2011 Citroen C4 1.6L Diesel · LS11 TXO

The C4 presents a mixed maintenance picture with some concerning recurring suspension wear, though the most recent test suggests the previous owner addressed the worst of the faults. In the March 2024 test at 147,648 miles, the vehicle passed with only minor advisories, a marked improvement over the failed test just eight days earlier at 147,270 miles. That earlier failure flagged excessively worn nearside and offside front suspension arm pins or bushes, excessive play in the offside track rod end ball joint, an inoperative horn, an engine MIL fault, and an electronic stability control warning lamp. The rapid retest and pass indicate these items were rectified, but the pattern of suspension components degrading from advisory-level wear to outright failure within a twelve-month window is notable. The maintenance trend appears reactive rather than preventive, with issues left to deteriorate to the point of MOT failure before being addressed. The mileage accumulation of roughly 9,843 miles per year over fifteen years is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age and type. The record shows a jump from 124,184 miles in March 2022 to 133,704 miles in March 2023, a gain of 9,520 miles in twelve months, followed by a further increase to 147,648 miles by March 2024, representing 13,944 miles in the subsequent year. This suggests the vehicle saw heavier use in its most recent period on the road, which aligns with the accelerated wear observed in the suspension and braking components during that timeframe. A buyer should pay close attention to the front suspension, specifically the lower arm bushes, ball joints, and track rod ends. The progression from advisory-level bush wear noted in March 2023 to excessively worn pins and bushes with track rod end play in March 2024 indicates these components are under sustained stress and may require attention again soon. Inspect for uneven tyre wear on the inner edges of the front tyres, which would confirm ongoing alignment or suspension geometry issues. The repeated advisory across all four brake discs in both 2022 and 2023, described as worn, pitted, or scored, suggests the braking system has been running near its service limits for some time. Check disc thickness and condition carefully, particularly at the rear, where binding was flagged in the 2023 failure. The engine MIL and electronic stability control faults that appeared in the March 2024 failure should be scanned for stored diagnostic codes to verify whether underlying faults persist or were simply cleared to pass the retest. The cracked nearside rear tyre noted in 2023 and the persistent stone chip in the windscreen are minor items but worth confirming have not worsened.