2005 Citroen C3 1.6L Petrol · HN55 BYW

The most recent MOT, dated 26 October 2021 at 98,703 miles, shows a pass, but the record reveals a pattern of unresolved corrosion and recurring component failures that raises serious concern about long-term structural integrity. The day prior, the vehicle failed with a critical structural defect: the offside rear inner suspension mounting prescribed area was excessively corroded, significantly reducing structural strength. Although a pass was recorded the following day, the record does not confirm whether this corrosion was rectified or merely retested under more favourable conditions. All four coil springs were flagged as corroded in both the 2021 pass and fail, and this same defect appeared in the failed test from 2021, suggesting the springs were not replaced. The trend is not improving. Corrosion advisories and failures have persisted across multiple tests without clear evidence of lasting repair. The mileage pattern is unusual and warrants scrutiny. Between the October 2019 test at 81,821 miles and the October 2020 test at 89,288 miles, the vehicle covered approximately 7,467 miles in twelve months. Yet between October 2020 and October 2021, the mileage increased by only 9,415 miles over the full year, and critically, the recorded mileage has remained frozen at exactly 98,703 miles from October 2021 through to today, June 2026. That is a five-year gap with no recorded use whatsoever. A vehicle sitting idle for that long is susceptible to deteriorated rubber components, seized brakes, degraded fuel, and accelerated corrosion of exposed metalwork, particularly given the pre-existing exhaust and suspension corrosion already documented. A buyer should treat the underside and suspension mountings as the primary inspection priority. The 2021 failure for excessively corroded inner suspension mounting is the most significant finding in the entire history. This is not surface rust; it is a structural mounting point, and any compromise here directly affects suspension geometry and vehicle safety. Inspect the front exhaust section carefully, as a minor leak was flagged in both 2020 and 2021, and the rear exhaust was noted as heavily corroded in 2019. The front brake discs were flagged as worn and pitted in 2019, and the offside rear stop lamp was inoperative in 2021, so a full brake and lighting check is essential. Tyre wear has been a recurring advisory, with both front and rear tyres worn to the legal limit or on edges in 2021, suggesting possible misalignment or neglected rotation. Given the five-year period of inactivity, a thorough inspection of all fluid systems, brake calipers for seizure, and fuel tank for contamination is strongly advised. The combination of pre-existing corrosion, unresolved coil spring defects, and prolonged storage creates a vehicle whose current roadworthiness cannot be reliably assumed from the 2021 pass alone.