2007 Audi A6 2.0L Diesel · MD07 RKX

The most recent DVSA examination on 10 February 2024 resulted in a pass, however the test recorded three advisories that warrant careful consideration by any prospective purchaser. Nearside and offside front tyres were noted as worn close to the legal limit with edge wear, and rear brake pads were flagged as wearing thin. Looking back over the available MOT history, the maintenance trend shows a broadly stable pattern of routine advisory items rather than a sudden deterioration, with brake pad wear advisories appearing on both the 2020 and 2024 tests and front tyre edge wear recurring across multiple examinations. Two minor fail-and-retest episodes in 2021 and 2023 were both caused solely by insufficient windscreen washer fluid, which is an entirely trivial defect and carries no mechanical significance. There have been no advisories relating to structural corrosion, suspension components, steering, or exhaust integrity recorded in any of the documented tests, which is reassuring for a vehicle of this vintage. The recorded mileage of 234,379 miles against an approximate vehicle age of nineteen years equates to an annualised usage of around 12,336 miles per year, which is notably high for a premium executive saloon of this era and points to sustained long-distance or high-mileage operation. This level of accumulation places considerable cumulative demand on the engine, automatic or manual transmission, drivetrain mounts, clutch or torque converter, and ancillary systems. Although MOT records only reflect mileage at the point of test rather than continuous usage, the consistently high annual rate suggests the vehicle has been a working tool and is likely to have received regular servicing. Buyers should nevertheless anticipate that wear-related components such as timing chain and guides, turbocharger assemblies on earlier diesel variants common to the A6 of this period, dual mass flywheels if fitted, and rear differential mountings may be approaching or beyond their expected service intervals. The 2020 advisory of a non-excessive engine oil leak should also be revisited, as oil leaks on high-mileage Audi engines, particularly around the camshaft chain tensioner area, valve cover gaskets, and sump seals, tend to progress gradually and warrant monitoring. Given the recurring front tyre edge wear advisories across multiple examinations, a prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the condition of the front suspension geometry during a test drive, listening for clonks or rattles emanating from the front anti-roll bar bushes, drop links, track rod ends, and control arm bushes, all of which are known wear items on the A6 C6 platform and frequently accelerate uneven tyre wear when degraded. Symptoms to listen for include knocking over speed humps, vague or wandering steering, and uneven inner or outer shoulder wear on the front tyres. The rear brake pad advisory from the 2024 test should prompt a visual inspection of pad material thickness and a check for any scoring or lipping on the brake discs, as high-mileage A6s often suffer from binding rear calipers, particularly on vehicles fitted with the electronic parking brake, which can lead to uneven pad wear and potential overheating. On the test drive, the buyer should test for any pulling to one side under braking, a soft or spongy brake pedal, and any juddering through the steering wheel which would indicate disc run-out or warped front discs. Beyond the recorded MOT advisories, this nineteen-year-old vehicle demands thorough age-related inspection regardless of mileage. Tyre sidewalls should be examined closely for perishing, cracking, and ozone degradation, as tyres older than seven or eight years from their date of manufacture can deteriorate structurally even with adequate tread depth. The 12-volt battery should be load tested, given that the original specification unit will long since have been replaced, and the date code on any fitted battery checked. Coolant, brake fluid, and automatic transmission fluid if applicable should all be considered overdue for renewal based on calendar age rather than mileage, as brake fluid is hygroscopic and degrades in its moisture absorption capacity over time, leading to reduced braking performance and potential ABS modulator issues. Finally, the underside should be examined for surface corrosion on suspension arms, subframe mounting points, brake lines, and fuel lines, as nineteen years of UK road exposure inevitably produces some corrosion even on well-maintained vehicles, and any structural advisories under closer scrutiny would be a significant concern for a car of this age and mileage.