2008 Audi Q5 2.0L Diesel · SH58 KZG

The 2008 Audi Q5 presents a mixed maintenance picture that has deteriorated noticeably over the last two years. The most recent test on 27 September 2025 at 135,785 miles passed, but only narrowly, with an oil leak flagged as not excessive and both front tyres worn close to the legal limit and perishing. That marginal pass follows a failure just weeks earlier on 29 August 2025 at 135,771 miles, where the tester flagged an inoperative engine MIL, a worn Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm inner bush, a worn Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint, a defective side repeater lens, and the same oil leak. The trend is clearly worsening. Suspension components that were noted as having slight play in August 2024 had deteriorated to excessively worn by August 2025, and the engine MIL was inoperative at the later test, suggesting a fault was either ignored or deliberately masked rather than resolved. The mileage accumulation tells a coherent story. Between 31 August 2023 at 123,303 miles and 10 August 2024 at 131,745 miles, the vehicle covered 8,442 miles in under twelve months. By 29 August 2025 at 135,771 miles, a further 4,026 miles had been added in roughly a year, indicating the vehicle has been used consistently at around 7,500 miles annually. This is unremarkable for an eighteen-year-old SUV and does not raise concerns about either excessive use or suspiciously low accumulation. The MOT record itself is reasonably well populated with annual tests, so there are no obvious gaps suggesting prolonged periods off the road. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and steering, given the recurring defects. The Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint was flagged with slight play in August 2024 and then as excessively worn in August 2025, which suggests either a poor-quality replacement or no replacement at all between tests. The Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm inner bush was only flagged in the August 2025 failure, so its condition should be verified independently. The Offside Front Steering rack gaiter was noted as loose and secured with a cable tie in the August 2024 failure, a temporary fix that risks dirt ingress and premature rack wear if not properly replaced. The persistent oil leak, present in both the 2025 failure and pass, warrants a close inspection of the engine and undertray area to determine whether it is a minor seep or a developing issue with gaskets or seals. Tyre condition and perishing on both fronts in the most recent test point to deferred basic upkeep, which may reflect a broader pattern of reactive rather than preventive maintenance.