2013 Citroen C1 1.0L Petrol · EU13 KBZ

A consistent pattern of front axle wear dominates this Citroen C1's MOT history, with brake disc pitting and a binding offside front service brake appearing across multiple consecutive tests from 2019 through 2026. Both front brake discs were first flagged as worn and corroded in 2019, reappeared as advisories in 2023, and were noted again at the most recent pass on 29 January 2026, suggesting that the corrosion has not been remedied and is being left to progress. The offside front brake binding advisory is equally persistent, recorded in 2024 and again in 2026, indicating a caliper or slider mechanism that is gradually seizing rather than clearing between tests. While all six recorded tests have resulted in passes with no failures, the accumulating and repeating advisories paint a picture of front brake hardware that is approaching the threshold of a serious weakened finding and should not be dismissed simply because the vehicle remains legal. At 41,477 recorded miles across roughly thirteen years of use, this C1 has covered only around 3,191 miles annually, which is substantially below the typical accumulation rate for a city car of this class. The mileage progression between tests is modest and reasonably steady, with no sudden jumps or extended gaps that would imply clocked readings or prolonged off-road storage. Low annual mileage of this nature means the engine, clutch, transmission, and major mechanical assemblies have been subjected to relatively light duty, which generally preserves internal wear components. However, low usage also tends to accelerate external deterioration, particularly brake disc corrosion from infrequent use, moisture exposure, and the natural oxidation that affects lightly worked ferrous components, which aligns with the recurring front disc advisories observed throughout the record. For a prospective buyer, the priority items to inspect on a physical viewing are the front brake discs and the offside front caliper. The discs should be examined for visible pitting, lipping, and surface rust scoring, paying particular attention to the inner face which the tester has repeatedly noted as corroded. When test driving, listen for any scraping or grinding under light braking, feel for uneven pull to one side which would confirm the binding caliper rather than just a sticky slider, and check for a hot wheel or distinctive burning smell from the offside front after a short drive. Given that the binding has been recorded at three separate tests over four years, a caliper overhaul or replacement is a realistic near-term cost rather than a speculative concern. The suspension components flagged in 2022 also warrant a physical check, even though they were not repeated on subsequent tests. The rear bushes on both front suspension arms were noted as starting to split, and bushes of this type tend to deteriorate progressively once surface cracking has begun. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over speed bumps and uneven road surfaces, and push down firmly on each front corner with the vehicle stationary to feel for excessive rebound or knocking from the lower wishbone area. The nearside front tyre damage advisory from the 2026 test, along with slightly discoloured indicator lenses, are minor items but suggest the cosmetic and rubber condition has not been closely maintained, which is consistent with a low-use car that may have been left to deteriorate gradually between services. Finally, the recurring hazard warning switch fault noted in 2023 and again in 2025 indicates a stalk or relay issue that should be operated during the viewing to confirm it now functions correctly, as electrical faults of this type can occasionally mask deeper wiring concerns in older C1 models.