2011 Audi A5 1.7L Diesel · 108 BJW

A completely unblemished run of recent MOT test results characterises this 2011 Audi A5, which secured an unadvisory pass on November 18, 2025, following an administrative failure two weeks prior. This follows identical pass-and-fail sequences in late 2024 alongside a straightforward pass in November 2023, reflecting a short-term trajectory free from structural corrosion, mechanical deterioration, or component wear flagged by examiners. While these consecutive clean certificates confirm that the vehicle met minimum statutory roadworthiness standards at the exact moments of testing, the repeated initial failures within the same testing windows point to administrative re-tests rather than underlying mechanical recovery. Accumulating 170,983 miles over its fifteen years on the road places this Audi at an average of roughly 11,399 miles per year, an entirely typical usage rate for a diesel-engined grand tourer of this era. This consistent mileage accumulation indicates that the vehicle has been used regularly for long-distance journeys rather than left sitting idle, which generally helps prevent the battery and exhaust system degradation associated with short urban trips. However, covering more than 170,000 miles means that high-stress mechanical assemblies, drivetrain components, and rubber bushings have endured substantial cyclical fatigue regardless of the clean annual MOT sheets. Because official MOT tests do not evaluate the internal health of engines, transmissions, or suspension damping, a prospective buyer must physically inspect the high-mileage running gear during a comprehensive road test. Listen closely for knocking, clunking, or excessive float from the multi-link front suspension and subframe mountings over speed humps and rough tarmac, as worn control arm bushes and drop links are common failure points on high-mileage platform mates of this age. Pay attention to clutch take-up, dual-mass flywheel vibration at idle, and automatic gearbox shifting smoothness under acceleration, alongside any signs of oil misting around the turbocharger and ancillary housings. A thorough stationary check should accompany the test drive to verify the condition of high-wear items not explicitly detailed in recent test certificates. Inspect the brake discs and pads for heavy lip formation and uneven scoring, test the electronic parking brake mechanism repeatedly on an incline, and verify that all dashboard warning lights extinguish correctly upon starting the engine. Checking the service record alongside these physical checks will provide the necessary context to determine whether the mechanical maintenance has kept pace with the high odometer reading.