2016 Audi A3 1.6L Diesel · DX66 LGF

The 2016 Audi A3 presents a clean bill of health on paper, having passed its most recent MOT on 28 April 2026 at 122,861 miles with zero defects. That is a significant improvement over the 2024 test, which recorded three advisories including a misting nearside rear shock absorber and an inner-edge tyre wear pattern on the nearside front. The absence of any defects in both the 2025 and 2026 tests suggests the maintenance trend is now stable and improving, though the gap between those two clean tests is narrow, covering only 16,389 miles over twelve months. The mileage accumulation pattern tells an unusual story. Between July 2022 and July 2023, the car covered 12,960 miles, then slowed to 17,095 miles over the following twelve months to July 2024. The most striking shift appears between April 2025 and April 2026, where just 16,389 miles were added, a notable drop from the earlier pace. At roughly 12,286 miles per year on average, the overall figure is high for a ten-year-old A3, yet the recent slowdown raises the question of whether the car has been used less intensively or sat for extended periods, which can introduce its own issues such as flat-spotted tyres, stale fuel, and moisture-related corrosion in brake lines and exhaust components. The 2024 advisory for light oil misting on the nearside rear shock absorber deserves attention even though it did not reappear in 2025 or 2026. A misting condition can resolve temporarily if the seal reseals, but it often returns as the damper ages. A buyer should have the rear suspension inspected on a ramp, checking for weeping or fresh oil deposits around the shock body and mounting points. The recurring tyre wear advisories in 2023 and 2024, both pointing to inner-edge wear on the nearside front, suggest possible tracking misalignment or worn suspension bushes, particularly the front lower arm bushes common on MQB-platform Audi models. A four-wheel alignment check and visual inspection of the front suspension bushes and ball joints would be prudent before purchase. The windscreen chip noted in 2024 on the nearside has not been flagged in subsequent tests, meaning it either was repaired or fell outside the tester's criteria for failure. Still, a buyer should examine that area closely for any crack propagation, as temperature changes and road vibration can cause a small chip to spread over time. Given the high mileage and the suspension-related advisories in the record, a thorough underbody inspection for corrosion on subframes, brake lines, and exhaust mounting points is recommended, along with a test drive focused on brake feel, steering tracking, and any clunking from the front end over uneven surfaces.