2016 London Taxis INT TX4 2.8L Diesel · LL16 WHC

A 2016 London Taxis TX4 returning four consecutive pass certificates with no advisories or defects recorded is a notably clean mechanical profile for a vehicle of this type and vocational background. The most recent test on 27 November 2025 was a pass with no defects recorded, continuing the unbroken run of clean results from May 2025, November 2024, and the June 2024 retest. The only blemish in the history is a single fail recorded on the same date as the June 2024 pass, which suggests a minor issue was identified and rectified immediately on the same day, allowing the vehicle to be presented and passed without any items carrying forward. For a commercial hackney carriage that has historically endured heavy urban duty, the absence of any advisories relating to suspension wear, brake component condition, corrosion, exhaust integrity, or steering components is a strong indicator that the vehicle has been conscientiously maintained and inspected between tests. With 189,173 miles recorded over roughly ten years of service, this TX4 has accumulated approximately 18,900 miles annually, which is substantially higher than the typical private-vehicle average for this age group and consistent with the operational profile of a working taxi. This sustained high utilisation places elevated mechanical demand on the clutch assembly, dual-mass or solid flywheel, turbocharging system on the diesel variant, transmission synchro wear, and the braking system in particular, which would have been subjected to far more thermal cycling than a privately owned car of equivalent age. The mileage progression appears consistent across the testing periods without any obvious gaps that would suggest long periods of standing, which is itself beneficial for the preservation of seals, brake hydraulic components, and the diesel particulate filter, all of which suffer from extended inactivity. The lack of any recorded advisories on a high-mileage vehicle of this type is unusual and would be worth verifying against the vehicle's service book documentation. For a prospective buyer, a targeted physical inspection should focus on the components that are most heavily stressed in taxi service even though none have yet triggered an advisory. On the test drive, listen carefully for any clonks or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, as the TX4 is known for wear in the front wishbone bushes, anti-roll bar drop links, and top mount bearings. The clutch should be tested under load on an incline to check for slippage or judder, and the gearbox should be assessed for any crunching on second or reverse engagement, both of which are common wear points at this mileage. Steering should be checked for any play or vagueness around the straight-ahead position, and the steering rack mounting bushes are a known weak point on this chassis that can produce a vague or wandering feel before any visible wear appears at MOT. The braking system warrants particular attention given the high annual mileage, so a thorough road test should include several firm stops from moderate speed to feel for any pedal pulsation indicating warped front discs, pulling to one side suggesting a binding caliper, or a soft pedal feel that could indicate hydraulic wear. Inspect the front brake discs and pads directly through the wheels for remaining material thickness, and check the rear drum brake shoes and wheel cylinders for any signs of oil contamination or moisture staining on the backing plates. Inspect the underside for any oil misting from the engine or turbo, as diesel units at this mileage commonly show seepage from cam cover gaskets and turbo oil feed lines that would not yet be severe enough to fail an MOT but could progress. Finally, examine the exhaust system and DPF carefully, as a working taxi at this mileage can suffer from internal DPF degradation and mounting rubbers, and confirm that no warning lights are illuminated on the dashboard, which would indicate an emissions or sensor issue not yet flagged at test.