2014 BMW 116 1.6L Diesel · AF14 AYO

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but the maintenance history shows a worsening trend regarding the steering and suspension components. The most recent test in November 2025 at 96,067 miles identified slight play in the offside front inner track rod end ball joint. This follows a previous failure in September 2022 at 94,441 miles, where the tester detected play in the steering rack inner joints. While the car has passed its MOT tests, the recurrence of steering-related defects suggests progressive wear of the front end assembly. The mileage pattern is consistent with the vehicle's age, averaging approximately 8,000 miles per year. There is a significant gap in data between the March 2021 test at 72,179 miles and the September 2022 test at 94,441 miles, during which the car covered over 22,000 miles in just seventeen months. This period of high usage likely accelerated the transition from a clean record to the mechanical issues noted in later inspections. Since 2022, the mileage accumulation has returned to a more typical, annual rate. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the front steering geometry to address the recurring faults. The progression from inner joints to track rod ends indicates that the steering rack or its associated linkages may require replacement to prevent further degradation. The buyer should also verify the functionality of the seat belt buckle, which was a point of failure in 2020, to ensure the repair was rectified correctly. Given the age and mileage, checking for corrosion on the subframe and inspecting the control arm bushes is essential to confirm the structural integrity of the chassis.