to produce glazed or corroded disc surfaces rather than even wear patterns. The rear caliper slides and handbrake mechanism should be confirmed as free-moving, as seized rear calipers are a common failure point on low-mileage Audis of this generation. During a test drive, attention should be paid to any vibrations through the steering wheel or pedal, any pulling to one side under braking, and any grinding or squealing from the rear brakes, all of which could indicate the advisories have progressed beyond their advisory state since the test. The suspension should be exercised over uneven surfaces to detect knocking or clonking from the front MacPherson struts, top mounts and lower control arms, as well as any rear air suspension faults if the vehicle is so equipped, given the age-related degradation that low-mileage examples of this model commonly exhibit. Steering response should be checked for vagueness or knocking on full lock, which would point to worn drop links or tie rod ends. Finally, a thorough underbody inspection is advisable to identify any corrosion on subframes, brake pipes and suspension components, as the combination of eleven years in service and relatively low mileage often allows surface oxidation to develop on ferrous components without the mechanical action of higher-mileage use to keep them clear.