2005 Smart Forfour 1.5L Diesel · BF55 ZNH

The vehicle shows a consistent history of suspension-related wear that remains largely unaddressed. In the most recent test on 8 September 2025 at 105,013 miles, the car passed despite advisories for severely deteriorated dust covers on both nearside and offside front suspension arm ball joints. The tester noted play in the nearside front anti-roll bar linkage and slightly defective headlamp lenses. These issues are identical to the August 2024 test at 99,877 miles, indicating that the owner is performing only minimum necessary repairs rather than proactive preventative maintenance. At 21 years old, the recorded 105,013 miles represent a low annual average of approximately 5,000 miles per year. While this low usage suggests less overall mechanical strain, it explains the visible degradation of rubber components and the perishing of headlamp lenses. The 2024 record specifically flagged both front inner tyres as worn to the legal limit on the edges, with the offside tyre showing signs of cracking and perishing. This pattern often occurs in vehicles that sit for long periods or suffer from poor alignment due to low mileage and high age. The failure in August 2022 at 89,509 miles was due to incorrect headlamp aim and excessive play in the offside front track rod end. Since then, the vehicle has passed, but the recurring advisories regarding ball joint dust covers suggest a persistent mechanical issue. The deterioration of these rubber covers allows moisture and grit to enter the joints, which will eventually lead to premature bearing failure. A buyer should inspect the entire front suspension assembly for excessive play and verify that the headlamp lenses have not lost structural integrity beyond UV damage.