2016 Audi A6 2.0L Diesel · RO16 SFX

With five consecutive pass entries and no advisories, failures or defects of any kind recorded across the DVSA history for this 2016 Audi A6, the mechanical story so far is one of consistent roadworthiness. The most recent test on 9 April 2025 produced a clean pass, mirroring the outcome at the prior attempt on 5 April 2024 and the 2023 and 2022 entries. The single recorded failure on 5 April 2024 carries no defect detail, which indicates the vehicle was presented the same day and subsequently passed without any item being retained against the car. The absence of advisories across the board is unusual for a vehicle approaching its tenth birthday and suggests that wearable items such as brake components, tyres, suspension bushes and exhaust elements were within tolerance at the time of testing. This does not, however, constitute a guarantee of current condition, particularly given the mileage the car has covered since its last examination. A recorded mileage of 156,501 miles over roughly ten years equates to an annual accumulation of around 15,650 miles, which sits well above the national average and places this A6 firmly in the higher-use bracket. There are no obvious gaps in the MOT record to suggest extended periods off the road, and the testing history shows annual examinations through the spring months, consistent with continuous use. Mechanically, this level of annual mileage means that components subject to wear per mile rather than per year will have absorbed significant cumulative stress. The drivetrain, including the dual-clutch or torque converter automatic transmission depending on variant, front and final-drive assemblies, turbocharger, cooling system and engine consumables, will all have experienced substantially more fatigue than a typical example of the same age. Suspension components, particularly the front control arms, anti-roll bar links and top mounts, along with brake discs and calipers, are likely to be approaching or beyond replacement thresholds given the silence of the MOT record only confirms fitness at the time of test rather than service life remaining. Given that the MOT history is unusually devoid of specific advisories to reference, the prospective buyer should concentrate on the wear items that high-mileage Audis of this generation are known to require. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, which would indicate worn lower control arm bushes or thrust arms, and feel for vagueness or vibration through the steering wheel that could point to top mount or anti-roll bar link wear. Brake pedal feel should be firm and progressive; any judder under braking or pulling to one side would suggest warped discs or a binding caliper, both common on A6s that have covered significant mileage. At idle, observe for any timing chain rattle from cold, particularly on the four-cylinder TFSI variants, and watch for any flicker of the EPC or engine management light which can indicate misfire or sensor wear. A thorough under-bonnet inspection for oil seepage around the cam chain cover, turbo oil feed pipes and the sump area is worthwhile, as is checking the coolant expansion tank and radiator for staining that would point to a recent or imminent joint failure. With no recorded advisories to draw upon, the inspection should also cover the areas that MOT testing does not address. Inspect the condition and date stamping of all four tyres plus the spare, as high-mileage use will have demanded multiple replacements and uneven wear patterns can reveal tracking or suspension geometry issues. A scan for stored fault codes across all modules is strongly advised, particularly for the transmission, ABS, parking brake and emissions systems, as the MOT test only samples tailpipe emissions and does not interrogate the full range of onboard diagnostics. Confirm the service history directly with paperwork, paying particular attention to the timing chain replacement interval on petrol variants and the automatic transmission fluid change schedule, both of which are critical at this mileage. Finally, a borescope inspection of the bores via the spark plug holes and a compression test would provide reassurance on internal engine condition, while a road test on a dual carriageway will reveal any wind noise, drivetrain shunt or vibration at speed that slower urban driving might mask.