2017 Citroen Dispatch 1.6L Diesel · EX67 XMM

A discernible pattern of front-end and under-bonnet wear has emerged across the MOT record of this 2017 Citroen Dispatch, with the front suspension, front braking components, and front lighting attracting recurring attention over the last four tests. The most recent examination on 30 July 2026 returned a clean pass with no advisories, which on the surface presents a tidy outcome, yet the preceding test on 25 February 2025 had already flagged both front shock absorbers as having a reduced damping effect, with that same test also producing a failure for an offside front position lamp not working before a re-test later the same day corrected the lighting issue. The shock absorber advisories are particularly telling because they represent progressive deterioration in the vehicle's primary ride control hardware, while the 2023 pass recorded slight play in the nearside front suspension arm ball joint, pitted front brake discs, and a front brake imbalance that was only just within requirements. Together these entries indicate that the front axle has been a consistent source of attention rather than an isolated event. The recorded mileage of 110,016 miles over approximately nine years equates to an annual accumulation of around 12,224 miles, which is notably above average for a vehicle of this age and points to sustained commercial or high-mileage private use. MOT testing has been carried out annually without any gaps, confirming continuous road use rather than long periods of storage, and the mileage progression between tests is broadly consistent with steady year-round operation. Mechanically, this kind of usage profile places greater demand on consumable and wear items such as brake pads and discs, suspension bushes, shock absorbers, tyres, clutches, drivetrain mounts, and turbo components, and the advisory history does reflect wear on exactly those areas. The earlier 2024 advisories concerning front tyres worn close to the legal limit on both inside edges and a badly stepped nearside rear tyre further reinforce a picture of a working vehicle that has been driven hard over uneven surfaces, consistent with the higher annual mileage. For a prospective buyer, the front suspension should be the primary focus of any physical inspection, given the documented ball joint play in 2023 and the reduced damping effect recorded on both front shock absorriers in 2025. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps, uneven road surfaces, and driveway entries, and pay particular attention to any continued vertical bouncing after a sharp downward press on each front wing, which would suggest the shocks have deteriorated further since the last advisory. The steering should be checked for vagueness, pulling to one side under braking, or any knocking transmitted through the wheel, as worn suspension components can also influence steering geometry and tracking. The braking system warrants equally careful attention following the 2023 record of pitted front discs, a front brake imbalance, and the 2024 tyre wear pattern that can sometimes be exacerbated by binding calipers or sticking calliper slides. During a test drive, the pedal should feel firm and progressive without any sponginess, judder, or pulsation under sustained braking, and the vehicle should pull up in a straight line without any obvious sideways drift. Inspect the front discs visually for a pronounced lip on the outer edge and for any surface scoring or corrosion pitting, as the previously noted wear may have progressed. It is also worth confirming that the position lamp issue from early 2025 has been resolved properly, checking all front and rear lighting for correct operation, and examining the windscreen closely given the 2022 advisory regarding cracking along the bottom edge, as thermal cycling and continued high-mileage use can cause such damage to propagate over time.