MG ZR2002 · 1.4L PETROL

The most recent MOT record dates from 30 May 2014 at 86,499 miles, meaning this vehicle has held no valid test certificate for over twelve years as of June 2026. The maintenance trend across the available history is one of gradual deterioration rather than resolution. The 2014 test passed but carried multiple advisories including perished and cracked tyres, a deteriorated offside inner CV joint gaiter, pitted front brake discs, and a nail in the nearside rear tyre. These were not new defects. The same cracking tyres, pitted front discs, and gaiter deterioration appeared in the March 2013 failure, indicating the previous owner tolerated recurring faults across consecutive tests without addressing underlying wear. The 2013 failure also flagged worn front brake pads below 1.5 millimetres, a distorted nearside rear wheel rim, and a parking brake lever with minimal reserve travel. The 2010 failure at 80,313 miles shows the same rear wheel damage was already present, suggesting this rim defect persisted for at least three years unchecked. The recorded mileage of 86,499 miles across approximately 24 years averages roughly 3,604 miles per year, which is notably low. However, the MOT record ends in May 2014 with no subsequent tests on file. The vehicle may have been stored, used sparingly, or simply kept off the road without a valid MOT. A buyer cannot confirm whether the odometer reading is genuine or whether the car has stood for extended periods, which carries its own risks including seized brakes, perished rubber components, dried-out seals, and fuel system degradation. The gap between the last test and today is too large to draw any reliable conclusions about current mechanical condition from the record alone. A prospective buyer should treat this vehicle as unroadworthy until a fresh inspection is completed. The repeated appearance of perished and cracking tyres across multiple tests suggests long-term neglect of rubber components, and all tyres including the spare must be examined for age-related deterioration regardless of remaining tread depth. The pitted front brake discs and worn pads from 2013 and 2014 indicate the braking system was already at or near minimum specification over a decade ago. Binding calipers, corroded brake lines, and a deteriorated parking brake mechanism are all plausible given the vehicle's age and the known fault with the parking brake lever's reserve travel. The distorted nearside rear wheel rim flagged in both 2010 and 2013 warrants close inspection of the wheel itself and the surrounding suspension and hub assembly for impact damage or long-term bearing wear. The CV joint gaiter deterioration seen in both 2013 and 2014 raises the possibility of joint contamination and premature failure if the gaiter was never replaced. Beyond the documented faults, a thorough underbody inspection for structural corrosion is essential on a 2002 vehicle, particularly around sills, subframes, and suspension mounting points, as these areas are common failure points on the MG ZR platform and are not fully captured by the MOT advisories on file.