2007 Renault Clio 1.1L Petrol · SM07 FEF

The defining mechanical story of this 2007 Renault Clio centres on a front suspension and braking system that has demanded repeated attention across its MOT history, suggesting those components may have reached an advanced stage of wear. The 2017 test stands out as particularly serious, recording failed nearside and offside front coil springs alongside advisories for parking brake lever travel and an offside front tyre at the legal limit. Two years later, in September 2019, the vehicle failed again with three major defects: a major exhaust leak at the back box, a rough offside front wheel bearing, an inoperative nearside rear parking brake, and a brake lever with insufficient reserve travel, with an advisory noting slight play in the offside steering arm. Since that 2019 failure, the car has passed three consecutive tests, most recently on 17 December 2022 with no defects recorded. The intervening advisory on the front anti-roll bar pin or bush in 2021 indicates the front-end wear pattern flagged in earlier years has not fully resolved, even if it was within tolerable limits at the time of test. With 89,686 miles recorded over approximately nineteen years, the vehicle shows an annual accumulation of around 4,720 miles, which is notably low for its age. This modest usage figure can be cross-referenced against the seven recorded MOT tests between 2017 and 2022, which suggests the car has been tested reasonably consistently rather than left dormant for extended periods. Lower annual mileage of this nature generally means reduced wear on high-mileage consumables such as clutch friction material, brake friction surfaces, and internal drivetrain components, though it can also mean longer intervals between fluid changes and longer standing periods that affect items like brake discs, tyres, and battery condition. The mileage progression across tests appears gradual rather than showing sudden jumps that might indicate towing, long-distance commuting, or clock irregularities, supporting a consistent light-use profile. For a prospective buyer, the front suspension and steering components flagged repeatedly in this record should be the primary focus of any inspection. The 2017 failure for both front coil springs and the 2019 advisory for steering arm play, combined with the 2021 advisory on the front anti-roll bar pin or bush, point to a front end that may now need significant refreshment. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension over bumps and speed humps, particularly when turning into kerbs or driveways, and feel for any vagueness or wandering in the steering. With the car jacked up or on a ramp, the offside steering arm joint, anti-roll bar mountings, and remaining coil springs should be physically checked for corrosion, cracking, or movement beyond specification. Brake pedal feel should be firm with no excessive travel, and the handbrake should hold the vehicle on a moderate incline without excessive lever pull, given the previous major defects on parking brake efficiency and lever reserve travel. Additional items worth scrutinising include the offside front wheel bearing replaced after the 2019 failure, which should be checked by rotating the wheel by hand for any roughness or grinding, and the exhaust system, where a visual inspection of the back box and rear joints for soot staining, hangers, and corrosion is worthwhile given the major leak recorded. The 2019 and 2021 advisories on front tyres wearing close to the legal limit and on the offside edge also suggest the front wheels may have an alignment or camber issue worth checking, so observing whether the car pulls to one side under braking or accelerates unevenly across the front tread would be informative. With the most recent test now several years old, a thorough pre-purchase inspection by a technician familiar with Renault suspension components would be a prudent step before committing to purchase.