2012 Audi A5 2.0L Diesel · LL62 RVC

The most recent DVSA examination on 17 March 2025 resulted in a Pass, with a single advisory raised for front brake discs being worn, pitted or scored but not seriously weakened on both sides. Reviewing the test history overall, the vehicle has maintained continuous compliance without any categorised failures of a structural or safety-critical nature, aside from a minor presentation defect for an offside front position lamp recorded in March 2023. The pattern of advisories suggests a gradually developing wear profile rather than any sudden deterioration, with the rear suspension components flagged consistently from 2019 through 2021 and the front braking system now coming under observation from 2023 onwards. This trajectory is broadly consistent with a vehicle that has been maintained to a serviceable standard but is showing the expected progression of component wear associated with its age and accumulated mileage. The recorded mileage of 135,556 miles over a fourteen-year life equates to an annual average of around 9,683 miles, which sits comfortably within the typical usage bracket for a vehicle of this vintage. There is no evidence within the MOT history of any extended gaps in testing or irregular mileage progression that would suggest prolonged standing periods, and the records appear to capture regular annual use. A consistent workload of this nature tends to promote steady wear across consumables such as brake friction material, tyres and suspension bushes, but it also generally keeps the drivetrain and ancillary systems in regular working condition, avoiding the moisture accumulation and seal degradation that can afflict very low mileage or stored vehicles. Given the recurring advisories relating to the front brake discs recorded at the most recent test, a prospective buyer should anticipate that the discs are approaching the threshold at which replacement will become necessary, particularly if the pads have also been renewed since the 2023 advisory. On a test drive, attention should be paid to any vibration or shudder through the steering wheel under moderate to heavy braking, as this is characteristic of disc runout or uneven wear, and the vehicle should come to a straight and controlled stop without pulling to one side, which could indicate uneven pad wear or a binding caliper. The discs should be physically inspected for a clearly visible ridge at the outer edge, which indicates they are nearing their minimum thickness, and the inner and outer pad material should be checked for any uneven deposition. The persistent advisory history for the rear shock absorbers, which appeared across the 2019, 2020 and 2021 examinations, warrants a focused inspection of the damping performance. On test, the vehicle should settle promptly after pressing down on each rear corner, with no continued oscillation, and there should be no audible clonking or knocking over uneven surfaces. While the advisories have not reappeared in the more recent tests, shock absorbers do deteriorate progressively with age regardless of mileage, and the buyer should be alert to any renewed signs of limited damping effect. In addition, given the fourteen-year age of the vehicle, even with relatively typical mileage, a thorough physical inspection should encompass tyre sidewalls for cracking or perishing caused by age-related rubber degradation, the condition and state of charge of the 12 volt battery, the integrity of the coolant and brake fluid which degrade on a calendar basis irrespective of use, and the general condition of the underbody and suspension bushes for any corrosion or splitting that could compromise structural integrity at the next MOT.