2011 Audi A5 2.0L Petrol · GY61 CWP

A pattern of front-tyre wear and isolated brake and lighting defects define the roadworthiness profile of this A5. Six MOT tests are recorded between 2021 and 2026, with two failures and four passes. The latest test on 23 July 2026 resulted in a pass, but it carried advisories on both front tyres being worn close to the legal limit with feathering or smoothing to the inner edge, suggesting a recurring geometry or suspension issue rather than simple age-related wear. Looking back through the record, the offside front tyre has been flagged for cuts or wear at four separate tests spanning 2022, 2023 (twice) and 2026, which points to a persistent characteristic of how this particular axle wears its rubber. The 2023 test also recorded a dangerous failure on the rear brake pads, classified at less than 1.5 mm thick, alongside a major defect for offside front headlamp aim being too low. The 2021 failure was the result of mismatched rear tyres being fitted on the same axle, a major defect but one that is rectifiable at the point of test. The overall trend is one of largely compliant roadworthiness but with repeat advisories clustering around front-tyre condition and intermittent brake-wear flags. With 57,045 miles recorded across approximately fifteen years, the A5 has averaged around 3,800 miles per year, which is notably low for the model and age. There are no significant gaps in the annual testing cadence, indicating the vehicle has remained in regular use rather than being laid up for extended periods, which reduces the likelihood of the type of dry-rotting, seized caliper, or corroded brake-line issues that affect long-stationary cars. However, low annual mileage brings its own considerations: brake discs and pads are more prone to surface corrosion from short journeys and infrequent heavy braking, and the 2022 advisory for the rear brake pads wearing thin and the 2023 dangerous failure for pad thickness at the rear both align with this kind of usage pattern. The fact that the vehicle has covered sufficient distance between tests to produce genuine wear items, rather than purely corrosion-related advisories, suggests it is being driven rather than merely started and moved. For a prospective buyer, the front tyres should be the first item to scrutinise closely. Inner-edge wear of the pattern shown on the 2026 advisories is commonly associated with incorrect tracking, worn suspension bushes, or bent or fatigued suspension arms following kerb impacts. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and pay attention to any vagueness or wandering in the steering, particularly under braking. A pull to one side during straight-line braking could indicate a binding caliper, which would be consistent with the brake-wear pattern seen at the rear. The headlamp aim failure in 2023 is worth checking by parking the vehicle on level ground facing a wall at night and confirming both beams are level and not excessively dipped, as headlamp levelling motors on A5s of this generation can fail with age. Finally, the rear brake pads should be physically inspected through the wheel to confirm material thickness, and the discs checked for a pronounced lip or scoring, since the 2022 advisory indicated the pads were already wearing thin and a further three years of use will have taken them further.