2011 Audi Q5 2.0L Diesel · L8 LLU

The 2011 Audi Q5 presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a fully clean pass on 17 October 2025 at 91,656 miles with zero defects recorded. That clean bill of health is significant given the advisory history of the preceding years. The 2022 test at 77,249 miles flagged an offside rear shock absorber with light oil misting, a condition that typically indicates the damper seal is beginning to fail and fluid is weeping past the piston gland. The absence of any repeat mention in the 2023, 2024, and 2025 tests suggests either the unit was replaced or the misting never progressed to a full failure, which would be consistent with proactive rectification. The 2021 test at 72,566 miles recorded three separate braking advisories, including front and rear brake imbalance only just meeting requirements and a fluctuating offside front service brake. These are classic symptoms of sticking calipers, unevenly worn discs, or contaminated brake pads. The fact that no braking defects appeared in any subsequent test indicates the braking system was properly overhauled, likely with new discs, pads, and caliper service, resolving the imbalance and fluctuation issues entirely. The mileage pattern is consistent and unremarkable for a fifteen-year-old vehicle. The car covered approximately 4,413 miles between October 2022 and October 2023, 3,484 miles between October 2023 and October 2024, and 5,420 miles between October 2024 and October 2025, averaging roughly 6,110 miles annually across the full record. There are no suspicious gaps in the MOT sequence, with tests conducted every October from 2021 through 2025, indicating continuous annual use and no prolonged periods of inactivity that could raise concerns about seized components or deteriorated rubber bushes from standing. The steady accumulation also means wear on consumables such as tyres, brake pads, and suspension components has been gradual rather than concentrated. A buyer inspecting this vehicle in person should focus on the rear suspension, particularly the offside rear shock absorber that was flagged in 2022. Even though it has not reappeared as an advisory, the damper should be checked for any fresh oil misting, knocking over compression, or uneven bounce response compared to the nearside unit. The front braking system also warrants close attention. The 2021 advisories for imbalance and fluctuation point to a history of caliper or disc issues, so the front discs should be examined for uneven lipping, blueing from overheating, and the pads checked for even wear patterns that would confirm the calipers are now sliding freely. Given the vehicle is fifteen years old and rides on a platform prone to subframe and suspension corrosion, a thorough underside inspection is advisable, looking for any rust jacking around the rear trailing arm mounts and front subframe rails. The clean recent MOT record is encouraging, but these specific areas carry the legacy of past defects that a visual check can confirm have been properly addressed.