2007 Audi A6 2.0L Diesel · LE07 FXB

A clear mechanical pattern emerges from the MOT record of this nineteen-year-old Audi A6, centring on the front suspension and rear coil spring durability. The most recent test on 5 October 2021 was recorded as a pass, but the underlying advisories from the preceding day tell a more cautionary story. Just one day earlier, the vehicle failed on a Dangerous tyre tread depth below 1.6mm at both front positions, accompanied by a Major nearside rear coil spring fractured or broken, alongside an advisory already flagging wear to both front upper inner suspension arm bushes. That same advisory carried forward into the subsequent pass, indicating the bushes were not rectified between the two tests. The dual presence of a fractured rear spring and worn front bushes within a single assessment window suggests the suspension components are reaching a stage where progressive replacement is to be expected, rather than being an isolated incident. With 138,395 miles recorded against a nineteen-year lifespan, the annual mileage works out to roughly 7,284 miles, which sits broadly in line with typical UK usage for a car of this age. There are no extended gaps in the MOT history provided, and the available records are clustered around late 2021, with no tests visible between then and the present day. This absence of recent documented testing should not be assumed to indicate a clean bill of health; for a vehicle approaching 140,000 miles, components such as suspension bushes, coil springs, brake discs, exhaust mounting points, and underbody corrosion protection will have continued to age. The accumulated mileage itself places this A6 in a bracket where general consumable wear on dampers, drop links, anti-roll bar bushes, and rear spring platforms is statistically likely, regardless of what the MOT file directly shows. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection areas are dictated directly by what the history has flagged. The front upper inner suspension arm bushes should be examined for play by hand with the wheels off the ground, and a thorough test drive should include listening for clonking or knocking from the front end over speed bumps, uneven tarmac, or during full-lock manoeuvres, as well as any vagueness or wandering from the steering. The rear coil spring fracture is a particularly serious item, so the nearside rear should be visually inspected for the spring seating correctly in its upper and lower cups without any visible gap, and the car should sit level at the rear when unladen. Any sagging on one corner, a harsh crash over undulations, or a noticeable clunk from the rear under acceleration or braking would warrant immediate further investigation. Beyond the specifically flagged components, the broader mechanical context of a high-mileage Audi A6 of this era warrants attention to the areas commonly affected but not necessarily captured in the limited MOT window shown. On a road test, listen for any timing chain rattle on a cold start, monitor the temperature gauge for rising readings under load which could indicate cooling system weakness, and check for any steering rack knocking or fluid leaks from the power steering system. The brake pedal should feel firm without excessive travel, and there should be no pulling to either side under braking. A thorough underbody examination, ideally on a ramp, would be prudent given the mileage and age, paying particular attention to subframe mounting points, brake line corrosion, exhaust integrity near the heat shields, and any signs of structural rust around the wheel arches and sills. Given the combination of recent advisories, the fractured spring history, and the four-year gap in documented testing since 2021, a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with Audi platforms would be strongly advisable before committing to the purchase.