2013 Citroen C3 1.6L Diesel · FE63 SWN

A thirteen-year-old C3 carrying 111,241 miles presents a roadworthiness picture defined less by catastrophic failure than by chronic, repeating wear items and two significant safety-related defects that have surfaced during its MOT life. The most recent test on 20 June 2026 resulted in a pass, but four advisories were recorded, three of which are direct continuations of items flagged in the 2024 and 2025 tests. A persistent front oil leak has now been noted at four consecutive tests, the front brake discs have been called out as worn across three consecutive tests, and rear tyre edge wear has appeared twice on opposite sides within twelve months. The 2022 and 2025 tests also produced failures, with the 2022 fail containing a dangerous front brake pad defect measured at less than 1.5 mm and the 2025 fail citing a split offside front CV boot, suggesting the drivetrain and braking components have been operating on the edge of legality more than once. The pattern is one of components being run until they trigger an advisory or failure rather than being addressed proactively between tests. Against an age of roughly thirteen years, the recorded annual mileage of approximately 8,557 miles sits close to the typical accumulation for a vehicle of this vintage, and the MOT cadence has been broadly annual with no obvious extended lay-up gaps in the testing record. That said, the mileage between the 2022 and 2026 tests shows steady, consistent use of around 9,000 to 10,000 miles per year, which is sufficient to keep mechanical components exercised but also sufficient to generate steady wear on suspension, braking and drivetrain consumables. There is nothing in the mileage profile to suggest the vehicle has been standing for prolonged periods, so corrosion findings here would be meaningful rather than incidental, and conversely the consistent usage means rubber components, bushes and CV joints have been subjected to normal but unrelenting mechanical loading over a high overall mileage. For a prospective buyer, the front oil leak that has persisted across four tests deserves close physical inspection. With the engine warm, look for wetness around the timing chain end, cam cover gasket and sump plug area, check for fresh oil residue on the lower engine block and undertray, and monitor the level on the dipstick over a few days to gauge whether the leak rate is increasing beyond what the advisory implies. The front brake discs, called out in 2022, 2025 and 2026, warrant a test drive focused on pedal feel: any vibration, shudder or pulsing under firm braking suggests the discs are now at or past their second advisory threshold and likely require replacement rather than just refinement. The 2024 track rod end replacement is also worth verifying by turning the steering lock to lock with the engine running and feeling for any knocking or slack through the rack, and the broken exhaust bracket noted in 2024 should be checked underneath by hand for solid mounting and absence of rattles over bumps. The two CV boot failures recorded, on the offside drive shaft in both 2022 and 2025, indicate that the boot replacements have either not been durable or that the inner joint area is being subjected to recurring contamination. On a test drive, listen for a clicking or rhythmic tapping on full-lock turns, particularly in reverse, and inspect the inner and outer boots visually for fresh grease deposits or splits. The rear brake disc pitting noted in 2024 should be felt through the footbrake at low speed, looking for any rear bias judder or pulling, and the recent nearside rear tyre edge wear suggests a geometry or suspension bush issue worth checking, particularly for knocking from the rear over uneven surfaces or for uneven camber when the car is viewed from behind. Given the recurring advisories on oil leaks, discs and tyres, this C3 is best bought with a clear understanding that several wear items are likely to need attention in the short to medium term, and a pre-purchase inspection focusing on those exact components would be prudent.