2001 Peugeot 307 2.0L Diesel · R1 NED

A persistent pattern of front-axle and brake-related deterioration defines this 2001 Peugeot 307's roadworthiness record, with multiple advisories and failures centring on the nearside and offside front tyres, the offside front CV (constant velocity) boot, and the front brake discs over the last three test cycles. The most recent outcome on 29 October 2025 was a pass, but it carried forward an unresolved advisory for the offside front outer CV boot that was first noted in 2023, alongside brake pipe corrosion flagged in 2023 and 2025, a non-excessive oil leak, an offside front tyre worn close to the legal limit on its edge, and pitted or scored brake discs across all four corners. Two days earlier, the same vehicle failed with a dangerous nearside front tyre exposing ply or cords and a major defect on the CV boot where the inner constant velocity joint boot had split to the point of no longer preventing dirt ingress. The escalation from a minor CV boot advisory in 2023 and 2024 to a major failure in 2025 suggests the joint itself has likely now suffered contamination, and a dangerous tyre failure indicates tread depth monitoring was neglected immediately prior to test. The presence of two dangerous defects in the 2024 cycle for sub-1.6mm tread on both front tyres, combined with below-requirement parking brake efficiency and an inoperative rear position lamp, reinforces that brake and tyre condition have been consistently borderline rather than incidental. Against an age of roughly twenty-five years, the recorded mileage of 145,999 miles equates to an average accumulation of approximately 5,840 miles per year, which is notably low for the class and suggests either extended periods of standing or genuinely light use. There are no extended gaps in testing within the three-year window provided, but the modest annual mileage would not normally be associated with the degree of front-axle wear observed, particularly on suspension-adjacent items like the CV boots, which degrade more rapidly from age-related rubber perishing and from standing with the wheels loaded on one spot than from mileage alone. Low-mileage examples of this age frequently present with seized or partially seized calipers, stiff front strut cartridges, and perished flexible brake hoses even when brake friction material remains thick, so the mileage figure should be read as evidence of age rather than mechanical preservation. For a prospective buyer, the offside front outer CV joint is the single most pressing item to investigate. A contaminated boot that has now progressed from a minor split to a major defect typically produces a rhythmic clicking or knocking under load, particularly on full-lock turns, and any audible clicking when reversing sharply should be treated as confirmation that the joint itself requires replacement rather than just a new boot. The front brake discs have been reported as pitted or scored on all corners at the most recent test; this usually manifests as pedal judder under firm braking and uneven pad wear visible on a visual inspection of the caliper carriers, and the buyer should check the discs for a pronounced lip on the outer edge. Brake pipe corrosion under grease is an advisory only at present, but on a 307 of this age the steel lines running along the underside and across the rear axle are prone to advanced section loss hidden beneath underseal; a torch and a careful run of the hand along the pipes from the master cylinder back to the rear axle is worthwhile, listening for dampness on the floor after the car has been standing. The oil leak recorded as not excessive should be located and traced before purchase, paying particular attention to the cam cover gasket and the sump area, and the underside should be inspected for staining on the engine block and bellhousing that might indicate a more serious seep than the advisory suggests. The parking brake efficiency below requirements at the 2024 test is another item to physically verify by attempting to hold the vehicle on a steep incline with the handbrake alone and counting the number of audible clicks from the ratchet, as 307 handbrake mechanisms are known to stretch and the rear cable adjusters to seize. The nearside front tyre which previously failed with exposed ply should now be a replacement item, but check the offside front for uneven shoulder wear consistent with a worn-on-edge advisory, as this often points to a tired front strut top mount or weak front coil spring that warrants further investigation. Finally, examine the rear position lamp function, the condition of all four tyres for their production date and even wear across the tread, and ask for evidence of the constant velocity joint replacement that the 2025 failure would have necessitated in order to bring the vehicle to its subsequent pass.