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OV53 MBU

2003 Audi A3

Silver Petrol 1595cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Nov 2026
Tests28 (18 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

146,251 mi
Last recorded146,251 miles
Recorded on29 Oct 2025
Typical for 2003 Audi A392,659 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Audi
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Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationOV53 MBU
MakeAudi
ModelA3
Year2003
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,595cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

18 pass 10 fail
Pass 29 Oct 2025 146,251 miles

Front both side lights work but bulbs going black reducing output slightly

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge tyre bald on inner edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 7 Nov 2024 145,424 miles

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge bald inner edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 2 Oct 2024 145,291 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the right (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Headlamp levelling device cannot be operated from the driver's seat (4.1.5 (b))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp levelling device cannot be operated from the driver's seat (4.1.5 (b))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Sep 2023 140,317 miles

Central Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened rear sub frame (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Lower Engine mounting damaged but not to excess (6.1.8 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Fail 12 Sep 2023 140,300 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Central Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened rear sub frame (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Lower Engine mounting damaged but not to excess (6.1.8 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 13 Sep 2022 127,311 miles
Fail 5 Aug 2022 127,289 miles

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour showing white light (4.4.3 (a))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault air bag light on (7.1.6 (a))

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear dust cover loose on rear shock

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge bald on inside edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear dust cover loose on rear shock

Pass 8 Jul 2021 123,421 miles

Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both sides (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 5 Jul 2021 123,390 miles

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear dust cover loose on rear shock

Pass 27 Jul 2020 121,131 miles

Offside Rear dust cover loose on rear shock

Fail 17 Jul 2020 121,044 miles

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge bald on inside edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge bald on inside edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear dust cover loose on rear shock

Pass 23 Jul 2019 118,008 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement lower arm rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge worn on inside edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear dust cover loose on shock absorber

Fail 23 Jul 2019 118,008 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement lower arm rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge worn on inside edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear dust cover loose on shock absorber

Pass 24 Jul 2018 114,178 miles
Fail 24 Jul 2018 114,178 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim so that beam "kick up" is not visible on the screen dip beam (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 8 Mar 2017 103,240 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit bad wear to inner edge (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak ()

Fail 1 Mar 2017 103,203 miles

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit bad wear to inner edge (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak ()

Pass 30 Mar 2016 101,321 miles
Pass 29 May 2014 98,081 miles
Pass 13 Nov 2012 81,157 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 30 Oct 2012 80,651 miles

Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 16 Nov 2011 73,359 miles

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

Rear tyres perished

Fail 18 Nov 2010 65,230 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 18 Nov 2010 65,230 miles
Pass 21 Oct 2009 54,652 miles
Pass 20 Nov 2008 38,280 miles
Pass 17 Nov 2007 25,233 miles
Pass 5 Oct 2006 16,095 miles

How Reliable is the Audi A3?

Based on 7,415,025 MOT tests across 593,922 vehicles.

78.0%
Pass Rate
7,083
Miles/Year
29
Year Lifespan
593,922
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 173,142
Stop lamp not working 65,421
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 58,420
Registration plate lamp not working 52,417
coil spring broken 45,761
Full Audi A3 reliability report

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OV53 MBU is a 2003 Audi A3 in Silver with a 1,595cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

Across all 2003 Audi A3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.6% with a typical mileage of 92,659 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Audi A3 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 173,142 recorded failures. If you're considering buying OV53 MBU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Audi A3 typically stays on UK roads for around 29 years. At 23 years old, this Audi A3 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of OV53 MBU?

You can check the full history of OV53 MBU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was OV53 MBU registered?

OV53 MBU is a 2003 Audi A3, first registered on 1 October 2003.

Is OV53 MBU safe to buy?

The MOT history for OV53 MBU shows 28 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does OV53 MBU have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on OV53 MBU. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.