2015 Audi A6 3.0L Diesel · HD15 FDY

Covering nearly 143,000 miles over 11 years, this Audi A6 has accumulated wear at a notably brisk pace, and the MOT history reflects a vehicle that has been worked hard rather than sparingly used. The record is broadly positive on outcomes, with the most recent test on 2026-04-04 passing without any advisories, and four of the seven recorded tests returning completely clean sheets. However, the picture is not entirely unblemished: a Dangerous failure was recorded on 2024-03-07 for a nearside rear tyre below the legal 1.6mm tread depth, accompanied by a major defect for an ineffective front wiper and an advisory for the offside rear tyre wearing close to the limit on its edge. Recurring advisories around front brake pads and discs across 2020 and 2021, followed by thin front pads again in 2025 and a worn anti-roll bar linkage in the same test, suggest that consumable and suspension component wear is a continuing theme consistent with the high annual mileage. At roughly 12,964 miles per year, this A6 sits well above the typical accumulation rate for its age bracket, which means brake, tyre, suspension and clutch or dual-mass flywheel wear (manual variants) should all be expected to be more advanced than the odometer alone might suggest on a lower-mileage example. There is one apparent duplicate test date in March 2024, indicating a same-day retest after the earlier failure, and otherwise the testing has been annual and consistent, with no extended gaps that might imply long periods off the road. The mileage progression between tests is steady rather than erratic, suggesting the vehicle has been in regular use rather than stood for long intervals, which is generally favourable for avoiding the kind of corrosion and seized-component issues that affect laid-up cars, but does mean wear items have been worked through at a steady rate. For a prospective buyer, the anti-roll bar linkage wear flagged in 2025 is worth close inspection, as these bushes and pins on the A6 are known to deteriorate and produce clonking noises over uneven surfaces and a vague, less precise feeling through the steering on turn-in. On a test drive, listen for any knocking from the front end over speed bumps or on full lock, and feel for any wandering or instability under braking that might point to worn suspension linkages or top mounts. Given the recurring front brake pad and disc advisories across multiple years, the front brakes should be examined physically for remaining pad material and disc thickness, with particular attention to any judder through the pedal or steering wheel under firm braking, which would suggest disc warping rather than simply worn friction material. The tyre wear pattern flagged in 2021 on both fronts, and again in 2024 on the rears, hints at possible geometry misalignment, which on an A6 of this mileage is often traceable to worn suspension components rather than simply inflation or alignment settings. A four-wheel alignment check and a close look at uneven shoulder wear on any tyres currently fitted would be prudent. The 2024 wiper failure is a minor and isolated item, but it serves as a reminder to confirm all wipers, washers, and basic lighting function correctly, as electrical ancillaries on high-mileage A6s can suffer from fatigued linkages and motors. Overall, the test record suggests a vehicle that has been in continuous service, has passed its recent examinations, but has clearly consumed its consumables at a rate in line with the high annual mileage, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection of the suspension, brakes, tyres and any oil leaks from the engine and transmission should be considered essential.