2013 Audi A5 2.0L Diesel · RJ05 TEN

This 2013 Audi A5 presents a notably clean DVSA roadworthiness record, with no advisory items, defects, or component failures appearing across any of the recorded tests. The most recent assessment on 2025-12-11 resulted in a pass with no defects recorded, consistent with the prior pass on 2025-05-14, an earlier pass on 2024-05-14, and another pass on 2023-02-21. The single non-pass event in the file is a fail on 2025-05-13 that likewise lists no defects, which most likely represents an administrative or presentation issue at the test station rather than a mechanical failure, given that a full pass was issued the following day. The absence of any advisories over a roughly three-year testing window is unusual for a vehicle of this age and mileage and indicates that the wear items typically flagged on a thirteen-year-old car, such as brake components, suspension bushes, corrosion, or exhaust integrity, have not yet been drawn to attention under test conditions. Mileage accumulation over the vehicle's life sits at 120,450 miles across approximately thirteen years, giving an average of around 9,265 miles per year, which is broadly in line with typical usage for a car of this profile. This steady, moderate annual mileage suggests consistent running rather than long periods of standing or extreme short-journey use, which is mechanically favourable for engine, transmission, turbo, and underbody components that suffer from infrequent operation. There is no evidence in the MOT record of a multi-year lay-up, no clustering of tests suggesting an off-road period, and the testing cadence from 2023 through 2025 reflects a vehicle kept in active use and regularly presented for inspection. From a mechanical standpoint, this kind of usage pattern tends to preserve oil circulation in the turbo and engine, keep the battery in a healthy state of charge, and reduce the likelihood of seized brake calipers or corroded brake discs that often accompany very low annual mileages. For a prospective buyer, the absence of flagged items means there is no specific component history to target, but the high mileage and age of the car still warrant a focused physical inspection on the items most commonly affected. On a test drive, listen carefully for any clonks or knocks from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, as the front control arm bushes, wishbones, and anti-roll bar drop links on a high-mileage A5 are prone to wear and would typically be the first suspension items to show deterioration. Check for pulling under braking or vibration through the steering wheel, which would suggest worn brake discs or a binding caliper, and inspect the discs and pads directly for lipping and remaining material. Steering should feel precise without excess play at the centre, and any knocking from the front when turning at low speed could indicate worn track rod ends or drop link failure. Given the age and mileage, particular attention should also be paid to areas not always visible from the MOT record, including the underside structure for corrosion on subframes and suspension mounting points, which can develop on Audi platforms exposed to winter road conditions. The 2.0 TFSI and diesel variants commonly fitted to the A5 are known to suffer from oil consumption and timing chain stretch on higher-mileage petrol units, so checking oil level, listening for a rattle on cold start, and verifying service history for regular oil changes is worthwhile. Coolant and oil leaks around the cam chain tensioner, turbo oil feed pipes, and the PCV system should be inspected, and a compression or leak-down test considered if any irregular running is noted. The clean MOT record is reassuring, but a thorough pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the A5 would be a sensible precaution given the mileage and the known weak points of the model.