2017 Citroen C3 1.2L Petrol · OV17 EXK

The MOT history for this 2017 Citroen C3 tells the story of a vehicle that held a clean record for its first four tests, passing without any advisories from 2020 through 2023, before developing a cluster of recurring concerns relating to exhaust mountings, brake wear, and tyres. The most recent test on 6 January 2026 recorded a pass, but only after a fail the day before on 5 January 2026 for excessive exhaust carbon monoxide content after the second fast idle, a major emission defect under section 8.2.1.2 (a). Alongside this, the latest pass carried advisories for worn front brakes and a nearside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit, plus a minor for an inoperative nearside registration plate lamp. The emissions failure is particularly significant because it indicates a combustion or catalyst efficiency issue that could recur if not properly rectified, and the front brake advisory first appeared back in 2024-01 and has now carried forward, suggesting that the underlying wear has not been fully resolved between tests. With around 76,390 miles recorded over nine years, this C3 has averaged roughly 8,500 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a car of its age and platform segment and gives no immediate cause for concern regarding long-term standing or excessive high-mileage wear. The test history shows annual or near-annual testing from 2020 onwards, consistent with continuous road use, and the mileage progression implied across the recorded tests is steady rather than erratic. For a vehicle of this age and mileage, mechanical attention naturally shifts toward consumable wear items such as brake friction material, exhaust rubbers and mountings, tyres, and suspension components, all of which are beginning to show through the advisory pattern. There are no extended lay-up gaps in the testing record, so concerns specific to dormant vehicles such as seized brakes, perished coolant hoses, or discharged battery cells are less relevant here. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection items are the brakes and the exhaust system. The front brake discs were flagged as worn, pitted, and scored in January 2024, and front brake wear was re-advisories in January 2026, so on a test drive you should listen for any grinding or scraping from the front wheels under light braking, feel for vibration or judder through the steering wheel or pedal when slowing from speed, and check whether the car pulls to one side under braking which could indicate a binding caliper or uneven pad wear. The exhaust mounting defect has now appeared in two consecutive tests at both front and central positions, pointing to perished rubber mountings or a sagging pipe; on the move listen for exhaust clonks or rattles on throttle lift, particularly over bumps, and visually check under the car for any visibly hanging pipework or excessive movement when the engine is revved. Given the January 2026 CO failure, the engine management and exhaust after-treatment system warrants close attention. On a test drive from cold, observe whether the engine runs smoothly, whether any warning lights such as the engine management lamp remain illuminated after start-up, and whether there is any roughness, hesitation, or unusual smell from the exhaust that could indicate a lambda sensor, catalytic converter, or air-fuel mixture issue. The nearside rear tyre edge wear and the earlier front tyre edge wear on both sides in late 2024 could suggest a tracking or suspension geometry concern, so on the move pay attention to any steering pull to one side, uneven steering return, or clonking noises from the front suspension over speed humps and rough surfaces, which could indicate worn wishbone bushes, top mounts, or anti-roll bar links commonly affected on this generation of C3. Finally, the inoperative registration plate lamp is a trivial fix, but it is worth confirming all exterior lighting is functioning correctly and that there are no other minor electrical faults before purchase.