2016 Ferrari 488 3.9L Petrol · 89 S

The 2016 Ferrari 488 presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a clean pass on 27 March 2026 at 2,451 miles with zero defects recorded. The single advisory noted on 19 March 2025 at 2,416 miles, a rear oil leak at the bellhousing deemed not excessive, has not recurred in the subsequent test. This suggests the issue was either minor from the outset or rectified before the 2026 test. No new advisories or failures have emerged, indicating the vehicle is currently in sound mechanical order with no active faults flagged under the MOT standard. The mileage pattern is exceptionally low. Across a ten-year period the recorded distance totals just 2,451 miles, averaging roughly 245 miles per year. The intervals between tests show modest accumulation: 168 miles between November 2022 and March 2024, 168 miles again between March 2024 and March 2025, and 35 miles between March 2025 and March 2026. This points to prolonged periods of standing rather than regular use. Such low mileage can preserve consumable components but raises its own concerns around stale fuel, degraded rubber seals, brake surface corrosion, and lack of regular thermal cycling in the engine and exhaust systems. Despite the clean recent record, a buyer should verify the bellhousing and rear main seal area in person, given the 2025 advisory for a rear oil leak. Even though it did not reappear, any residue or fresh seepage warrants closer inspection to rule out a developing crankshaft seal or gearbox input shaft issue. The low mileage also means the clutch, dual-clutch gearbox actuators, and high-pressure hydraulic systems may have experienced infrequent operation, so a thorough road test under load is advisable to check for judder, hesitation, or delayed engagement. Tyres, brake discs, and suspension bushes deserve particular attention. Rubber components age regardless of mileage, and ten-year-old tyres will likely require replacement regardless of remaining tread depth. Brake discs may exhibit surface corrosion from standing, and suspension bushes can perish through age rather than wear. A pre-purchase inspection should include a detailed underside check for corrosion on subframes, fixings, and exhaust components, alongside a diagnostic scan of the engine and transmission control modules to confirm no dormant fault codes exist beneath the clean MOT surface.