2009 Citroen C1 1.0L Petrol · GL09 EKX

A pattern of chronic front-axle tyre wear and recurring rear brake binding advisories defines the roadworthiness profile of this 2009 Citroën C1, alongside a recent advisory concerning a noisy rear wheel bearing. Across seven recorded MOT tests from 2019 to 2026, the vehicle has passed every examination without a single failure or refusal, which demonstrates it has consistently met minimum statutory standards. However, the advisory record is not entirely clean. Front tyre inner-edge or outer-edge wear has been flagged at four separate tests, and nearside rear brake binding was noted in 2019 and again in 2020, suggesting an unresolved mechanical tendency. The 2026-07-08 test added an offside rear wheel bearing noise advisory to the picture, which warrants close attention given the vehicle's accumulated mileage. Exhaust mounting and clamp issues were flagged in 2021 but have not reappeared since, indicating those items were likely rectified. With 196,903 miles accumulated over approximately seventeen years, this C1 has averaged around 11,583 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of its age and class. The annual MOT intervals are closely and consistently spaced, with no multi-year gaps, so the mileage accumulation appears steady and continuous rather than indicative of long periods of standing. That said, at this overall mileage, wear-related deterioration of suspension, drivetrain, braking, and rubber components becomes increasingly likely, particularly given the recorded advisories that hint at chassis and braking system stresses developing over time. Prospective buyers should focus their inspection on the specific components flagged in the MOT history, beginning with the front suspension and steering geometry, given the repeated inner-edge and outer-edge front tyre wear advisories. This pattern often points to worn suspension bushes, top mounts, drop links, or tracking misalignment, and on a test drive one should listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over bumps, vague or wandering steering, and uneven steering self-centring. The nearside rear brake binding advisories from 2019 and 2020 could indicate a sticking caliper slide mechanism or a seized handbrake cable, so at the rear, one should check for a dragging sensation when driving, uneven rear brake disc wear or hot spots visible on the disc surface, and confirm the handbrake releases cleanly without holding the caliper off its pad. The 2026 advisory concerning slight noise from the offside rear wheel bearing should be treated as a developing concern. On a test drive, listen for a humming or droning noise that changes with vehicle speed and may alter when cornering, which would confirm bearing wear progression. Inspect both rear wheels for play by rocking the tyres at twelve and six o'clock with the wheel off the ground, and check for any grease contamination around the bearing housing or back plate. Given the vehicle's high accumulated mileage, it is also prudent to inspect the underside thoroughly for corrosion on brake pipes, subframe mounting points, and suspension arms, and to verify the condition of the timing chain, clutch operation, and cooling system, as these drivetrain components face elevated wear risk at this mileage.