2013 Vauxhall Astra 2.0L Diesel · YT63 GKF

The 2025‑03‑26 MOT at 126,516 miles resulted in a pass, though the tester flagged excessive exhaust smoke under 8.2.2.2 (c). Recurring lamp and suspension defects across 2022‑2025 indicate a pattern of neglect rather than improvement, with no evidence of recent remedial action on structural components. The mileage has risen from 52,553 miles in the 2017 test to 126,516 miles in 2025, an average annual increase of roughly 15,800 miles, well above the typical 9,700 miles per year for a 13‑year‑old vehicle. Notable jumps occur between the 2024 test at 112,660 miles and the 2025 test, and the 2022‑2023 interval shows a steady rise of about 5,000 miles per year. Earlier records from 2018 show identical mileage readings on consecutive days, suggesting duplicate entries rather than genuine mileage growth. Repeated observations of corroded and fractured off‑side rear coil springs (5.3.1 (b) (i)) since 2022, persistent perishing of rear tyres (5.2.3 (d) (ii)), and frequent inoperative front position and daytime running lamps (4.2.1 (a) (ii) and 4.7.1 (b) (i)) point to systematic lapses in suspension and lighting maintenance. Additional concerns include missing wheel fixing nuts (5.2.1 (a) (i)), a fractured off‑side front coil spring (5.3.1 (b) (i)) in March 2025, oil leaks (8.4.1 (a) (i)), inadequate ABS sensor wiring (4.11 (a) (i)), and a major exhaust gas leak (6.1.2 (a)) noted in the March 2025 failure. A prospective buyer should therefore prioritize a physical inspection of the coil springs, suspension bushes and shock absorbers for cracks or excessive corrosion, verify the integrity of all wheel fixing nuts and tyre condition, test the functionality of front lamps, DRLs and registration plate lamps, and examine the exhaust system for leaks and smoke severity. Confirmation that the recent exhaust smoke advisory has been remedied, and a review of the oil leak and ABS wiring, will help assess whether the vehicle’s maintenance history reflects genuine care or merely intermittent patch‑up work.