2010 London Taxis INT TX4 2.5L Diesel · LP59 KFV

The most recent DVSA examination on 20 July 2022 resulted in a Pass, however it carried three advisory items that warrant close attention. The first is an oil leak recorded as not excessive from an unspecified source, the second is front brake disc wear noted as not excessively worn at that point, and the third is seepage from the steering box. Tracing back through the earlier 2022 entries, the picture that emerges is one of persistent and recurring defects rather than one-off observations. An oil leak from the offside front was flagged in January 2022, the steering box was already leaking at that same examination, the front brake pads were noted as wearing thin, and a central propshaft bearing was recorded as having slight play. A near-simultaneous test also recorded an offside rear brake pipe as corroded and coated in grease or other material, alongside a failed position lamp on the offside front. Taken together, this history suggests a vehicle whose maintenance trend is broadly stable from a pass or fail perspective but whose underlying mechanical condition shows progressive deterioration in fluid-containing components and braking hardware, rather than any clear improvement over the recorded period. With 297,064 miles recorded against a 2010 build date, this TX4 has covered approximately 18,500 miles per year on average, which is a notably high annual usage figure for a vehicle of its type and is fully consistent with its history as a London hackney carriage. There are no obvious extended gaps in the mileage progression across the recorded tests, indicating continuous heavy use rather than long periods of standing. Such sustained high mileage places considerable cumulative load on the engine, transmission, propshaft, braking system and steering gear, all of which are reflected in the advisory pattern described above. A prospective buyer should interpret this mileage not merely as a number but as evidence that internal wear items such as engine seals, gearbox mountings, suspension bushes, coil springs, brake calipers, steering components and exhaust mounting rubbers will all be closer to the end of their service life than the calendar age alone might suggest. In practical terms, the recurring oil leak advisories and the steering box seepage should be treated as a priority area for physical inspection at the point of purchase. The buyer should ask for evidence of the leak source having been traced and rectified, as oil leaks on the TX4 commonly originate from the engine sump, camshaft seals, or the power steering system itself. With the steering box now seeping across two consecutive tests, it is important to check the fluid reservoir level, look for contamination of the PAS fluid, and inspect the steering rack gaiters and surrounding area for fresh oil accumulation. During a test drive, the buyer should listen for any groaning or whining from the pump under load, and feel for inconsistent or wandering steering, particularly at the straight ahead position. The steering box itself is a known wear item on high-mileage TX4s and replacement is a significant cost, so a specialist inspection or a fluid dye test to confirm whether the seepage is active or residual is strongly advised. The braking and drivetrain advisories also demand a targeted inspection. The front brake discs and pads have been flagged across consecutive tests, which indicates that although the components were within legal limits at the time of test, they are on a clear wear trajectory and should be examined for current thickness, lipping on the disc outer edges, and any scoring. The buyer should also look carefully at the offside rear brake pipe noted as corroded in early 2022, as a corroded brake pipe is a safety critical item that can fail under pressure and would warrant replacement with a copper-nickel section rather than a temporary repair. Brake fluid should ideally have been renewed in line with the calendar interval regardless of mileage, as brake fluid is hygroscopic and degrades with age. Additionally, the propshaft bearing play previously noted should be rechecked by physically rocking the propshaft at the centre bearing with the vehicle raised, listening for any clonking or rotational roughness, as failure of this component can lead to vibration and, in the worst case, drivetrain damage. Given the overall mileage, a thorough inspection of the exhaust system for corrosion at the box section and rear silencer, examination of the rear suspension leaf springs and bushes for sagging or cracking, and verification of cambelt or timing chain service history would all form part of a sensible pre-purchase evaluation.