2017 Smart (mcc) Forfour 1.0L Petrol · LR17 VHM

A consistent pattern of tyre wear advisories sits at the centre of this Smart Forfour's MOT history, appearing in five of the seven recorded tests since 2021. The most concerning entry is the dangerous failure at the 2023 test, where the offside front tyre was found to have a tread depth below the legal 1.6mm limit, alongside a major defect for a significantly reduced nearside rear position lamp. A further failure at the same 2022 visit flagged a malfunctioning tyre pressure monitoring system and an underperforming windscreen washer. Since that double failure, the record has shown improvement, with clean passes at the 2024 and 2026 tests, though a 2025 advisory again noted perishing cracking on the nearside front tyre. The 2023 test recorded an advisory for nearside rear tyre wear close to the legal limit, and earlier 2022 advisories repeated the same concern for both offside tyres, suggesting uneven or accelerated wear that has remained a recurring theme rather than a one-off. Against a nine-year vehicle age, the recorded 38,880 miles equates to roughly 4,320 miles per year, which is low. There are no significant gaps in the annual testing cadence on file, with tests recorded every year from 2021 through to March 2026, indicating the vehicle has remained in active use rather than laid up for prolonged periods. The mileage progression between tests is modest and consistent, with the increments between annual tests sitting broadly in line with the long-term average, showing no sudden spikes or extended dormant stretches. A low annual mileage figure on a small city-oriented Smart generally means reduced wear on major drivetrain components, but it carries the usual caveat that lightly used vehicles can develop corrosion in less-worked components and ageing rubber items such as tyres, hoses, and suspension bushes. For a prospective buyer, the brake-related advisories from 2021 deserve particular attention on inspection. The 2021 test noted front brake discs worn though not excessively on both sides, alongside front brake pads wearing thin on both sides, and although the 2022, 2024, and 2026 passes did not repeat these advisories, the discs and pads would have covered around a further 6,000 to 7,000 miles since those notes were raised. On a test drive, listen for any grinding or squeal from the front wheels under light braking, and feel for judder through the steering wheel or brake pedal which would indicate disc warping. Inspect the front discs visually for a pronounced lip at the outer edge and check pad material thickness directly through the caliper aperture. Given the recurring advisories across multiple tyres, including the dangerous tread-depth failure in 2023 and perishing cracking noted on the nearside front in 2025, all four tyres should be closely examined for age-related sidewall cracking, uneven shoulder wear, and current tread depth, with any tyre older than five years from its DOT date warranting replacement regardless of remaining tread. Beyond the braking system and tyres, the 2022 PRS failure for the tyre pressure monitoring system is worth verifying by checking that the warning lamp extinguishes promptly after inflation adjustments and that the system registers each wheel correctly. The earlier failure for the rear position lamp suggests a check of all exterior lighting, including bulb condition and any condensation within the lamp units. Although no structural corrosion, suspension component wear, or fluid leak advisories appear in the MOT record, the underbody of any nine-year-old Forfour should still be examined for surface corrosion on subframe and suspension arms, and the coil springs and rear torsion beam inspected for any signs of sagging or cracking, particularly given the vehicle's low annual mileage. On the move, pay attention to any clonking over uneven road surfaces which could indicate worn suspension bushes, and check for pulling under braking or uneven steering effort, neither of which have been flagged but which would be sensible to confirm on a road test.