1989 Maserati 222E 2.8L Petrol · G5 OSP

A pattern of brake and exhaust-related advisories, alongside a notable multi-year testing gap, defines the recorded mechanical history of this 1989 Maserati 222E. The most recent test on 22 July 2024 returned a pass but flagged two items that warrant close inspection: an offside rear service brake binding but not excessively, and a central exhaust minor leak of exhaust gases. Prior to that, the car passed cleanly in May 2020 and twice in 2012 and 2013, suggesting long stretches of uneventful roadworthiness. However, the 2007 test is the most instructive entry in the file, capturing both a fail and pass within a single day. The fail identified a nearside front shock absorber with a serious fluid leak, offside rear brake binding, inadequately supported offside rear exhaust, and a washer fluid deficiency, while user-entered notes recorded corroded fuel pipes. A 2006 fail cited excessive carbon monoxide emissions and an offside track rod end with excessive play, paired with advisories on all four brake discs showing slight pitting and a slight offside front ball joint play. Taken together, the chronic themes are front and rear brake condition, suspension wear, exhaust integrity, and corrosion of fuel lines. With a recorded odometer reading of 48,299 miles across approximately 37 years, the vehicle has averaged around 1,300 miles annually, which is low for its age. The MOT record reinforces this picture of limited use, with only seven tests recorded since 2006 and a conspicuous gap between October 2013 and May 2020, during which no DVSA test took place. This means the car almost certainly spent extended periods stationary, a usage profile that itself creates mechanical vulnerabilities independent of mileage accumulation. The 2007 cluster of advisories and failures, combined with the user-entered note about corroded fuel pipes, is consistent with a vehicle that was being exercised only intermittently and exposed to the moisture and oxidation that accompany long lay-ups. Low annual mileage reduces wear on high-mileage consumables but elevates the risk of seized calipers, deteriorated rubber components, perished fuel lines, and internal corrosion within the braking and fuel systems. For a prospective buyer, the offside rear brake binding flagged in 2024 should be treated as the immediate priority. On a test drive, expect to feel uneven retardation, potential pulling toward the offside rear under light braking, and a rear disc or drum running noticeably hotter than the nearside after a few stops. The central exhaust minor leak noted at the same test points to a likely joint or flexi failure; listen for a ticking or hissing under the centre of the car at idle, and watch for soot deposits around the suspect area. Given the 2007 record of corroded fuel pipes, a thorough visual inspection of all accessible fuel lines for surface rust, flaking, and stiffness is essential, and the smell of petrol in the engine bay or underside after a run would be a serious warning. The 2024 advisories aside, the deeper risk is that corrosion on brake and fuel lines progresses silently between tests, so a hydraulic fluid pressure check and a close look beneath the car on a ramp are strongly advisable before purchase. The suspension findings deserve equal attention. The 2006 offside front ball joint play and the 2007 nearside front shock absorber fluid leak indicate that the front end has historically been a weak point. With the car now in its fifth decade, expect to inspect all ball joints, tie rod ends, and bushes for play or perishing, particularly on the offside front where excessive play was previously recorded. On the road, listen for clonking over uneven surfaces, watch for vague steering response, and feel for any drift that requires constant correction, all of which would suggest renewed wear in those joints. Brake disc pitting on all four corners, recorded in 2006, may have progressed over the intervening years given the long stationary periods, so each disc should be checked for lipping, corrosion rings, and runout via a road test that includes firm, progressive stops from around 40 mph to detect judder through the pedal or steering. Finally, given the exhaust emissions failure in 2006, a current exhaust gas analysis and a careful check of all mounting rubbers and hangers would confirm whether the 2024 minor leak is an isolated issue or symptomatic of broader system deterioration.