2011 Citroen C3 1.6L Diesel · RE61 CVM

The 2011 Citroën C3 holds a current valid MOT following its 28 October 2025 test at 88,240 miles, though its maintenance trend is stable rather than improving, with recurring unaddressed wear across suspension, braking and exhaust components flagged consistently since 2022. The only test failure in the recorded history occurred on 1 November 2023 at 86,352 miles, caused by an excessively binding nearside rear service brake, a broken rear exhaust mount, perished front suspension arm bushes and an inoperative nearside registration plate lamp. These faults were rectified in time for the car to pass its test two days later, but the underlying wear patterns across core components have persisted in every subsequent test. The vehicle’s total recorded mileage of 88,240 miles is broadly in line with its 15-year age, equating to an average of roughly 5,883 miles per year, but recent mileage accumulation has dropped sharply, pointing to extended periods of stationary use. Just 698 miles were added between the November 2024 and October 2025 tests, with only 1,189 miles added between November 2023 and November 2024, and 1,427 miles between November 2022 and November 2023. This low, inconsistent usage aligns with the corroded exhaust mounting noted in the 2022 test and the perished rubber suspension components flagged from 2023 onwards, as static storage accelerates degradation of rubber and corrosion-prone metal parts. Testers have flagged lower arm pin bushes and front strut mount bushes as worn in every test since November 2023, with the 2025 test noting the lower arm wear has not yet caused excessive movement but will require replacement imminently. The braking system also requires close scrutiny: the 2025 test noted pitted and scored front brake discs, while the 2024 test flagged imbalanced front brakes that only just met minimum legal standards, suggesting uneven wear or residual binding that may not have been fully resolved. The rear exhaust mount was recorded as broken in 2022 and the 2023 failed test, so check for loose or rattling exhaust components, and verify the front direction indicators and registration plate lamp are fully operational, as these were marked defective in 2023 and 2024 respectively. The nearside rear brake should also be checked for residual binding, the fault that caused the 2023 test failure.