2007 Alfa Romeo 147 1.9L Diesel · RO57 SVL

A pattern of recurring front-end wear and intermittent electrical or emissions issues defines this 147's roadworthiness history, with the most recent outcome on 27 August 2025 being a pass that nevertheless carried five advisories. The under-bonnet items on that test included front brake pads thinning, a nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint with slight play, and a nearside rear anti-roll bar D-bush showing wear, while an offside front tyre was noted as worn close to the legal limit and a nail was found in a rear tyre. Just five days earlier the car had failed on a non-functioning nearside headlamp dipped beam, an underperforming front windscreen washer, and an inoperative offside rear registration plate lamp, indicating that minor electrical and fluid items were being addressed in the run-up to the pass. The wider picture shows that the front suspension has been a particular pressure point: in June 2024 the car failed with major defects against both upper suspension arm ball joints and both upper arm pins or bushes, alongside a dangerous nearside front tyre bulge from structural separation. An earlier diesel-related episode is also relevant, as an April 2022 emissions failure for exceeding the manufacturer's specified limit required three attempts before the car passed, accompanied by an advisory recommending a full diagnostic scan for a glow plug warning. The cumulative effect is a record dominated by consumable wear rather than structural failure, but with enough recurring advisories to suggest the front axle components are working components rather than long-life items. With 132,790 miles recorded over a 19-year life, the average annual mileage works out at roughly 6,989 miles, which sits broadly in line with typical use for a car of this age. The MOT entries are spaced fairly evenly across the 2021 to 2025 period, with no extended gaps that would suggest the vehicle was laid up for long stretches, although the absence of a 2020 test and the gap between August 2021 and April 2022 imply the car may have been off the road during the Covid-era period. Mileage between consecutive tests is modest in most cases, but the jump implied between 2021 and 2022, combined with the 2024 suspension failures, points to genuine mechanical stress being placed on the front end at higher mileages. For a diesel Alfa Romeo of this generation, sustained use is generally less damaging than long periods of standing, and the relatively continuous testing history is consistent with a car that has been in regular service rather than abandoned for seasons at a time. For a prospective buyer, the front suspension is the single area that demands the closest physical scrutiny. The upper wishbones, anti-roll bar drop links and anti-roll bar bushes have all been flagged across multiple tests, so on a test drive listen for clonks or knocks from the front end over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, particularly on full lock where worn ball joints tend to articulate audibly. Pay particular attention to any vagueness through the steering wheel or a shimmy that alters with surface cambre, as both upper arm bushes and a slightly distorted offside front wheel noted in 2024 can produce that symptom. With the front brake pads last recorded as thinning and the offside front tyre flagged as edge-worn, expect to budget for fresh pads and at least a pair of front tyres, and check the rear tyres for any repair plugs or slow leaks given the nail advisory from August 2025. A bulge in a nearside front tyre from 2024 had previously been classed as dangerous, so inspect all four sidewalls carefully for lumps, cracking or exposed cord before any purchase. The diesel-specific items also warrant attention before committing. The 2022 emissions failure and the advisory about a glow plug warning light mean a diagnostic readout of stored fault codes is worth obtaining, ideally via a reader that covers Alfa Romeo or Fiat group systems, as persistent glow plug or injector irregularities can reappear with cold starts. On the road, listen for rough idle, excessive smoke on start-up or a noticeable lack of torque, all of which would suggest the emissions system is marginal rather than resolved. Finally, check that the headlamp and washer issues from the August 2025 failure have genuinely been rectified by confirming the dipped beam functions correctly from both sides and that the washer produces a strong, consistent jet rather than a trickle, as electrical gremlins and perished washer hoses are common on cars of this age and can reappear quickly.