2013 Volkswagen Transporter 2.0L Diesel · WP62 MBX

Recurring tyre wear is the defining theme of this Transporter's MOT history, with tyres flagged at four of the last six tests, most recently in June 2026 when both rear tyres were noted as slightly damaged, cracking or perishing. That latest test was a pass, continuing a run of passes stretching back to February 2021, but the pattern is worth reading carefully: in February 2021 the van actually failed, principally for an inoperative windscreen washer, with both front tyres simultaneously worn to the legal limit, and in 2022 three tyres were advised as worn close to the limit or worn on the edge. Edge wear on front tyres in particular can point to tracking or alignment issues, worn suspension bushes, or tired dampers rather than simple mileage-related tread loss, so the repeated appearance of this advisory across multiple years suggests the underlying cause may never have been fully investigated. The 2024 test also recorded a failed offside registration plate lamp as a minor defect and noted a rear passenger seat missing at the time of test, consistent with the vehicle's use as a working or converted van. At 172,522 miles over roughly thirteen years, the van has averaged around 13,271 miles annually, which is high for its age and typical of a vehicle used for sustained commercial or conversion work. The testing record shows a consistent annual rhythm with no significant gaps, and the near-duplicate tests of 4 and 5 February 2021 simply reflect the failure and immediate retest. This level of accumulated mileage means that suspension components, wheel bearings, brake discs and calipers, clutch and drivetrain parts will all have seen substantial service, so the absence of advisories for these items in the record should not be read as confirmation of their condition; it only means nothing reached the threshold of a tester comment on those particular days. On a test drive, pay close attention to the front suspension and steering given the repeated edge-wear advisories: listen for knocks or clonks over broken surfaces that would indicate worn drop links, track rod ends or lower arm bushes, and check whether the van tracks straight on a level road without the steering wheel being held off-centre, which would suggest alignment has drifted. Inspect all four tyres in person rather than relying on the June 2026 pass, since the rear pair were already perishing at that point and budget replacements fitted after earlier advisories may be of mixed quality and age. Uneven shoulder wear on the current tyres would confirm the alignment concern is live. The corroded exhaust noted in 2021 has not reappeared in subsequent tests, but at this mileage it is worth having the system inspected from underneath for patched sections, blowing joints or a failing rear silencer, listening for any rasp or drone under load. Verify the windscreen washers operate correctly on both front and rear jets, as that was the item that caused the outright failure in 2021, and confirm the registration plate lamp and rear number plate condition flagged in 2024 have been properly rectified. Finally, given the missing rear seat entry, establish exactly how the van has been configured and used, and check the load area floor, seat mounting points and rear interior for wear consistent with hard working life before committing to a purchase.