2011 London Taxis INT TX4 2.5L Diesel · LR11 TNF

A TX4 black cab carrying 277,331 miles through its fifteenth year presents a roadworthiness picture dominated by usage rather than recorded defect history, and that distinction matters enormously for a prospective buyer. The official DVSA record is unusually sparse for a vehicle of this age and vocation, with the most recent test on 3 November 2025 returning a clean pass and no advisories logged, yet the same vehicle failed just six weeks earlier on 22 September 2025 with no defect details captured on file. Two further retests sit in the 2024-2025 window: a pass on 17 January 2025 and an earlier fail on 15 July 2024, again followed by a pass four days later on 19 July 2024. The pattern of immediate pass-after-fail with no documented advisories strongly suggests the failures were either rectified before presentation on retest or were borderline items dismissed on the day, but the absence of any advisory detail across five tests in fifteen years is itself a red flag worth interrogating, as London taxi workplaces enormous stress on cabs and a wholly clean advisory record is statistically uncommon for this platform at this mileage. The defining mechanical takeaway is therefore not a catalogue of flagged wear but rather the unknown condition of components that have absorbed a quarter of a million miles of urban stop-start operation. The recorded annual accumulation rate of roughly 18,489 miles is consistent with the high-intensity duty cycle these vehicles are designed for, though it sits at the upper end of what the TX4 chassis was engineered to tolerate. There are no significant testing gaps in the later record, indicating the cab has been in continuous service rather than laid up, which is mechanically favourable for avoiding the corrosion, seal drying, and brake disc pitting that afflict stored vehicles. However, the lack of an MOT entry for the years prior to 2024 within this dataset, combined with the high mileage, means the bulk of component wear between build and the 2024 tests is undocumented and must be inferred from the mileage alone. At 277,331 miles, the vehicle is well past the typical replacement horizon for original turbochargers, clutch assemblies, suspension bushes, and rear beam components on the TX4, and a buyer should treat the odometer reading as a primary mechanical risk factor regardless of what the MOT paperwork does or does not say. Any prospective test drive should be focused heavily on the components known to fail at high mileage on this chassis, starting with the front suspension assembly where the lower wishbones, anti-roll bar drop links, and top mounts regularly wear before the bushes visibly deteriorate. Listen for clonks over uneven surfaces, particularly over speed humps which dominate London routes, and feel for vagueness through the steering that suggests worn track rod ends or front subframe bush compliance. The steering should self-centre cleanly without any residual stiffness, as the TX4 power steering rack and PAS pump are known wear items beyond 200,000 miles. Pay particular attention to the rear suspension beam, which on these vehicles is prone to cracking around the mounting points and silent block bushes, and check visually under the vehicle for any signs of fluid weeping from the rear dampers. Brake pedal feel should be firm without excessive travel, and there should be no pulling to either side under moderate retardation, as warped front discs are common at this mileage and may not have triggered an advisory if still within the minimum thickness threshold at the last test. The drivetrain requires equally careful scrutiny given the working background, with particular emphasis on the 2.5 litre turbodiesel engine and the clutch. From a cold start, listen for any excessive timing chain rattle, which is a known TX4 issue, and observe whether any smoke lingers from the exhaust on the overrun. The clutch should engage smoothly without slipping under hard acceleration in third or fourth gear, as taxi clutch wear at this mileage is virtually guaranteed and a replacement is a significant cost. On the automatic variant, gear changes should be prompt and free of flare or harshness. Finally, inspect the underside thoroughly for corrosion around the sills, rear arches, and front subframe, as the TX4 is known to suffer structural deterioration in these areas after prolonged urban use with road salt exposure. A pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the TX4 platform is strongly advisable given that the MOT paperwork alone provides minimal visibility into the mechanical condition of this high-mileage working vehicle.