2017 Smart (mcc) Fortwo 1.0L Petrol · P7 TTF

The 2017 Smart Fortwo successfully passed its most recent Ministry of Transport test on July 4 2025 at 67,905 miles, though the overall maintenance history reveals a recurring pattern of mechanical neglect that requires careful scrutiny. Looking back across the timeline, the vehicle has failed several annual examinations due to a concerning mix of structural tyre damage, emissions faults, missing wheel fixings, and braking system fluctuations. While the car did achieve clean passes in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, the presence of major and dangerous failures interspersed with clean sheets suggests that maintenance has been reactive rather than preventative. The most recent test issued advisories for thin front brake pads and a worn offside front suspension arm bush, indicating that component wear is catching up with the vehicle and that the next owner should budget for immediate remedial suspension and braking work. With a recorded mileage of 67,905 miles accumulated over roughly nine years, the vehicle has averaged approximately 7,545 miles annually, which sits comfortably within normal UK motoring expectations for a city car. This steady usage profile means the engine, transmission, and auxiliary components have experienced regular heat cycles and consistent operation, avoiding the detrimental mechanical effects associated with prolonged periods of standing or excessive fleet mileage. However, because city cars often spend their lives executing short, stop-start urban journeys, the drivetrain and ancillary systems endure higher frequency wear. Buyers should therefore verify the service history to ensure that oil changes and transmission servicing have been performed more frequently than the standard annual MOT requires, mitigating the accelerated internal wear typical of short-trip urban usage. When inspecting the vehicle prior to purchase, pay close attention to the front suspension and braking systems highlighted in the recent test advisories. During a static inspection, check the front brake pads through the alloy wheels to gauge remaining friction material thickness, and inspect the brake discs for excessive lip formation or scoring. On a test drive, listen carefully for any dull clunks, knocks, or vagueness from the front end when negotiating potholes or speed humps, which would confirm the degradation of the offside front suspension arm bush. You should also test the brake pedal feel for any sponginess or shuddering, ensuring the vehicle pulls up in a straight line without hesitation, and verify that the exhaust system is quiet and free from the gas leaks or lambda sensor faults that triggered previous test failures. Beyond the specific MOT history items, conduct a thorough physical examination of the consumables and structural integrity of the chassis. Inspect the tyre sidewalls across all four corners for age-related perishing, cracking, or bulges, keeping in mind the dangerous structural tyre failure recorded in 2024. Check the condition of the twelve-volt battery terminals and housing, as city cars with stop-start technology demand robust electrical health. Finally, inspect the service book and engine bay for evidence of time-based fluid degradation, ensuring the coolant and brake fluid have been replaced according to schedule rather than just when an MOT failure forces the issue.