2004 Renault Clio 1.1L Petrol · WM04 GUC

This 2004 Renault Clio passed its most recent MOT on 22 December 2025 at 60,494 miles, yet the maintenance trend is not reassuringly stable. That latest test flagged both front tyres worn close to the legal limit, indicating the owner has allowed basic consumable upkeep to slip. A year earlier, on 11 January 2025, the car passed with a worn brake pedal and an oil leak noted as not excessive. However, the failed test from the previous day, 10 January 2025 at 55,050 miles, reveals a cluster of neglected defects: a non-working horn, excessive brake lever pivot wear, both headlamp lenses seriously defective, and headlamp aim obviously incorrect. The fact that these faults were rectified within 24 hours suggests a quick cosmetic and safety fix for the retest rather than a sustained programme of careful maintenance. The mileage pattern raises its own questions. Between 15 January 2024 at 49,789 miles and 11 January 2025 at 55,050 miles, the car covered 5,261 miles in roughly twelve months. Yet from 11 January 2025 to 22 December 2025, it added only 5,444 miles across nearly the full following year. For a vehicle averaging around 2,750 miles annually over its twenty-two-year life, these figures sit within the low-use bracket, but the uneven spread hints at periods of very light use or even prolonged standing. That can mask deterioration in rubber components, brake surfaces, and suspension bushes, which suffer from age and lack of use as much as from mileage. A buyer should focus on the suspension and chassis components repeatedly flagged in this record. The January 2024 failure identified a fractured nearside front coil spring, corrosion on both rear coil springs, and worn front anti-roll bar linkage pins or bushes. Although the car passed on 15 January 2024, the advisory on both front anti-roll bar bushes remained, and rear coil spring corrosion was still noted. These are not trivial cosmetic issues. Corroded coil springs risk catastrophic failure under load, and worn anti-roll bar linkage compromises roll control and steering precision. Inspect all four coil springs closely for cracking, sag, or active corrosion, and check the anti-roll bar links and bushes for play. The braking system demands equal scrutiny. The January 2024 failure found both front brake discs seriously weakened and both front pads wearing thin, while the January 2025 test flagged a worn brake pedal and excessive brake lever pivot wear. Combined with the recurring advisory on front tyre wear, this pattern suggests the braking system has been worked hard and not consistently maintained. Check disc thickness, pad depth, and pedal pivot bush wear in person. Also examine the exhaust system, given the defective rear exhaust mounting noted in both January 2024 tests, and verify headlamp lens condition and aim, as repeated lens defects and aim failures point to possible impact damage or poor-quality replacements that may not meet beam pattern standards.