2004 MG TF 1.6L Petrol · SV54 SVP

The 2004 MG TF presents a mixed picture. Its most recent MOT, conducted on 5 July 2024 at 45,740 miles, passed, but the record reveals a maintenance pattern that is stable in some areas and slowly worsening in others. The tester flagged persistent advisories across multiple years, including worn and pitted front and rear inner brake discs, a corroded nearside rear brake pipe covered in grease or other material, front sub-frame corrosion, and slight play in the offside front upper suspension arm ball joint. These items have appeared consistently since at least December 2022, suggesting they were monitored but not fully rectified. The July 2024 pass is now over 23 months old as of June 2026, meaning the vehicle is currently without a valid MOT certificate, which is a significant concern for any prospective buyer. The mileage pattern is unusual and warrants scrutiny. Between the December 2022 test at 45,712 miles and the June 2023 failure at 45,820 miles, the car covered 108 miles in roughly six months. By July 2024, the recorded mileage had dropped to 45,740, which is lower than the June 2023 reading. This regression in recorded miles is inconsistent and may indicate a replacement speedometer, a data recording error, or periods of non-use with the odometer not advancing. The vehicle has been in continuous MOT testing, so it has not been formally SORN-declared, but the mileage anomalies make it impossible to verify true usage over the past four years. The recurring advisories point to a car that has been kept running but not thoroughly maintained. The nearside rear brake pipe has been flagged as corroded and contaminated with grease or other material in every test from December 2022 through July 2024. This is a safety-critical item that has persisted without resolution. The front sub-frame corrosion, noted as "badly corroded" in December 2022 and "corroded but not seriously weakened" in 2023 and 2024, suggests surface-level monitoring rather than structural repair. The offside front upper suspension arm ball joint has shown slight play across all recorded tests, indicating gradual wear that has not yet reached a failure threshold but remains a live concern. A buyer should prioritise a thorough inspection of the sub-frame mounting points, particularly the nearside rear sub-frame mounting area that was flagged as excessively corroded in the June 2024 failure. The brake pipe condition, especially the nearside rear line, needs physical examination to confirm whether it has been replaced or merely noted. The exhaust system has a documented history of major leaks at both front and rear, and the Lambda sensor readings have previously fallen outside specified limits, so a live emissions test and exhaust integrity check are advisable. The worn brake discs appear to have been tolerated rather than replaced, meaning a full brake assessment including disc thickness measurement and caliper function is essential before any purchase decision.