2011 Audi A5 3.0L Diesel · YR11 VVJ

Front suspension wear is the defining mechanical theme of this A5's MOT record. Across the seven tests logged from 2020 to 2025, the vehicle has passed on five occasions but has accumulated a cluster of advisories and failures directly related to the front axle. Most notably, in late September 2022 the nearside front coil spring fractured, resulting in a Major failure; the vehicle subsequently passed just four days later once repaired, though two lower arm bush advisories were carried forward from that test. By October 2025 the advisory focus had migrated to the upper arm bushes, indicating that the suspension joints have been an ongoing area of attention rather than a one-off concern. The most recent test on 10 October 2025 recorded a Pass with a single advisory for worn front upper arm bushes not yet resulting in excessive movement, confirming the pattern has continued but has not yet deteriorated to a failure point. The recorded mileage of 115,938 against a 2011 build year equates to roughly 7,700 miles per year over its fifteen-year life, which sits broadly in line with the national average for a car of this age. Mileage progression across the recorded tests shows steady, modest annual accumulation rather than any sudden spikes or extended periods off the road, suggesting the vehicle has been in regular use. That said, a fifteen-year-old Audi of this mileage will have absorbed considerable cumulative wear into its suspension, bushes, and damping components, and the MOT history directly corroborates that expectation with its front-end advisory trail. There are no multi-year gaps in testing, so the record provides a reasonably continuous picture of the car's roadworthiness. For a prospective buyer, the front suspension should be the primary focus of any physical inspection and test drive. With coil spring fracture already documented and bushes repeatedly flagged on both lower and now upper arms, the assemblies may be approaching the point where further replacement is due. On a road test, listen for clonking or rattling noises over speed humps, cats' eyes, and uneven tarmac, particularly from the front axle. Any vagueness in steering response, a tendency to wander, or uneven tyre wear on the inner or outer edges would be consistent with the deterioration pattern recorded. Jack the vehicle if possible and physically check the upper and lower arm bushes, front coil springs, and strut top mounts for cracking, perished rubber, or visible spring distortion. The remaining items in the history are comparatively isolated. The only other failure recorded was a Dangerous defect in October 2021 for an offside front tyre with exposed ply or cords, alongside an advisory for inner-edge wear on the nearside front tyre; since then, the braking, exhaust, lighting, and structural elements have all returned clean test results across four consecutive passes. Nonetheless, given this vehicle's age and mileage, it would be prudent to check for any developing corrosion on the subframe, brake pipes, and suspension mounting points, as these are common MOT failure areas on older Audis that have not yet shown up in the visible record. Inspect all four tyres closely for uneven wear patterns, confirm the brake discs and pads have sufficient material remaining, and ensure there are no active fluid leaks from the engine or transmission.