2008 Citroen C1 1.0L Petrol · EX08 DBV

The most recent DVSA examination on 15 June 2026 resulted in a pass, but it was accompanied by four advisories covering both front suspension components, the rear suspension mounting prescribed areas, and a rear brake pipe that was noted as corroded and covered in grease or other material. Nine days earlier, the same vehicle had failed on a rough nearside rear wheel bearing and a worn nearside front anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush, both subsequently addressed to allow the retest pass. Looking at the broader pattern, the vehicle achieved a clean pass with no advisories in March 2023, but every subsequent test has surfaced at least one advisory or failure, and the most recent two tests show a clear worsening trend dominated by corrosion and suspension wear rather than isolated one-off items. The repeated appearance of front suspension corrosion across the 2025 and 2026 entries, combined with the new rear suspension and brake pipe advisories, indicates an accumulation of age-related structural deterioration that is progressing rather than stable. The recorded mileage of 92,474 miles against an eighteen-year vehicle age equates to approximately 5,137 miles per year on average, which is well below typical usage for a small city car of this type and points to either extended periods of standing or very light, short-journey use. A review of the MOT history confirms a fairly consistent pattern of modest annual accumulation with no obvious long gaps of non-use and no sudden spikes, suggesting the mileage is genuine and the car has been driven regularly but sparingly. While low annual mileage reduces wear on the engine, clutch, and drivetrain internals, it does carry its own mechanical consequences, particularly corrosion of structural and braking components due to infrequent use allowing moisture to linger, accelerated tyre sidewall perishing from age rather than wear, and potential deterioration of fluids, seals, and the 12 volt battery from standing or short trips that never bring the engine fully up to operating temperature. The advisories and previous failure point to several areas that warrant close physical inspection before purchase. The corrosion noted on the front suspension components, the rear suspension mounting prescribed areas, and the rear brake pipe should be examined closely for any progression beyond surface oxidation, as brake pipe corrosion in particular can advance quickly and may necessitate replacement of a section or the full run if pitting or wall thinning is present. The recent nearside rear wheel bearing replacement should be confirmed, and on a test drive the buyer should listen for any residual humming or grumble that changes with vehicle speed, particularly during cornering loads. The nearside front anti-roll bar linkage bush wear that triggered the earlier failure should be checked for any clonking or rattling over uneven surfaces, and the rear brake binding issue from 2024 warrants a road test with attention to whether the car pulls to one side under braking, exhibits a dragging sensation, or shows uneven rear tyre wear which would suggest a caliper is not fully releasing. Given the failed exhaust emissions test in March 2023 for a likely exhaust leak and a lambda reading outside specified limits, the exhaust system from the manifold gasket through to the catalytic converter and rear silencer should be inspected for any signs of black soot deposits around joints, audible blowing or ticking under load, and any signs of repair welding that may not be durable. Beyond the recorded defects, the age and low usage profile of this 2008 Citroen C1 demand attention to several time-served components that MOT testing does not fully cover. The front brake discs were flagged as worn, pitted, and scored in March 2025, and although classed as advisory at that time, scoring of this nature on a small, lightly used car suggests corrosion pitting rather than frictional wear, and a close look at both disc surfaces for lipping, hot spots, or uneven corrosion is worthwhile. All four tyres should be examined for sidewall cracking and perishing, a fault specifically recorded in 2022 and 2024, as the rubber compound on a car of this age deteriorates regardless of tread depth and a perished sidewall is a legitimate MoT failure even on a tyre that appears to have plenty of life left. The 12 volt battery should be load tested, brake fluid and engine coolant should be checked for age-related degradation, and the cambelt interval should be confirmed against the service book given that the car is well within the territory where replacement due to age rather than mileage is the governing factor. Finally, a thorough inspection underneath the vehicle on a ramp is strongly advised, as the combination of eighteen years of road exposure, accumulating suspension and brake pipe advisories, and the failed wheel bearing all point to a chassis that is beginning to show its age and where hidden corrosion or worn components may not yet have reached the threshold for an MoT failure but will inevitably require attention.