2002 Rover 45 1.8L Petrol · EU02 WYW

The Rover 45 presents a mixed but broadly stable maintenance picture heading into its 2026 test. The most recent MOT, conducted on 19 February 2026 at 120,869 miles, passed with several advisories that point to age-related wear rather than acute failure. Play in the offside inner steering rack joint has been a recurring theme since at least February 2023, appearing in four consecutive tests, suggesting a slow but persistent degradation rather than a sudden defect. The tester also flagged a small engine oil leak, slight play in the nearside inner rack joint, and both rear lower suspension arm front bushes splitting or delaminating. Two road wheels, one front nearside and one rear nearside, showed inner edge distortion. None of these were dangerous at the time of test, yet the accumulation of advisories indicates the car is entering a phase where suspension and steering components demand closer attention. Mileage accumulation tells an interesting story. Between the February 2023 test at 87,717 miles and February 2026 at 120,869 miles, the car covered roughly 33,152 miles in three years, averaging about 11,000 miles annually. That is a notable step up from the earlier pattern, where the car moved from 95,956 miles in February 2024 to 104,808 miles in February 2025, a jump of 8,852 miles in twelve months. The 2023 to 2026 period shows a clear acceleration in use after what appears to have been gentler running in prior years. Despite this, the overall annualised figure of roughly 5,000 miles since manufacture remains low for a 2002 vehicle, which helps explain why corrosion and structural concerns feature less prominently than on higher-mileage equivalents. A buyer inspecting this Rover in person should focus on the rear suspension and steering rack first. Both rear lower arm front bushes were noted as splitting or delaminating in February 2026, and the same bushes appeared as worn in February 2025, meaning they have likely deteriorated further since the last test. Check for clunking over rough surfaces and uneven tyre wear on the rear axle. The offside inner rack joint has shown play consistently since 2023, with the nearside now joining it in the most recent advisory. Have the rack assessed for free play and check the inner gaiters for splits that could allow grease loss and water ingress. The two distorted wheels, particularly the inner edge deformation, should be inspected for cracks and checked against a dial indicator if possible, as bent rims can cause vibration and accelerate tyre wear. The exhaust system warrants a close look underneath. In February 2023 the car failed on a major exhaust leak at the union between the centre section and backbox, with the tester noting corrosion in that area. Although the subsequent tests passed, the age of the system and the history of corrosion mean the centre section and backbox union should be examined for pinholing and weakness. The small engine oil leak flagged in 2026 should be traced to its source, likely a rocker cover gasket or crankshaft seal given the age of the K-series engine. Finally, confirm that the nearside front brake, noted as binding in February 2025, is not dragging, as this can overheat the disc and warp the hub. Overall, this is a low-mileage car with a stable but aging mechanical footprint, where careful inspection of suspension, steering, and exhaust components will reveal whether the recent uptick in use has accelerated wear beyond what the MOT record alone suggests.