2013 Volkswagen UP 1.0L Petrol · CV63 WCE

A recurring thread of inspection failures and advisories relating to tyres, wiper effectiveness, and headlamp aim defines the MOT history of this 2013 Volkswagen up, suggesting that routine consumable and visibility-related items have been left to deteriorate rather than being addressed proactively. The most recent activity on 17 December 2025 saw the vehicle pass on a retest after initially failing that same day on three points: insufficient windscreen washer fluid, an offside wiper not clearing the screen effectively, and a nearside wiper with the same defect. Both the failed and passed tests on that date also carry an advisory querying the timing belt replacement history. Earlier tests show a similar pattern, with a 2023-12-20 pass alongside a same-day failure for both headlamps being aimed too low, and a 2021-12-21 pass paired with a same-day dangerous failure for a nearside rear tyre below the 1.6 mm tread requirement and a nearside front tyre with exposed ply or cords. An advisory for an offside front tyre worn close to the legal limit on edge was also issued at the December 2024 test. Between these events the 2022 and early 2023 tests recorded no defects, so the trajectory is one of intermittent but recurring lapses rather than a uniformly clean or consistently deteriorating record. With 106,236 miles recorded over roughly thirteen years, this up has covered approximately 8,170 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a city-oriented supermini of its age and indicates steady, regular use rather than prolonged standing periods. MOT tests have been conducted on an almost annual cycle from 2021 through 2025 without any extended gaps, and the mileage progression implied by the consistent testing frequency is consistent with normal accumulation rather than rapid increases that might indicate sustained high-mileage motorway use. Mechanically, this level of mileage on a small three-cylinder petrol is not exceptional, but it does place the vehicle in the bracket where suspension components, engine mounts, clutch actuation, and exhaust mounting rubbers commonly begin to show wear, particularly on a car of this size that is likely to have spent a considerable proportion of its life in urban stop-start traffic. Given the persistent tyre-related advisories and the dangerous failure on the nearside front and nearside rear tyres in 2021, a prospective buyer should pay close attention to the current condition of all four tyres, checking tread depth across the full width with a gauge rather than relying on the central tread pattern, and inspecting both inner and outer shoulders for uneven wear, feathering, or cracking that could point to worn suspension bushes, geometry issues, or a binding caliper. Because headlamp aim was flagged as too low on both sides in 2023, it is worth checking that the lamps sit level and project an even beam pattern against a flat wall in the dark, and verifying that the adjustment mechanism has not seized. The unresolved timing belt history advisory carried at both the 2024 and 2025 tests is a more serious consideration, as the 1.0 litre three-cylinder petrol engine in this model uses a timing belt that should be replaced at manufacturer-specified intervals, and with this mileage the absence of confirmed replacement history means a belt change may be imminent to avoid the risk of engine damage. On a test drive, listen for any timing chain or auxiliary drive rattle from the front of the engine on cold start, as these engines can develop wear in related components at high mileage. Inspect the underside for signs of fluid leakage from the engine sump, gearbox, or power steering rack, and check the condition of the exhaust mounting rubbers and the rear silencer, which on a high-mileage urban car often suffer from corrosion and perishing. With the wiper and washer defects fresh in the record, confirm that both wiper blades sweep the screen cleanly without smearing and that the washer system delivers a strong, even jet from both nozzles. Finally, check for uneven pad wear and any scoring or lipping on the visible edges of the front brake discs, as these are indicative of binding calipers or neglected servicing, and ensure the steering returns to centre smoothly without knocking from the front suspension over speed humps, which would suggest worn drop links, anti-roll bar bushes, or top mounts consistent with the mileage recorded.