2004 Audi A8 3.0L Diesel · NH04 SWY

A consistent pattern of brake-related advisories defines this Audi A8's MOT record, with wear items flagged on virtually every test since 2021. Across five consecutive examinations, front and rear brake discs have been repeatedly noted as worn, pitted, or scored, while brake pads have appeared as thinning on both axles on multiple occasions. The most recent pass on 9 May 2025 continued this trend, recording pitted front inner and rear brake discs alongside rear pads wearing thin. No MOT failures have been recorded, but the chronic nature of these brake advisories indicates that the discs have likely been on the cusp of replacement for several years and that pad wear is a recurring maintenance cycle rather than a one-off finding. Two anti-roll bar ball joint advisories, one in 2023 on the offside rear linkage and another in 2024 on the offside front ball joint, further suggest progressive wear in the front and rear anti-roll bar assemblies, with slight play now recorded at both ends of the car. At 149,068 miles on a 2004 vehicle, the recorded usage equates to roughly 6,776 miles per year over its 22-year life, which sits broadly in line with average accumulation for a car of this age. The MOT history itself is unbroken from 2018 through 2025 with annual tests, and the mileage progression between tests is steady and consistent, showing no dramatic spikes or extended gaps that would suggest long periods off the road. The weeping rear differential seal flagged in 2021 is a relevant data point given the cumulative mileage on the drivetrain, and at this odometer reading the quattro drivetrain, transmission, and engine ancillaries are operating well beyond the mid-point of typical service life. The near-side front suspension arm bush wear noted in 2021 adds to the picture of a vehicle with sustained mechanical use rather than light, occasional running. For a prospective buyer, the brake system should be the priority area for inspection and budgeting, given the unbroken sequence of disc and pad advisories. On a test drive, listen for any grinding or scraping from the front wheels which would suggest pads have worn to the backing plate, and feel for vibration or judder through the steering wheel or brake pedal under firm stops, which is consistent with the recurring pitted and scored disc condition. Inspect both front discs visually for a pronounced lip on the outer edge and check pad material thickness through the caliper window; budget for a full front and rear disc and pad replacement as a realistic near-term cost. The anti-roll bar advisories warrant a road test over uneven surfaces and speed humps, where clonking, rattling, or sloppy body roll through corners would indicate that the ball joints and linkages have progressed from slight play to requiring replacement, particularly the offside front joint last noted in 2024. Given the cumulative mileage and the 2021 advisory of a weeping rear differential seal, the underbody and drivetrain also deserve close attention during a physical inspection. On the test drive, listen for any hum or whine from the differential that changes with throttle load, and check for fresh oil staining on the undertray or around the rear final drive area, which would indicate the seal weep has progressed to an active leak. The 2021 advisory concerning front brake flexi hoses under protective sheaths has not reappeared in subsequent tests, but flexible brake hoses on a 22-year-old vehicle are age-related items, so they should be inspected for cracking, swelling under pressure, or corrosion at the unions during a pre-purchase examination. Finally, the 2022 minor defect for an inoperative rear registration plate lamp should be confirmed rectified, and the general condition of the underbody, subframe mounts, and suspension components should be checked for corrosion given the age of the vehicle, particularly around the front subframe and rear suspension mounting points which are common areas of concern on early 2000s Audi platforms.