2016 Renault Clio 1.5L Diesel · SD16 NFJ

A pattern of persistent brake pipe corrosion on the offside of this Clio is the defining mechanical theme running through its recent MOT history, flagged on both the front and rear offside lines at the 2024 and 2025 tests and described specifically as a corroded pipe and a corroded hose to wheel cylinder. Despite these advisories the vehicle was ultimately passed at the most recent test on 9 August 2025, but the repetition of the same defect on the same side of the car is a clear sign that the underlying corrosion has not been treated and is almost certainly advancing. The 2024 test also recorded a Major failure for a split nearside front CV boot allowing ingress of dirt, and a second Major for an incorrect headlamp beam image, alongside a failed nearside front side repeater in 2025, suggesting a handful of electrical and drivetrain issues have been addressed on a reactive basis rather than as part of a sustained preventative maintenance regime. With the MOT pass and advisory status broadly unchanged between 2024 and 2025, the trend is best described as stable but not improving, with the offside brake line network the area to watch closely. At 131,027 miles on a ten year old car, this Clio is covering approximately 13,100 miles per year, which is a notably high annual accumulation for a vehicle in this class. The MOT record is consistently annual from 2023 through 2025 with no extended gaps, indicating continuous use rather than long periods of standing, and the mileage scale implies that consumable wear items such as brake pads, discs, tyres, suspension linkages and clutch components will have already absorbed substantial service life. At this mileage bracket, buyers should expect that original-equipment items like the timing chain, auxiliary drive belts, radiator, water pump, exhaust system and gearbox mountings are likely to be approaching or past their typical replacement intervals, regardless of what the MOT history alone confirms. For a prospective buyer, the offside brake pipe and hose to the offside rear wheel cylinder should be the top priority for a physical inspection, as a thorough visual examination beneath the underseal along the offside chassis rail and rear axle line is needed to determine whether the corrosion is purely surface scale or has begun to pit and thin the metal wall. A test drive should include firm pedal application with the engine running to feel for any sponginess or excessive travel that could indicate a weeping joint, and the handbrake should be loaded on an incline to confirm full rear brake function. Given the 2024 CV boot failure, listen at low speed on full lock for clicking or popping from the nearside front wheel area, which would suggest a deteriorated joint following grit ingress, and check the inside of the wheel for fresh grease flung onto the back of the alloy or the suspension arm. Beyond the flagged items, the high annual mileage warrants a careful listen over uneven surfaces for knocking from the front suspension, particularly from the lower wishbone bushes, anti-roll bar drop links and the top mounts, as these are common Clio wear points well before 130,000 miles. The steering should be checked for vagueness or clonks on full lock, which can indicate worn tie rod ends or a tired rack, and the gearbox should be assessed on a warm engine for any crunch on first or second selection. A compression or cylinder leak-down test would be prudent given the mileage, and any evidence of blue smoke on start-up, a sweet coolant smell, or a persistently low coolant level should be investigated before purchase, as these would point to issues well beyond the scope of the MOT record but entirely consistent with a car that has worked hard throughout its life.