Audi A3 E 104 TDI (2008)
2008 Audi A3 E 104 TDI
CarHunch analysed 114 real MOT records for the 2008 Audi A3 E 104 TDI. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 2008 Audi A3 is a tough sell on reliability grounds: only 56.3% pass their MOT first time, well below the UK average of 80%. The good news is that dangerous defects are not a concern here—zero vehicles in this cohort have ever recorded one—but you're still looking at a car that fails more often than it passes.
At 135,000 miles on average, these examples are showing their age and mileage, and that's reflected in the 1.02 average failures per vehicle. Before making an offer, get a full pre-purchase inspection from a diesel specialist and budget for at least one significant repair in the first year of ownership.
What to check before buying a 2008 Audi A3 E 104 TDI
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Audi A3 E 104 TDI
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Mileage Distribution
Most 2008 Audi A3 E 104 TDI vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2008 Audi A3 E 104 TDI vehicles fall between 116,996 and 150,769 miles.
2008 Audi A3 E 104 TDI — Still on the Road
46 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 64% of the peak remain.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Audi A3 E 104 TDI?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.
Other model years — Audi A3 E 104 TDI: