2005 Renault Megane 2.0L Petrol · FX05 OND

A pattern of persistent brake pipe corrosion and steering component wear dominates the MOT history of this 2005 Renault Megane, with the most recent pass on 15 October 2024 carrying five advisories that continue a trend stretching back several years. The vehicle failed its earlier attempt on 9 October 2024 over a cluster of major defects including both front wiper blades failing to clear effectively, a near-side front track rod end with excessive play, an offside front anti-roll bar linkage dust cover compromised, and an offside rear number plate lamp inoperative. An earlier failure on 9 October 2023 was even more serious, with three brake pipes recorded as excessively corroded, an offside front anti-roll bar ball joint excessively worn, and a position lamp dimmed by contamination. Steering rack inner joint play was first flagged in 2022 and again in 2024, while brake pipe advisories have appeared in 2021, 2022, and 2024. The cumulative picture is of a chassis and braking system under steady corrosion and wear pressure, with steering linkage components progressively deteriorating rather than being resolved between tests. Recorded mileage stands at 88,659 miles across roughly 21 years, equating to approximately 4,222 miles per year, which is notably low for the age of the vehicle. Annual MOT entries appear consistently from 2020 onwards, with tests in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, indicating the car has been in regular use rather than laid up for extended periods. Despite the modest annual mileage, the recurrence of brake pipe corrosion advisories across multiple years suggests environmental exposure to road salt and moisture has continued to attack the underbody, a familiar issue on Meganes of this generation regardless of distance covered. The low mileage also means consumables such as brake discs may have aged as much from surface corrosion and pitting as from wear, which aligns with the inner disc advisories recorded in 2024. A prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the steering system, as the near-side front track rod end had to be replaced between the 9 October 2024 failure and the 15 October 2024 pass, and steering rack inner joint play has been noted twice. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over uneven surfaces, check for any vagueness or wandering in the steering, and feel for vibration through the rack when turning lock to lock. The anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover failure on the offside front in 2024, combined with the excessively worn anti-roll bar ball joint recorded in 2023, means the front anti-roll bar drop links and bushes should be inspected visually for perished or split rubber, and the car should be pushed sideways at speed to detect any rattling from the front suspension. The brake system warrants close scrutiny given the repeated brake pipe corrosion advisories from 2021 through 2024 and the binding offside rear service brake that contributed to a failure in 2021. On inspection, look under the car along the full length of the brake lines, particularly at the rear joiner area mentioned in 2024, for any active corrosion, flaking, or weeping of brake fluid. The front inner brake discs were noted as worn, pitted, or scored in 2024, so feel for brake pedal judder under moderate deceleration and check for any grinding or scraping noises that could indicate disc lipping or pad wear. Finally, examine the rear exhaust mounting flagged in 2024 and listen for any exhaust rattles or blowing at idle, as a failed mounting can lead to the exhaust contacting the underbody and producing droning or clonking noises over bumps.