2016 Ford B-MAX 1.0L Petrol · OV66 DWW

A pattern of cosmetic and structural bodywork deterioration has emerged on this Ford B-Max, with the most recent examination on 1 December 2025 recording two advisories concerning damage to the nearside front radiator area and nearside front wing arch. While the vehicle passed, these notes suggest external impacts or corrosion affecting body panels close to the cooling system, which warrants a careful physical inspection to ensure no underlying mechanical damage. The broader five-test MOT history shows a generally clean roadworthiness record, with passes in 2022, 2023, and 2024, but the 2023 entry did include a failed attempt on the same day as a pass, indicating an item was addressed just before re-testing. With only one failure and a small cluster of advisories confined largely to the bodywork and tyres, the mechanical record is unremarkable, though the growing trend of front-end damage notes deserves attention as the vehicle ages. With 45,465 miles recorded over a ten-year life, this B-Max has covered approximately 4,546 miles annually, which is notably below the average for a vehicle of its age and likely points to periods of light use or inactivity. Lower annual accumulation of this kind can preserve major drivetrain components but also brings specific risks such as premature ageing of rubber seals, brake calipers seizing from disuse, and tyre sidewall degradation from stationary storage. Test entries are recorded annually from 2022 through 2025 with no extended gaps in MOT history, suggesting the vehicle has been kept on the road consistently rather than left dormant for multiple years, though the relatively low mileage still warrants standard checks for items affected by underuse. Given the recorded advisories on the nearside front wing arch and radiator area, a prospective buyer should carry out a close visual inspection of the front bodywork for evidence of accident repair, misaligned panels, or fresh paint that could mask structural movement. The damaged radiator itself should be examined for coolant leaks, staining on surrounding components, and proper fan clearance, since any impact sufficient to deform the wing arch could have disturbed cooling hoses, the condenser, or the intercooler on diesel variants. On a test drive, listen for any unusual auxiliary fan noises, watch the temperature reading carefully for signs of overheating, and check for sweet-smelling coolant odours inside the cabin via the heater vents, all of which would indicate cooling system compromise. The 2023 test flagged both front tyres as either worn close to the legal limit or dangerously below the 1.0mm tread depth requirement, with the offside front tyre classified as dangerous at the point of test. Although this was rectified before the same-day pass, it highlights a need to verify current tyre condition thoroughly, including even tread wear across both front tyres and sidewall integrity, as uneven wear could suggest tracking, suspension wear, or prolonged kerbing. On the road, the buyer should pay particular attention to steering pull under braking, knocking or clonking noises from the front suspension over speed humps, and any vibration through the steering wheel, all of which could indicate worn suspension linkages, droplinks, or bushes that have developed play during the vehicle's lighter-use years.