2018 Renault Clio 1.5L Diesel · NL68 FWE

The 2018 Renault Clio presents a stable and improving mechanical picture as of its most recent MOT on 04 November 2025 at 32,892 miles, where the tester recorded zero defects. That clean sheet marks a notable turnaround from the preceding years. Between November 2023 and November 2024, the car accumulated advisories and a failure covering worn front brake discs, pitted and scored but not seriously weakened, along with a front lower suspension arm ball joint flagged first as slight play and then as excessively worn at the failed test on 17 November 2023 at 21,693 miles. The fact that the November 2024 test at 26,967 miles still showed slight play on the offside front ball joint, yet the 2025 test cleared entirely, suggests the nearside joint was replaced and the offside wear either resolved or fell below the tester's threshold. Brake disc advisories also disappeared after 2024, indicating fresh discs or pads were fitted. The maintenance trend is therefore one of active correction rather than neglect. The mileage profile tells its own story. Covering roughly 4,112 miles per year over eight years, the Clio has led a lightly used life. The jump from 26,967 miles on 01 November 2024 to 32,892 miles on 04 November 2025 represents an unusually steep 5,925-mile increase in just over twelve months, far above the annual average. Before that, the car was adding around 4,000 to 5,000 miles per year at a steadier pace. That spike could reflect a change of owner, a new commuting pattern, or correction of previously under-recorded mileage. Either way, the recent usage is heavier than the historical norm, and a buyer should factor that accelerated wear into their assessment of consumables and suspension components. Despite the low overall mileage, the recurring front suspension ball joint wear is worth scrutinising. Front lower suspension arm ball joints on a car doing barely 22,000 miles by 2023 suggests either a manufacturing weakness, aggressive driving over speed breakers, or long periods of standing with the suspension loaded unevenly. A prospective buyer should physically check both front lower arms for play and inspect the rubber boots for splits that allow grease egress and water ingress. The front brake discs were flagged as pitted and scored in both November 2023 tests, which on a low-mileage car often points to corrosion from standing rather than genuine wear. Check whether the discs have since been replaced or merely skimmed, and examine the disc faces for lipping and uneven pad transfer. The clean 2025 result is encouraging but not a guarantee against latent issues. A hands-on inspection should focus on the front suspension bushes and ball joints under load, the condition of all four tyres for uneven wear patterns that might hint at tracking or alignment drift, and the exhaust system for early corrosion given the car's age. The rear seat belt inspection was obstructed by a child seat in both 2023 tests, so verifying the offside rear belt retracts and locks correctly is essential. Overall, the record shows a car that had identifiable mechanical niggles and had them addressed, but the unusual mileage acceleration in the past year demands a thorough in-person check before committing.