2007 Audi A6 2.0L Petrol · PY57 AAV

The defining mechanical story of this 2007 Audi A6 is one of progressive suspension and structural degradation now culminating in a recent failure. The vehicle passed its most recent MOT on 30 January 2026, but only after failing on the same items less than a fortnight earlier on 16 January 2026, when a fractured offside rear coil spring and excessively worn anti-roll bar pins and bushes on both front sides were recorded as Major defects. That same pattern appeared in the January 2025 test, which failed on identical anti-roll bar wear items and additionally flagged significant corrosion to the offside front outer sill compromising structural rigidity. Across the recorded period, anti-roll bar linkage wear has been flagged every year from 2022 onwards, initially as advisories on upper suspension arm pins and bushes in 2022, progressing to worn linkage pins and bushes in 2024, and culminating in major-excess wear failures in both 2025 and 2026. This is a clear deterioration trend rather than a stable or improving one, with the most recent test merely representing repairs completed immediately prior to retest rather than evidence of fundamental resolution. Recorded mileage stands at 132,954 miles across roughly 19 years, equating to an average annual accumulation of approximately 7,000 miles, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age and consistent with regular use rather than extended standing periods. There are no gaps in the annual testing record to suggest prolonged off-road status, and the mileage progression between tests appears broadly consistent without sharp jumps or stagnation that would indicate clocking or unusual inactivity. For a 19-year-old Audi of this mileage, the mechanical expectation is wear on consumables, suspension bushes, and corrosion-prone components, and the recorded pattern aligns with that expectation, though the early onset of structural sill corrosion at this mileage level is a notable concern that warrants careful physical inspection. A prospective buyer should focus on the specific components the MOT history has flagged. The anti-roll bar pins and bushes at the front have now failed twice in successive years, so on a test drive listen for knocking or clunking over uneven surfaces, particularly at low speed over speed humps, and feel for any vagueness or tremor through the steering wheel that could indicate worn droplinks or anti-roll bar mountings. The fractured rear coil spring recorded in January 2026 means the vehicle will likely have had replacement springs fitted, but check that the ride height appears even at the rear and that there are no clonks over undulations suggesting incomplete repair. The outer sill corrosion flagged as a Major in 2025 is a serious structural finding, so the underside should be examined on a ramp for perforation, bubbling under paint, or fresh weld repairs, particularly along the offside front sill and surrounding chassis leg. The inner brake disc wear and rear inner-edge tyre wear advisories from January 2026 point to a possible tracking or suspension geometry issue, so check for steering pull to one side under braking and uneven tyre wear across the rear axle. Additional attention should be directed to the brake system balance problem flagged in January 2023, where front brake imbalance across axle one was recorded as a Major, alongside brake hose ferrule corrosion on both front hoses. On test, the brake pedal should feel firm and progressive without any judder under heavy application, and a spongy pedal or pulling to one side under braking would indicate lingering imbalance or seized caliper slider pins. The exhaust flexi pipe has been a recurring advisory since 2025, so listen at idle for an irregular or hissing exhaust note and inspect the flexible section for visible cracking or soot staining. The offside front drag link end ball joint play noted in 2023 is a steering component item, so any clonking or free play detected when manually checking the steering at the roadwheel, or wandering at speed, would suggest this joint may now be due replacement. Finally, the engine MIL inoperative flag from January 2023 indicates a possible pre-existing emissions or sensor fault, so verify that the engine management warning lamp functions correctly on ignition and that no dashboard warning lights remain illuminated after engine start.