2013 Audi Q5 3.0L Diesel · KX63 XCA

Brake wear is the defining theme of this 2013 Audi Q5's recorded history, and it is the one area a buyer should scrutinise closely. In August 2021 the car passed with five brake-related advisories: both front inner disc faces worn, pitted or scored, both rear discs worn, and the nearside rear pads wearing thin. Exactly one year later, in August 2022, the car failed with a dangerous defect on both rear brake pads worn below 1.5 mm, indicating the flagged wear had been allowed to progress to a legally dangerous state before rectification. The car was retested and passed two days later, confirming the pads were replaced promptly. Since then the trajectory has improved markedly: clean passes with no defects or advisories in August 2023, March 2024, March 2025, and most recently March 2026, suggesting the braking system has been brought up to standard and no new issues have surfaced at test. The recorded mileage of 123,640 over roughly thirteen years equates to about 9,500 miles per year, which is typical for a vehicle of this age and type. The testing history shows consistent annual use with no significant gaps between tests and no evidence of extended off-road periods, so there is no reason to suspect lay-up-related deterioration such as seized calipers or perished components from standing. This steady, moderate accumulation is consistent with the wear pattern seen on the brakes: consumables wearing out through ordinary use rather than neglect or abuse. That said, at this mileage a Q5 will have consumed multiple sets of pads and discs, and suspension bushes, dampers, and drivetrain components will all be well into their service life even if not yet flagged. On a test drive, the braking system deserves the closest attention given its history. Listen for any grinding or squealing under braking, feel for judder or pulsing through the pedal or steering wheel that would indicate warped or unevenly worn discs, and check that the car stops straight without pulling to either side, which could point to a binding caliper. Given that the rear pads were once allowed to wear to a dangerous level, it is worth asking for invoices confirming when the discs and pads were last replaced on all four corners, and visually inspecting the disc faces through the wheels for heavy scoring or pronounced wear lips. Beyond the brakes, the absence of any corrosion, suspension, steering, or emissions advisories across seven recorded tests is a positive factual point, though MOT passes alone cannot confirm overall mechanical condition. A buyer should still carry out the standard checks for a higher-mileage diesel or petrol SUV of this era: listen for knocks or clonks from the suspension over uneven surfaces, check for oil misting or leaks around the engine and underbody, verify smooth gearbox operation, and confirm the service history supports the mileage. If the braking work is documented and the car drives without fault, the recent run of clean tests is a reasonable basis for proceeding, subject to an independent inspection.