2007 Citroen Xsara 1.6L Diesel · VU07 TYZ

The vehicle most recently passed its MOT on 23 July 2025, although the same inspection five days earlier on 18 July 2025 resulted in a failure due to a missing offside front obligatory mirror, classed as a major defect. The 2025 pass was issued alongside three advisories relating to slight free play in the offside front steering rack detected at the steering wheel, perishing on both the nearside front and offside rear tyres, and these advisories were also present on the earlier failed test. The maintenance trend is broadly stable in terms of pass outcomes, but the underlying condition appears to be gradually worsening. Recurring advisories for the offside front steering rack free play have been noted consistently since at least 2022, the persistent oil leak has been flagged at every test since 2021, the track rod end ball joint on the offside front was highlighted in 2024, and drive shaft CV boot issues on the offside front were serious enough to cause failures in both 2021 and 2022. This repeated pattern across steering, drivetrain and tyres suggests progressive wear rather than a well-sorted example. With 123,003 miles on a 2007 vehicle, the annual mileage works out at roughly 6,474 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a car of this age and indicates regular rather than infrequent use. There is no evidence of significant mileage gaps or unusually rapid accumulation within the recorded MOT history, which is mechanically reassuring as it suggests the vehicle has been working consistently and components such as the clutch, gearbox and drivetrain are unlikely to have suffered from prolonged standing. The downside of this steady usage on a nearly twenty year old car, however, is that high wear items like suspension bushes, coil springs, brake discs, calipers and exhaust components will have accumulated considerable fatigue, and consumable servicing will need to be demonstrably up to date. The most pressing area for a prospective buyer to investigate is the front steering and suspension assembly. The persistent advisories regarding free play in the offside front steering rack detected at the steering wheel, combined with the 2024 advisory for play in the offside front track rod end ball joint, suggest progressive wear in the steering linkage. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, and check for vagueness or wandering in the steering, uneven or inner-edge tyre wear, and any fluid seepage around the rack gaiters. Given that the same offside front outer drive shaft CV boot has split on two separate occasions in 2021 and 2022, it is essential to inspect both front CV boots thoroughly for fresh splits, perished rubber or grease contamination, and to listen for clicking or whining from the front transmission when turning at full lock. The persistent oil leak advisory should also prompt a close inspection under the bonnet and underneath the vehicle for fresh oil residue around the engine and gearbox seals, as a leak which was not excessive in 2021 may now be more significant after four further years of running. The tyre perishing advisories recorded in 2022, 2024 and 2025 are particularly relevant given the age of the vehicle, as rubber degrades through calendar ageing as well as through wear. All four tyres should be carefully inspected for sidewall cracking, tread cracking and perishing even if the tread depth appears adequate, and budget should be allowed for a full set of replacements. The clutch pedal anti-slip wear noted in 2021 should be checked to ensure the rubber has not deteriorated further, which could affect pedal feel and grip. Beyond the MOT records, a nineteen year old car of this mileage warrants thorough checks of the 12V battery health and its replacement date, the condition of all brake discs and pads including any corrosion pitting or binding calipers from the inevitable periods of standing, the age and condition of the coolant, brake fluid and engine oil, the integrity of the exhaust system for corrosion or blowing joints, and verification of a continuous service history with stamps or invoices confirming cambelt and water pump replacement, as these are critical maintenance items on a vehicle of this vintage that would otherwise leave a buyer exposed to expensive engine damage.