2008 Renault Grand Scenic 1.5L Diesel · BV08 FSK

The most recent DVSA examination on 17 October 2022 resulted in a Pass, although the tester recorded an advisory concerning the electronic parking brake, noting that it is defective but can still be satisfactorily operated. This advisory has appeared in different forms across multiple tests, suggesting an ongoing issue with the EPB system that warrants further investigation. Looking at the broader MOT trajectory for this 2008 Renault Grand Scenic, the maintenance trend is clearly a worsening one. The vehicle passed without defect in 2018 and again in October 2020, but the subsequent tests have revealed a deteriorating picture, with failures in 2019, 2021, and 2022, alongside a growing list of advisories relating to suspension components, oil leaks, and lighting. The 2022 failure in particular raised significant safety concerns, including a fractured rear coil spring, non-functional lighting, and incorrect indicator colours, all of which point to either deferred maintenance or a vehicle that is being used beyond the typical envelope of its service schedule. Mileage data is not available for this vehicle, which makes it impossible to calculate an accurate annual usage rate or to identify any significant gaps or accumulations in the recorded mileage. A 2008 vehicle presenting for MOT in 2022 would be fourteen years old, and a typical Grand Scenic of this generation would be expected to cover somewhere in the region of 8,000 to 12,000 miles per year if used as regular family transport, giving an indicative total of between roughly 112,000 and 168,000 miles. Without confirmed figures, the prospective buyer should make it an immediate priority to verify the odometer reading against the service book and any available V5 documentation, as inconsistency between the displayed mileage and the service record would be a serious concern. The fact that the MOT history shows roughly one test per year with consistent defect patterns suggests the vehicle is in regular use rather than laid up, but the absence of mileage history prevents any deeper analysis of usage intensity. The recurring advisories and failures point to several specific areas that demand close inspection before purchase. The electronic parking brake defect has appeared in three separate tests spanning 2019, 2020, and 2022, indicating that the underlying fault has not been resolved; on a test drive, listen for the EPB motor struggling to engage or release, and check whether the warning lamp remains illuminated on the dashboard. The fractured nearside rear coil spring recorded in 2022 is a serious structural failure that would have required replacement prior to the subsequent pass, and the buyer must obtain documentary evidence that this work was carried out to a satisfactory standard, as a compromised spring can lead to handling instability and uneven tyre wear. The advisories concerning the offside rear lower suspension arm bush and the rear tyre wearing close to the legal limit suggest that the rear suspension geometry may be deteriorating, so the buyer should listen for clonking or knocking noises from the rear over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, and inspect the rear tyres for uneven inner or outer edge wear that might indicate camber or bush-related issues. Beyond the recorded defects, the age and usage profile of this Grand Scenic demands attention to several time-related degradation factors even where the MOT record is silent. A vehicle of this vintage will be subject to calendar-based fluid degradation regardless of mileage, so the brake fluid should be tested for moisture content and the coolant checked for condition, as both typically require replacement on a two-year cycle. The exhaust emissions failure in 2021, where smoke levels were significantly in excess of the permitted limit, is particularly concerning and may indicate engine wear, turbocharger seal failure if fitted, or injector problems, all of which warrant a thorough diagnostic scan and ideally a compression test. The intermittent oil leak advisory, recorded in both 2021 tests, should be traced to its source, as oil contamination on the catalytic converter can independently cause an emissions failure. On the exterior, inspect the rear wheel arches, sill seams, and underbody for corrosion, as Renaults of this era are known to suffer from structural rust. Finally, verify the condition of all four tyres for sidewall perishing and cracking from age, check the 12V battery health as units beyond five years old frequently fail without warning, and ensure that the recent coil spring replacement and any associated suspension work is supported by a proper invoice, as the safety-critical nature of that repair leaves no room for assumption.