2009 MINI 1.4L Petrol · YE09 CDX

The vehicle currently holds a roadworthy status but the maintenance history reveals a worsening trend regarding critical mechanical components. While it passed its most recent test in April 2026 at 72,870 miles, this followed just five days after a failure for a continuous transmission oil leak. The persistent play in the nearside front steering rack inner joints has remained a recurring fault across every test dating back to at least April 2024, indicating that this steering-related issue has not been rectified despite multiple MOT-related failures and advisories. At 17 years old, the recorded mileage of 72,870 miles is significantly low, averaging approximately 4,286 miles per year. This low usage pattern suggests the car has sat stationary for long periods, which often correlates with the accelerated corrosion noted on the chassis. Between April 2024 and April 2026, the vehicle covered only 3,038 miles, yet the severity of the faults found, such as the transmission leak and advancing sub-frame corrosion, suggests that the lack of regular motion may be impacting the degradation of seals and rubber components. A buyer must conduct a thorough inspection of the front and rear subframes due to documented corrosion across the underfloor components. Although the tester classified the corrosion as not yet seriously weakened, the presence of rust on these structural elements is a long-term concern. The steering rack inner joints require immediate attention and replacement as they have been flagged for play for over two years. Furthermore, the engine oil leak and the previously failed transmission leak from April 2026 must be verified to ensure the latter was properly sealed and is not merely masked to pass the test.