2017 Audi A1 1.4L Petrol · WT66 BJE

The 2017 Audi A1 presents a broadly stable mechanical picture at its most recent MOT on 8 July 2025, where it passed at 39,824 miles. The tester flagged a damaged nearside door, a cosmetic rather than structural item, and no mechanical advisories or failures were recorded. This clean bill of health is a positive indicator, suggesting the car has been kept in reasonable order recently. However, the record behind that pass reveals a pattern of recurring suspension and tyre wear that a buyer must understand before purchase. Mileage accumulation is notably low for a nine-year-old vehicle, averaging roughly 4,425 miles per year. The history shows a gap of over 3,300 miles between November 2021 and December 2022, then a jump of 1,687 miles in the following month, before the car effectively sat idle for over a year. Between the January 2024 test at 39,086 miles and the July 2025 test at 39,824 miles, only 738 miles were covered in eighteen months. Such irregular use can be harder on a car than steady driving, leading to perished rubber components, flat-spotted tyres, and surface corrosion on brake discs from standing. The most persistent mechanical theme is suspension bush degradation. In December 2023 the car failed with an excessively worn offside front suspension arm rear bush that was actually detached, a serious wear item that directly affects steering precision and alignment. That same bush was flagged as worn but not excessively so just twelve months earlier in December 2022, showing a clear worsening trend that was subsequently repaired before the 2024 and 2025 passes. A buyer should have the front suspension arms, bushes, and ball joints physically inspected for any play, and confirm whether the offside front lower arm has been replaced. Tyre condition is another recurring concern. The offside rear tyre has appeared in advisories at four of the five recorded tests, with inner edge wear, cracking, and perishing noted repeatedly. This points to possible misalignment, a weak rear suspension spring, or a worn damper causing uneven load distribution. Rear brake discs were also flagged for surface corrosion in 2022, consistent with a car that spends extended periods stationary. A thorough inspection of the rear suspension geometry, shock absorbers, and tyre condition is strongly advised before committing to purchase.