CarVerify

Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI car check

Is the Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI reliable? We analysed 437 real MOT tests across 111 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 437 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.2%
Typical Mileage
40,776mi
Annual Mileage
8,609mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI.

Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.2%
2020
88.6%
2019

Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 21
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 4
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm cord exposed 1
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1
Tyre has ply or cords damaged 1

Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,721 mi/yr
Typical
8,609 mi/yr
Average
9,971 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,627 mi/yr

Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2020 153 90.2% 28,657 41,751 56,192
2019 254 88.6% 28,510 38,320 53,546

How Long Does a Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI Last?

Based on 111 Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI vehicles on UK roads.

Average
4.9 years
Median
5.0 years

Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
40,776 mi
75th Percentile
54,666 mi
95th Percentile
88,040 mi
Max Recorded
153,571 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2020

90.2% MOT pass rate from 153 tests

Year to avoid
2019

88.6% MOT pass rate from 254 tests

The best year to buy a used Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.2% across 153 tests. The 2019 model year has the lowest pass rate at 88.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI THIS CAR 89.2% 437 40,776 mi — yrs
Audi A3 78% 7,415,025 78,776 mi 29 yrs
Audi A4 76.1% 7,096,957 96,834 mi 31 yrs
Audi A6 78.4% 2,724,792 98,890 mi 31 yrs
Ds DS3 Dstyle Nav Bluehdi S/s 86.3% 630 76,424 mi — yrs

Compared to the Audi A3 (78.0% pass rate) and the Audi A4 (76.1% pass rate), the Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

Check a specific Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI

Should you buy a used Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI?

The Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.2% across 437 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI owner drives around 8,609 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI reliable?
Based on 437 MOT tests, the Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI has a 89.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI do per year?
The typical Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI does around 8,609 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Audi A3 S Line Black Edition 35 TDI is 2020 with a 90.2% pass rate across 153 tests.