2015 London Taxis INT TX4 2.5L Diesel · KD15 AAK

The defining mechanical story of this 2015 London Taxis TX4 is one of chronic front-end wear compounded by lighting and minor electrical lapses, which is broadly consistent with the punishing urban mileage it has accumulated. The most recent examination on 21 July 2026 returned a clean pass with no advisories, which is encouraging on the surface, but the broader pattern reveals a vehicle that has repeatedly presented advisories relating to front suspension geometry and headlamp function. The 2024 test recorded a failure with three major defects centred on the nearside front anti-roll bar ball joint, the nearside front upper suspension arm ball joint, and a non-functioning nearside headlamp dipped beam, alongside a brake pedal anti-slip provision worn smooth. The following year, 2025, saw another failure for a non-working nearside front position lamp and a headlamp aim issue, plus a front washer deficiency. Taken together, this points to a clear nearside-front bias in wear and a recurring theme of electrical and lighting faults that any prospective purchaser must treat as a priority inspection area. With 178,266 miles recorded over approximately eleven years, the TX4 is running at roughly 16,200 miles per year, which is very high and entirely typical of a hard-working London hackney carriage. There are no significant gaps in the testing record to suggest long periods of standing, and the mileage progression between tests indicates continuous commercial service rather than intermittent use. Mechanically, this kind of annual accumulation places considerable sustained load on the front suspension components, braking system, steering rack and front subframe mountings, all of which are consistent with the advisories and majors recorded. The wear pattern is therefore not surprising, but it does mean that consumables and major front-end components will be closer to the end of their service life than the modest age of the vehicle would normally suggest. A prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the nearside front suspension components, as both the upper suspension arm ball joint and the anti-roll bar ball joint have previously been flagged as excessively worn. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over uneven surfaces, particularly over speed humps and potholes, and feel for any vagueness or wandering in the steering that could indicate renewed ball joint deterioration or play in the steering rack given the advisory recorded in 2024. The steering wheel play advisory warrants checking for free movement before the wheels begin to respond, and any clonking from the column area under load should be investigated. Additionally, the brake pedal anti-slip provision being worn smooth is a safety-related item that should be physically inspected on the vehicle to confirm a replacement rubber or textured cover has been properly fitted, as a smooth pedal can cause the driver's foot to slip under heavy braking. Given the repeated lighting-related defects on the nearside headlamp and position lamp, a careful walk-around in low-light conditions is essential. Check that the nearside dipped beam illuminates reliably on first switch-on, that the position lamp is functioning, and that the headlamp beam pattern and aim are correct rather than showing the obviously incorrect projection noted previously. The washer system should be confirmed as fully operational with adequate fluid delivery to the windscreen. Inspect the front nearside tyre closely for any signs of uneven shoulder wear, as the 2025 advisory flagged wear close to the legal limit on the tyre edge, which on a heavily loaded taxi can indicate misalignment, worn suspension bushes, or continued ball joint wear. Finally, with this level of mileage, a thorough inspection of the front brake discs, pads and calipers for binding or lipping, plus a check for any oil leaks from the engine and transmission, would be prudent to ensure no major mechanical expenditure is imminent.