2016 Audi A6 2.0L Diesel · PF66 YYN

The defining mechanical story of this 2016 Audi A6 centres on its front axle drive components, with a clear pattern emerging across the recorded test history. The most recent MOT on 19 September 2025 was a pass, but it carried three advisories directly related to front-end wear: an offside front tyre at its legal limit on the inner edge, and both nearside and offside front drive shaft joints flagged as worn though not excessively. This pattern of drive shaft attention actually has history, as a September 2023 test resulted in a failure due to the offside front outer CV boot splitting and permitting dirt entry, recorded as a major defect. The intervening tests in 2022 and 2024 were clean, but the recurrence of drivetrain and tyre advisories in the latest examination suggests ongoing attention is warranted to the front suspension and transmission sealing components, which are known wear items on this platform approaching ten years of service. Across the seven MOT events recorded between November 2020 and September 2025, the vehicle has accumulated mileage at a roughly typical rate for its age, with 96,041 miles on the odometer equating to around 9,600 miles annually over its ten-year life. The testing cadence is consistent and annual, with no extended gaps in the record that might suggest a prolonged period of standing or off-road storage, which is a positive indicator against the kind of deterioration that affects brake calipers, tyres developing flat spots, or brake fluid degradation from inactivity. Mileage accumulation appears steady rather than demonstrating unusual spikes, allowing for predictable wear progression on the major mechanical assemblies rather than the accelerated component fatigue that can accompany very high annual mileages. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection areas are clearly defined by the recorded defects. The front brake discs were flagged in September 2021 as pitted and scored on both sides, which on a vehicle now five years beyond that advisory would typically mean the discs have either been renewed or are due for renewal, so a physical check for lipping on the disc edges and any pulsation through the brake pedal under firm application is essential during a test drive. The CV joint and boot condition on both front shafts warrants specific attention: listen for clicking or knocking when turning at low speed with full steering lock, and inspect the boots visually for any fresh splits, grease contamination on the surrounding suspension arms, or perished rubber, as boots left unreplaced after the 2023 failure can lead to joint replacement rather than a simple boot refurbishment. Further targeted checks should focus on the inner edges of the front tyres, as the advisory specifying wear on the inner edge is consistent with misalignment, worn suspension bushes, or worn track rod ends on this model, all of which would warrant a four-wheel geometry check and a physical inspection for any play in the front wishbones or anti-roll bar linkages when the wheel is rocked by hand. On the test drive, pay particular attention to straight-line stability, any pulling to one side under deceleration which could indicate a binding brake caliper, and any knocking over uneven surfaces that might point to the front suspension components flagged indirectly through the tyre wear pattern. The nearside and offside rear tyres should also be examined for cracking or perishing consistent with the 2021 rear offside advisory, and a thorough inspection of the underbody for any corrosion on subframe mounting points, brake lines, and fuel lines is advisable given the vehicle's age and accumulated mileage.