Hello readers!
Opinions please on this long winded MOT history and my thoughts that follow:
(Spoiler for neatness)
- Spoiler: show
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MOT valid until 15 February 2027
MOT history
Date tested 16 February 2026 PASS
Mileage 196,452 miles Expiry date 15 February 2027
Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened N/S & O/S (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
22 January 2025 PASS
Mileage 193,230 miles Expiry date 1 February 2026
Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement lower arm inner bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge on limit 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Rear Coil spring corroded n/s&o/s (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively n/s&o/s (1.2.1 (e))
22 January 2025 FAIL
Mileage 193,230 miles
Repair immediately (major defects):
Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))
Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))
Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement lower arm inner bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge on limit 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Rear Coil spring corroded n/s&o/s (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively n/s&o/s (1.2.1 (e))
29 January 2024 PASS
Mileage 188,042 miles Expiry date 1 February 2025
Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge on limit 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge n/s&o/s (5.2.3 (e))
29 January 2024 FAIL
Mileage 188,042 miles
Repair immediately (major defects):
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge on limit 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge n/s&o/s (5.2.3 (e))
23 January 2023 PASS
Mileage 178,971 miles Expiry date 1 February 2024
Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))
Date tested 2 February 2022 PASS
Mileage 172,034 miles Expiry date 1 February 2023
Date tested 24 November 2021 FAIL
Mileage 172,010 miles
Repair immediately (major defects):
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))
Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
Date tested 14 October 2020 PASS
Mileage 165,308 miles Expiry date 13 October 2021
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Nearside Rear Brake cable damaged but not to excess (1.1.15 (a))
Offside Rear Brake cable damaged but not to excess (1.1.15 (a))
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Date tested 14 October 2020 FAIL
Mileage 165,286 miles
Do not drive until repaired (dangerous defects):
Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Nearside Rear Brake cable damaged but not to excess (1.1.15 (a))
Offside Rear Brake cable damaged but not to excess (1.1.15 (a))
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Date tested 12 April 2019 PASS
Mileage 157,473 miles Expiry date11 October 2020
Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
Date tested 19 March 2018 PASS
Mileage 149,959 miles Expiry date 19 March 2019
Date tested 9 March 2017 PASS
Mileage 137,177 miles Expiry date 19 March 2018
Advisory notice item(s)
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Date tested 9 March 2017 FAIL
Mileage 137,177 miles
Reason(s) for failure
Offside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)
Front registration plate faded (6.3.1d)
Advisory notice item(s)
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Date tested 9 March 2016 PASS
Mileage 99,106 miles Expiry date 19 March 2017
Date tested 9 March 2016 FAIL
Mileage 99,106 miles
Reason(s) for failure
Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)
Short version is I'm feeling "disenfranchised" with the thought of ploughing a load of money into a more valuable ** car.
** Read "more valuable" as 4-5 grand.
Instead I'm wondering about a cheap £1000 example that ticks some of the boxes, keeps me away from Adblue issues for the moment. I'll keep a watching brief on Manchester ULEZ plans and get something reasonably economical, with lots of space.
Enter stage right:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 6flrfc%3D1
£1000, 200k miles. Generally looks in good condition, other than a worn gear knob.
The above MOT history to my eyes looks initially frightening but also seems to show a car that is "chucked in for the test, as is" but then fixed and off to give another years service. Save for a persistent offside numberplate bulb, almost none of the faults / advisories return the following years.
200k likelihood of: original clutch, DMF, timing belt, DPF???? I would guess most if not all have been replaced once if not more.
Other info: road tax £170, boring black, EURO 5, no towbar. Think has the glass roof. Allure spec. Sat Nav.
