2013 Fiat 500 L 1.6L Diesel · WM63 BYH

A repeated pattern of component wear emerges across the MOT history of this Fiat 500L, with suspension, braking and exhaust items appearing at multiple tests. The most recent examination on 6 August 2026 recorded a pass, but only with advisories for a worn and pitted front brake disc and perishing cracking on the offside rear tyre. Earlier in the same month a test on 24 July 2026 failed outright on a major exhaust gas leak within the engine bay, alongside advisories for the same front brake disc, an engine oil leak, a binding offside rear service brake and the same perished rear tyre. The two other failures recorded in the dataset both concerned front suspension components, with a fractured offside front coil spring in November 2024 and excessively worn rear bushes on both front suspension arms in November 2023. The fact that the front brake disc advisory has now carried over from the July 2026 failure into the August 2026 pass suggests the discs have not been replaced and remain a live wear item, while the recurrence of oil leak advisories from 2022 onwards points to a persistent engine sealing issue that has not been rectified. Against a thirteen year vehicle age, the recorded mileage of 135,592 miles equates to an average of roughly 10,430 miles per year, which sits broadly within normal expectations for a car of this vintage. The MOT entries span from December 2021 through to August 2026, with annual tests broadly in step with this accumulation rate and no obvious extended lay-up periods. The relatively short interval between the failed 24 July 2026 test and the subsequent passed 6 August 2026 test indicates the exhaust leak was repaired quickly to secure roadworthiness, though the advisories left on the record confirm that other wear items were not addressed at the same time. At this mileage level, wear on consumables such as suspension bushes, coil springs, brake discs and exhaust system components is consistent with the high annual usage the vehicle has clearly seen. For a prospective buyer, the suspension failures on both the front coil spring and the front suspension arm bushes should prompt a careful road test over uneven surfaces, listening for clonking knocks from the front end and feeling for any vagueness or wandering through the steering wheel that might suggest further bush deterioration. The recurring advisory for a binding offside rear service brake warrants a focused check on handbrake release and any tendency for the rear caliper to drag after the vehicle has been driven, which can manifest as a hot wheel hub or a pulling sensation. The exhaust leak recorded in the engine bay earlier in 2026 should be inspected closely for any residual blowing noises at idle, and the area around the manifold and downpipe joints checked for fresh soot staining or audible ticking once the engine is warm. The persistent engine oil leak advisories recorded at the 2022, 2023 and 2026 tests suggest an unresolved sealing issue, most likely valve cover gasket or similar upper engine component given the non-excessive rating each time, and a pre-purchase inspection underneath the bonnet for wet oil residue and a low dipstick reading is advisable. Brake pedal feel should be assessed for any judder or pulsation under firm application, consistent with the pitted and scored front discs noted at the 2026 tests, and the offside rear tyre should be examined for the cracking around the tread that has been flagged twice in the same month. Finally, the inner edge wear pattern on the front tyres recorded in 2021 and 2023 may indicate a tracking or geometry issue, so a test drive should include attention to any steering pull to one side or uneven steering wheel return following the recent suspension component replacements.