2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster 0.7L Petrol · EA06 ABF

A pattern of recurring brake-related defects sits at the centre of this Smart Roadster's recent MOT record, with both the 2025 and 2026 tests flagging issues across the front and rear braking systems. In June 2025 the vehicle failed outright on a serious parking brake efficiency problem, recorded as a Dangerous defect at less than 50% of the required value, accompanied by a Major for parking brake efficiency below requirements and a further Major for the offside rear parking brake being inoperative on one side. Just twelve months later, in June 2026, the same test session produced a fail for a non-functioning nearside main beam headlamp, alongside advisories covering corroded brake pipes on both sides covered in grease or other material, together with tyre perishing on both front tyres and an inoperative nearside fog lamp. The clustering of brake pipe corrosion, binding service brakes at both the nearside front and offside rear, and corrosion to a front brake hose ferrule points toward a braking system that has been progressively deteriorating rather than receiving component renewal. With 121,482 miles recorded over a twenty-year life, this car has averaged roughly 6,074 miles annually, sitting close to the typical figure for its age and indicating regular rather than occasional use. The testing history, however, shows a notable gap between December 2023 and June 2025, a period of around eighteen months unaccounted for in the DVSA record which, combined with the rear brake binding advisories that subsequently appeared, could suggest either extended standing time followed by renewed activity or simply lapsed testing. The 121,482-mile figure places considerable cumulative load on the suspension, brake, and drivetrain consumables, and the December 2023 advisory for corroded coil springs on all four corners indicates that the suspension has already begun to suffer the effects of age and surface corrosion even though the chassis has not yet been flagged for structural perforation. For a prospective buyer, the brake-related advisories across both test cycles warrant particular attention on a physical inspection and test drive. The advisories covering brake pipe corrosion on both front pipes, the corroded front brake hose ferrule, and the binding nearside front and offside rear service brakes together suggest that the hydraulic system and caliper mechanisms need close examination, and a buyer should lift the car to inspect the front and rear brake pipes for live rust, check the caliper slide pins for free movement, and confirm the handbrake produces meaningful rear wheel lock on a hill rather than feeling ineffective or one-sided. The December 2023 advisory for corroded coil springs on all four corners indicates the dampers are likely original or aged, so listen for clonking or knocking from the front and rear suspension over uneven surfaces and watch for the car sitting low on one corner or exhibiting excessive body roll through corners, all symptoms of tired or weakened springs. The 2026 advisories for perishing on both front tyres together with the Minor windscreen damage should be inspected directly, while the failed nearside main beam headlamp and non-functioning nearside fog lamp will need rectification simply to ensure the vehicle can be presented for retest and used legally after dark.