2005 Smart Roadster 80 Auto(rhd) 0.7L Petrol · BX05 WWJ

The 2005 Smart Roadster 80 Auto presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT, conducted on 3 July 2023 at 13,798 miles, passed, but the tester flagged outer sidewall cracking on the offside rear tyre and noted that the front brake discs were wearing. Engine covers were fitted, obscuring visual inspection of the powertrain, and the brake pipes were noted as having protective coatings, which can mask underlying corrosion. Comparing this to the 2022 test at 12,149 miles reveals a recurring pattern. That year, the car failed on the same date due to exposed ply or cords on the offside front tyre, a serious structural defect. The tester also flagged play in the steering rack and corrosion on both front and rear suspension components and brake pipes. These issues were rectified for the later pass on the same day, but the underlying corrosion advisories remained. The trend is not clearly improving; while the car has consistently passed its most recent tests, the same categories of concern, tyres, suspension corrosion, and brake component wear, reappear across multiple years, suggesting a cycle of minimal, reactive repairs rather than proactive renewal. The mileage pattern is exceptionally low for a vehicle of this age. The recorded mileage of 13,798 miles in mid-2023 equates to an average of roughly 657 miles per year over its 21-year life. The history shows a gap between July 2019 at 11,374 miles and July 2021 at 11,724 miles, a period of two years yielding only 348 miles. This was followed by a jump to 12,149 miles by July 2022 and then to 13,798 miles by July 2023, indicating a recent increase in use after a prolonged period of very light running or storage. Such low mileage can reduce wear on drivetrain components but raises concerns about the condition of perishable items like rubber bushes, brake seals, and tyres, which degrade with age and lack of use as much as with mileage. A prospective buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection, focusing on the areas repeatedly highlighted in the MOT record. The suspension and brake system corrosion flagged in 2022 and the worn front brake discs noted in 2023 demand close scrutiny. A test drive should specifically check for the play in the steering rack that caused the 2022 advisory, feeling for any vagueness or knocking. The tyre condition is a critical safety point; the 2022 failure for exposed cords and the 2023 advisory for cracking indicate a history of neglecting this consumable. All tyres, including the spare if fitted, must be checked for sidewall damage and date codes, as aged rubber is a significant risk on such a low-mileage vehicle. The extensive use of engine and underbody covers throughout the history is a double-edged sword, potentially hiding oil leaks, corrosion, or makeshift repairs. A buyer should insist on removing these covers to inspect the engine bay, subframe, and sill structures for the corrosion that has been a persistent theme since at least 2019.