1987 Porsche 911 3.2L Petrol · D501 FWV

A pattern of recurring brake and oil-seal advisories across multiple MOT cycles points to the defining mechanical theme of this 1987 Porsche 911. The most recent test on 2 October 2025 recorded a clean pass with no defects, which continues the trend of recent roadworthiness, but this should be read alongside a failure on 2 October 2024 rather than in isolation. That failure flagged seriously weakened offside front anti-roll bar mounting brackets and bushes, a category of structural and suspension defect that would warrant immediate rectification. Oil leaks have appeared in three separate years (2018, 2021, and 2024), while binding brake calipers were noted on the nearside front in 2021 and again as a slight bind on the nearside front in 2022. The recurrence rather than the resolution of these wear items is the more telling feature of the record. With 175,352 miles accumulated across roughly 39 years, the annual mileage is approximately 4,500 miles, which is low for a vehicle of this vintage. The eight recorded MOT tests span 2018 to 2025, with notable gaps including a stretch between September 2021 and August 2023, and another between August 2023 and October 2024 where the intervening annual test appears to have been missed. Periods of low use on a classic 911 are mechanically significant because they allow brake calipers to seize, oil seals to dry and weep, and suspension bushes to stiffen and corrode from moisture exposure. The recorded oil-seal advisories and the brake binding entries both align with this pattern of under-use rather than high-mileage wear. On a physical inspection, particular attention should be directed at the front anti-roll bar mountings, bushes, and the supporting wishbone structure, as the 2024 failure cited both inner and outer offside front brackets as seriously weakened by corrosion. Lift the carpet and inspect the sound deadening material in the engine bay, which was recorded as insecure in 2024 and may not have been refastened to a satisfactory standard. Under the car, look for fresh oil residue around the sump, cam covers, and rear main seal area to gauge whether the leaks recorded in 2018, 2021, and 2024 are static seepage or active dripping. Surface corrosion on the front subframe, damper tops, and steering rack mounting should also be checked, as a bracket weakened by rust on a 39-year-old chassis often points to wider corrosion in adjacent structural components. On a test drive, listen for clonks or rattles from the front end over uneven roads, which would suggest worn or perished anti-roll bar bushes that may now be ageing beyond the condition flagged in 2024. Test the brakes at low speed in both directions; a dragging sensation, uneven stopping, or a hot wheel after a short drive would indicate that the binding calipers noted in 2021 and 2022 have progressed rather than been rectified. Steering should feel precise without vagueness at centre, as worn front linkage components can mask themselves as minor alignment issues. Finally, watch for any resurgence of oil drips on the garage floor after the car has been left standing overnight, as this confirms whether the chronic minor seepage is being contained or has developed into a more serious leak from ageing gaskets and seals.