1997 Rover MINI 1.3L Petrol · R895 BPP

The 2026‑01‑21 MOT at 45,123 miles recorded a clean pass with no defects, indicating that the vehicle currently meets roadworthiness standards and the maintenance trend is stable. No adverse findings have appeared since the 2023‑12‑20 test, confirming that any previous issues have not resurfaced. The recorded mileage of 45,123 miles at 29 years of age translates to roughly 1,556 miles per year, a figure that is low for a vehicle of this vintage. Intervals between tests show steady use: the 2016‑03‑19 test at 43,420 miles, the 2017‑03‑30 test at 43,919 miles, the 2018‑04‑21 test at 44,488 miles, the 2023‑12‑20 test at 44,989 miles and the most recent 2026‑01‑21 test at 45,123 miles, with no extended periods of inactivity evident. Recurring faults in the MOT history point to suspension and structural concerns: upper ball joint play, weak shock absorbers, perished bushes, and a split steering rack gaiter have been noted in 2016, 2017 and 2018, while heavy corrosion of the sills, floor pans and sub‑frames was recorded in 2016 and 2017. The rear brakes were flagged as binding in the 2017 test, suggesting that caliper or disc wear should be examined, and the earlier tyre tread deficiencies have not been repeated in recent inspections. A buyer should therefore inspect the condition of the suspension bushes, ball joints and shock absorbers for excessive play or leakage, verify the integrity of the steering rack gaiter and check for any binding in the rear brake assembly, and assess the structural integrity of the sills and floor pans for rust that could compromise strength. Confirming current tyre tread depth, brake performance and the absence of new corrosion will complete the due‑diligence assessment.