2016 Audi A4 2.0L Diesel · OS55 ASH

A clear pattern of front suspension bush wear dominates the MOT history of this A4, with nearside and offside upper and lower suspension arm pin or bush advisories appearing repeatedly across the 2022, 2024 and 2025 tests, indicating progressive wear rather than isolated incidents. The most recent test on 9 September 2025 was a pass, but it carried the same nearside front suspension arm bush advisory alongside a recurring nearside front upper arm advisory, confirming that the deterioration is ongoing and likely to require component replacement in the near term. The braking record is less concerning but still relevant, with front brake pad advisories at the 2023 and 2025 tests suggesting the nearside inner pad may wear faster than its counterpart, and an offside front shock absorber with light oil misting flagged in 2022 warrants confirmation that this has not progressed further. No structural corrosion, exhaust, brake pipe or subframe advisories appear in any of the recorded tests, and there have been no failures across the documented period, which speaks to a generally sound structure beneath the consumable wear. At 135,359 miles over ten years, this A4 is accumulating roughly 13,500 miles annually, a figure well above the typical private-car average and consistent with sustained long-distance or commuter use. The testing cadence is annual and uninterrupted from 2021 through 2025, with no extended off-road lay-up periods, meaning the mileage shown represents genuine continuous service rather than a clocked or garage-queen history. High annual mileage of this nature accelerates wear on clutches, dual-mass flywheels, turbochargers, timing chains, suspension bushes and engine mountings, even when individual components still pass an MOT. The steady year-on-year presence of suspension, tyre and brake advisories at this mileage band is therefore consistent with the vehicle's usage profile rather than indicative of any single component failing prematurely. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection points should centre on the front suspension geometry and the condition of the control arm bushes and anti-roll bar linkages, given the multi-year pattern of advisories on both nearside and offside upper and lower arm pins. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension over speed bumps, uneven road surfaces and when turning into kerbs, and pay particular attention to any vagueness in steering response or knocking under braking, which would suggest the bush wear has progressed beyond the MOT advisory threshold. The vehicle should also be raised on a ramp if possible to allow visual confirmation of cracked, perished or separated front arm bushes, as MOT testers may not always flag marginal movement without applying significant leverage. Tyres on the nearside front and both rear corners have been flagged for inner or outer edge wear at multiple tests, so check for uneven shoulder wear which can indicate misalignment, worn suspension bushes or worn drop links. The braking system warrants specific attention given the repeated nearside front pad advisory and the 1.6mm tread measurement recorded on the nearside front tyre in 2025. On test, the brake pedal should feel firm with no excessive travel, and there should be no pulling to one side under braking, which could indicate a binding caliper or a flexible brake hose, particularly as these vehicles age. The offside front shock absorber oil misting noted in 2022 should be re-examined by compressing each front corner and watching for any slow recovery or uneven damping, as well as checking for fresh oil residue around the strut body. Given the overall mileage, it would also be prudent to budget for timing chain, turbocharger, dual-mass flywheel and engine mounting attention over the coming ownership period, even though none of these items have yet appeared in the MOT record. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent specialist familiar with the B9 platform would be strongly advisable to quantify the remaining life of these drivetrain components and confirm the cost of the imminent suspension refurbishment.