2004 Volkswagen Passat SE TDI 1.9L Diesel · LL53 HYV

This 2004 Passat SE TDI holds a current MOT that passed on 5 September 2021 at 186,333 miles with zero defects recorded. The maintenance trend is stable and historically strong, with no advisories or failures logged across the entire available record. As of 18 June 2026, however, that certificate is over four years expired, meaning the car has not been subjected to an independent roadworthiness assessment since late 2021. Any deterioration in brakes, suspension, tyres, or structural integrity over the last four and a half years remains unverified by official testing. The mileage pattern reveals a notable anomaly. Between the 2019 test at 156,738 miles and the 2021 test at 186,333 miles, the car accumulated 29,595 miles in roughly two years, a significantly higher rate than the long-term average of approximately 8,470 miles per year. Prior to that, annual mileage was broadly consistent with typical use. The record is otherwise clean and sparse, with no recurring faults or advisories to analyse. The 2018 failure at 142,850 miles lists no recorded defects, suggesting a procedural or administrative retest rather than a mechanical issue. A buyer should treat the expired MOT as the primary concern. Without a current test, there is no verified baseline for braking performance, suspension component condition, or structural corrosion. A thorough in-person inspection should focus on the front and rear suspension bushes, coil springs, and shock absorbers, as these components deteriorate with age and mileage regardless of test history. Brake discs, pads, and calipers warrant close examination given the mileage spike between 2019 and 2021, which may have accelerated wear. The body structure and underside should be inspected for corrosion, particularly around the sills, wheel arches, and subframes, as these areas are common failure points on Passats of this era. Tyre condition and exhaust emissions should also be checked, as neither has been formally assessed in over four years. The clean MOT history is encouraging, but the lack of recent independent verification shifts the burden of assessment entirely to a pre-purchase inspection.