2013 Citroen Berlingo 1.6L Diesel · LD13 DDV

A pattern of front-end wear emerges from the limited DVSA history of this thirteen-year-old Citroen Berlingo, with both front tyres and both lower suspension arm pins or bushes flagged across the two most recent tests on file. The single recorded failure on 4 August 2022 was caused by an inoperative registration plate lamp, which is a relatively minor lighting defect, but the tyre and suspension advisories carried straight through to the subsequent pass on 12 August 2022 and were not marked as having been rectified in the intervening eight days. The persistence of these front suspension and tyre edge-wear advisories suggests ongoing or unaddressed deterioration at the front axle rather than a one-off issue, and any prospective inspection should treat the nearside and offside front lower arms as the primary area of mechanical concern. Against an age of approximately thirteen years, the recorded mileage of 88,969 miles equates to an annual accumulation of around 6,800 miles, which is broadly in line with typical use for a Berlingo of this vintage. However, the DVSA history only contains two tests, both clustered in August 2022, leaving a significant gap before and after that period with no recorded evidence of roadworthiness. With the present date being September 2026, there has been no recorded MOT activity for roughly four years on the system provided, and a physical pre-purchase inspection is therefore essential rather than relying on the historical file to confirm current condition. The mileage bracket itself is moderate, meaning wear on consumables such as clutches, dampers and brake components will be commensurate with that level of use rather than particularly severe. On a test drive, particular attention should be paid to the front suspension, as both lower arm pins or bushes were noted as worn on this vehicle. Listen for clonking or knocking noises over speed humps, uneven road surfaces and during full-lock low-speed manoeuvres, and feel for any vagueness, wandering or additional play through the steering wheel that might indicate the bushes have deteriorated further since the last advisory. Brake sharply from moderate speed and feel for pull to one side or judder through the pedal, which could point to combined disc wear given the age and mileage, and inspect the inner and outer faces of the front discs for lipping and surface corrosion. The original advisory also noted both front tyres worn close to the legal limit and on the edge, which can indicate incorrect camber, worn suspension components, or simply age-related rubber deterioration, so check the sidewalls for cracking and confirm the current tyres have even wear across the full tread width. A thorough physical inspection beneath the vehicle is strongly advised given the four-year absence from MOT testing and the front-end wear pattern recorded previously. Examine the lower suspension arms, anti-roll bar drop links and bushes for splitting, perishing or excessive movement by hand with the wheel lifted, and check the coil springs for any signs of corrosion or snapping, which is a known issue on older Berlingos. Inspect the registration plate lamps and all other exterior lighting for operation, as the previous failure indicates this area should not be assumed sound. Finally, check for any fluid leaks from the engine, power steering and braking systems, and examine the underbody and subframe mounting points for corrosion, particularly given the vehicle's age, as any structural rust not visible from above would have a direct bearing on the cost and feasibility of maintaining this Berlingo on the road.