2017 Audi A3 1.5L Petrol · CJ17 UMS

The 2017 Audi A3 presents a generally sound mechanical picture, with its most recent MOT pass recorded on 19 August 2025 at 62,215 miles showing zero defects. That clean result is significant because it follows a failure just one day earlier on 18 August 2025 at the identical mileage, where the tester flagged serious fluid leaks on both rear shock absorbers, four tyres at or near the legal tread limit, and a worn offside front brake pad. The fact that all those items were rectified within 24 hours suggests the previous owner addressed the failures promptly rather than deferring them. The maintenance trend is therefore stable and recently improving, with no outstanding advisories carried forward into the current certificate. The mileage progression tells a consistent story. The car covered roughly 10,000 miles between the August 2023 test at 43,113 miles and the August 2024 test at 53,223 miles, then climbed another 8,992 miles to reach 62,215 by August 2025. That equates to approximately 6,900 miles per year over the vehicle's nine-year life, which sits squarely within normal parameters for a petrol hatchback of this age. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden jumps in the odometer record, and the annual testing pattern has been maintained without interruption since at least July 2022. The dual rear shock absorber failures in August 2025 warrant close attention on any pre-purchase inspection. Serious fluid leaks on both nearside and offside units indicate the dampers were at the end of their service life, and even though they have been replaced or repaired to secure a pass, a buyer should verify the quality of that work. Inspect the shock absorber tops and seals for fresh fluid misting, and check whether the replacement units are genuine OEM or aftermarket. The rear suspension should be bounce-tested to confirm even damping across both corners. The repeated tyre wear issues also deserve scrutiny. All four tyres were flagged simultaneously in the August 2025 failure, with the rears below the 1.6mm legal minimum and the fronts worn to the edge of compliance. This pattern points to either prolonged neglect of tyre condition or a wheel alignment fault that has been scrubbing rubber unevenly. Have the tracking and camber settings checked against Audi's specifications, and examine the inner edges of the current tyres for uneven wear. The worn offside front brake pad noted in the same failure further suggests the braking system has seen harder use than average; inspect the brake discs for lipping and measure pad thickness across all four corners to confirm the repairs were thorough.