Buying a car, advice on MOT history
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I’m thinking of buying a Nissan Micra 1.2 2004, 60k miles being sold for £700 but obviously will negotiate. I was looking at it’s mot history and it has a few advisories which keep on repeating themselves each year for example:
2018
front wish bone arm bushes in poor condition
poor pattern from headlamps
exhaust in poor condition
front discs in poor condition
front tyres close to limit
2017
front wish bone arm bushes in poor condition
poor pattern from headlamps
exhaust in poor condition
front discs in poor condition
front tyres close to limit
2016
EXHAUST SLIGHTLY CORRODED
Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement REAR BUSH BOTH (2.4.G.2)
OIL LEAK ONTO EXHAUST
2015
Advisory notice item(s)
headlamp beam pattern poor
exhaust slightly deteriorated
front lower wishbone bushes poor condition
2014
Advisory notice item(s)
poor beam pattern from headlamps
n/s front tyre worn on outter edge
exhaust in poor condition
o/s rear tyre low
What do you think? Is it worth buying?
2018
front wish bone arm bushes in poor condition
poor pattern from headlamps
exhaust in poor condition
front discs in poor condition
front tyres close to limit
2017
front wish bone arm bushes in poor condition
poor pattern from headlamps
exhaust in poor condition
front discs in poor condition
front tyres close to limit
2016
EXHAUST SLIGHTLY CORRODED
Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement REAR BUSH BOTH (2.4.G.2)
OIL LEAK ONTO EXHAUST
2015
Advisory notice item(s)
headlamp beam pattern poor
exhaust slightly deteriorated
front lower wishbone bushes poor condition
2014
Advisory notice item(s)
poor beam pattern from headlamps
n/s front tyre worn on outter edge
exhaust in poor condition
o/s rear tyre low
What do you think? Is it worth buying?
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Comments
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Sorry guys, I meant 2018 was clear and the first advisory is 2017, 2016 and so on.0
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If it has new headlights, new exhaust and new front tyres, it could be ok.
Micras that age sell for what they can get, anything from £500-£2000.
Make sure the ABS, airbag and steering lights come on and go off when the engine starts, and that the front subframe isn't rusty.
The poor beam pattern is probably just dim due to the plastic headlamps going opaque. You can polish them, but you need a UV proof lacquer on them or they will go opaque again in a few months.I want to go back to The Olden Days, when every single thing that I can think of was better.....
(except air quality and Medical Science
)0 -
The poor beam pattern is the most worrying advisory, and it is probably as facade said, but I would check the front of the car for accident damage anyway.The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.0
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I spoke to the dealer and asked him about the exhaust if he had replaced it as the advisory of the exhaust in poor condition didn’t come up in the 2018 mot and all he said was don’t worry about that the car is in good condition...he didn’t answer my question. Let’s say he didn’t change the exhaust then why didn’t it come up as an advisory in the 2018 mot? Sorry for the questions just passed my practical test
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I spoke to the dealer and asked him about the exhaust if he had replaced it as the advisory of the exhaust in poor condition didn’t come up in the 2018 mot and all he said was don’t worry about that the car is in good condition...he didn’t answer my question. Let’s say he didn’t change the exhaust then why didn’t it come up as an advisory in the 2018 mot? Sorry for the questions just passed my practical test
Someone else changed the exhaust prior to trading it.
In the testers opinion the exhaust isn't an advisory.
The 2018 MOT isn't straight.
The traders dodgy.
Could be any one or a combination of reasons.
Take your pick.0 -
I spoke to the dealer and asked him about the exhaust if he had replaced it as the advisory of the exhaust in poor condition didn’t come up in the 2018 mot and all he said was don’t worry about that the car is in good condition..
No no no..
You don't ask, you look yourself.
If you are buying cars at the bottom of what they fetch, you have to be prepared to look underneath for rust, corroded exhausts, oil leaks, and how deep the tyre tread are.
(It doesn't hurt when you are paying top whack either, but cars at a dealer are cheap for a reason)I want to go back to The Olden Days, when every single thing that I can think of was better.....
(except air quality and Medical Science)0 -
The dealer has next to no margin on this car, so don't expect that he did anything prior to sale and will do anything after it.
It's an old cheap car0 -
2018
front wish bone arm bushes in poor condition
poor pattern from headlamps
exhaust in poor condition
front discs in poor condition
front tyres close to limit
Several hundred to spend there if you aren't doing the work yourself.0 -
Buying a £700 car from a dealer means it's probably worth £400.
At that price point, all you're looking for is a fresh full service and a long MOT. how long do you expect a £700 car to last? Maybe two or three years at most without needing some sort of major repair.0
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