Buying a car. Need advice on MOT history

CYPER

I'm going tomorrow to see a car and while everything sounds good for its price it is the MOT history that concerns me:


So 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 the car failed its MOT.
Is that to be expected from a car this age and mileage?
What should I be looking for when seeing the car?


2007 - Fail, then Pass:

Date of test:
27/03/2007

Certificate issue refused (Fail)

Odometer reading:
36,568 Miles

Test number:


Test station name:


Test station number:


Test station telephone number:


Test class:
IV

Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

No Advisory Notice issued


Date of test:
27/03/2007

Certificate issued (Pass)

Odometer reading:
36,568 Miles

Test number:


Test station name:


Test station number:


Test station telephone number:


Test class:
IV

Test expiry date:
26/03/2008

No Advisory Notice issued

2008 - Fail, Then Pass

Date of test:
23/04/2008

Certificate issue refused (Fail)

Odometer reading:
44,195 Miles

Test number:


Test station name:


Test station number:


Test station telephone number:


Test class:
IV

Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Advisory Notice issued

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


Date of test:
23/04/2008

Certificate issued (Pass)

Odometer reading:
44,195 Miles

Test number:


Test station name:


Test station number:


Test station telephone number:


Test class:
IV

Test expiry date:
22/04/2009

Advisory Notice issued

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

2009 - Pass

Date of test:
25/03/2009

Certificate issued (Pass)

Odometer reading:
49,852 Miles

Test number:


Test station name:


Test station number:


Test station telephone number:


Test class:
IV

Test expiry date:
22/04/2010

Advisory Notice issued

Offside clip Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated (2.5.C.1a)

Centre Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

2010 - Fail, Then Pass

Date of test:
23/03/2010

Certificate issue refused (Fail)

Odometer reading:
54,768 Miles

Test number:


Test station name:


Test station number:


Test station telephone number:


Test class:
IV

Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Advisory Notice issued

Front 80% worn Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside clip Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated (2.5.C.1a)


Date of test:
23/03/2010

Certificate issued (Pass)

Odometer reading:
54,768 Miles

Test number:


Test station name:


Test station number:


Test station telephone number:


Test class:
IV

Test expiry date:
22/04/2011

Advisory Notice issued

Front 80% worn Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside clip Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated (2.5.C.1a)

2011 - Fail, Then Pass

Date of test:
25/03/2011

Certificate issue refused (Fail)

Odometer reading:
59,919 Miles

Test number:


Test station name:


Test station number:


Test station telephone number:


Test class:
IV

Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front Coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a) **DANGEROUS**

Advisory Notice issued

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Offside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated (2.5.C.1a)

Offside track control arm mounting point Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Wear on wiper blades.

Nearside front tyre worn on edges.

Rear exhust box mounting rubbers in poor condition.


Date of test:
25/03/2011

Certificate issued (Pass)

Odometer reading:
59,919 Miles

Test number:


Test station name:


Test station number:


Test station telephone number:


Test class:
IV

Test expiry date:
22/04/2012

Advisory Notice issued

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Offside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated (2.5.C.1a)

Offside track control arm mounting point Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Wear on wiper blades.

Nearside front tyre worn on edges.

Rear exhust box mounting rubbers in poor condition.

Thank you.

pitkin2020

Up until 2011 they were minor issues really (most of them). I would be a little more concerned about the 2011 test though as it looks like they only did the fail issues as nothing about the advisories. It is a 2000 car though so it isn't going to be perfect but those advisories could be a good bargaining tool.

i would say its deffo going to need a new exhaust soon, atleast 1 tyre. Cv joint and suspension would probably need attention too.

mikey72

It's not been looked after.
The cv joint will be full of grit after the boots been off all those years.
Exhaust is leaking
Springs aren't good
Corrosion is starting to appear, but could give a few more years.

I wouldn't buy it to keep, but if it's a bargain I'd consider it.

MX5huggy

I would put in for a MOT before buying or find one with 11months MOT.

Nearly_Old

Suspension and exhaust going but probably not unexpected at 12 years old. Not good that only only the one front spring was replaced to get it through the MoT as normally both would have been replaced to keep the car balanced. One owner from new and now looking at big bills so sells. this rings bells as my wife had a Ciroen BX - new Aug 1989 traded in for £100 July 2001.

If you are into DIY then possibly not too bad for a cheap runaround provided that there are no other possible problems with it. Have a test drive and see.

Notmyrealname

Cyper, my advice to you is to go to a main dealer and buy a brand new car if standard wear and tear items appearing on a MOT fail sheet of a 12 year old car concerns you.

mikey72

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Cyper, my advice to you is to go to a main dealer and buy a brand new car if standard wear and tear items appearing on a MOT fail sheet of a 12 year old car concerns you.

What sort of wrecks do you drive?

This cars hasn't been looked after for years.

Don't use the mot for telling you wipers, bulbs, and tyres are worn, check them yourself occasionally.

CYPER

Thank you everyone.

I've googled info on the parts and most are not so expensive:

CV Boot Kit = around £10
Rear and centre Exhaust silencers = £50
Front + Rear Coil Springs = £50-60
Wipers = peanuts
Tyre - £30

CYPER

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Cyper, my advice to you is to go to a main dealer and buy a brand new car if standard wear and tear items appearing on a MOT fail sheet of a 12 year old car concerns you.

I wish I could, but my budget doesn't allow it.

I'm a student, who just graduated and need a cheap car to pass my practical test to get full license and still drive it after that

Had 30 hours with an instructor, failed 2 times on the test and decided to get my own car and use it for practice and at my 3rd attempt for the test. Never been behind the wheel before.

[Deleted User]

Sounds like it has been run on a shoestring the last few years.

My car is just over 10 years old but it has never failed an MOT.

s_b

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Cyper, my advice to you is to go to a main dealer and buy a brand new car if standard wear and tear items appearing on a MOT fail sheet of a 12 year old car concerns you.

quite correct of course



of course putting up the vosa test reports whilst not owning the car is also an absolute offence against Crown copyright 2006 and you OP are the first ever to have posted up such full evidence to have a conviction raised against you
if i was the seller of this vehicle i would be reporting you