2008 Fiat Fiorino 1.2L Diesel · HC02 SEC

The most recent DVSA examination on 21 May 2026 resulted in a pass, though the inspector recorded a deteriorating near side front inner constant velocity joint boot, a deteriorating off side front inner constant velocity joint boot, and two advisories for oil leak not excessive. The CV joint boots are a particular concern as perished or split boots allow grease to escape and permit water and dirt ingress, accelerating wear of the constant velocity joint itself and ultimately leading to drive line vibration, audible clicking on full lock, and potential joint seizure. The dual oil leak advisories across consecutive tests also suggest an unresolved engine or gearbox sealing issue, likely from the crankshaft, camshaft, or gearbox input shaft area, which should be monitored for staining on the undercarriage, oil level drops, and blue smoke on start up. Looking back across the MOT record, the maintenance trend is best described as stable but with accumulating advisories, as the vehicle has passed four of its last six tests but has carried forward an escalating number of advisories relating to tyres, front brake discs, suspension components, and now powertrain sealing issues, indicating that general wear items are catching up with the vehicle's age. With 136,651 miles recorded on an eighteen year old vehicle, the annual mileage equates to roughly 7,592 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a small commercial van of this era. The mileage progression across the MOT history appears consistent without significant gaps or sudden jumps, which suggests steady rather than intermittent use. Consistent annual mileage is generally favourable because it avoids the corrosion and component seizure issues associated with prolonged standing, but it does mean that high wear components such as the clutch, dual mass flywheel if fitted, suspension bushes, coil springs, brake discs and calipers have been subjected to continuous mechanical load. At this accumulated mileage, attention should be paid to age related fatigue items regardless of their condition at the last test. For a prospective buyer, a thorough physical inspection and test drive is strongly advised given the recurring advisories. The constant velocity joint boots should be visually examined for fresh grease around their inner and outer folds, and the front wheels should be spun and the steering turned to full lock in both directions while stationary, listening for any clicking, grinding, or binding which would indicate worn CV joints. On test drive, listen for any suspension knocking or creaking from the front top mounts previously noted as noisy when turning, and feel for vagueness or shimmy in the steering that could indicate track rod end wear, given the prior advisory for slight play on the near side. The engine bay and underbonnet area should be examined with a torch, paying particular attention to wet oil residues around the cam cover gasket, sump, crankshaft seal, and any oil cooler lines, with the underside ideally inspected on a ramp for active dripping versus dry staining. The exhaust front mounting flagged in 2021 should be checked for integrity as a broken mount can lead to exhaust movement and potential catalyst damage, while the front brake discs should be physically felt for a defined lip on their outer edge indicating wear progression beyond the pitted condition noted four years ago. Beyond the advisories, the age and mileage of this Fiorino warrant additional checks common to high mileage light commercial vehicles. Tyre sidewalls should be carefully inspected for perishing and cracking regardless of tread depth, as rubber degrades with calendar age even on lightly used vans, and a spare tyre was flagged as defective at the last test and should be replaced before relying on the vehicle for any distance. Brake fluid, coolant, and automatic transmission fluid if fitted should be checked for service history, as these fluids degrade by chemical age rather than mileage, and a service book lacking recent entries for fluid changes is a warning sign on a vehicle of this age. The 12V battery should be tested for cranking performance, as batteries on eighteen year old vehicles frequently fail without warning, particularly if the van is used for short journeys. Finally, the underbody should be examined for structural corrosion, paying particular attention to the front suspension turrets, inner sills, chassis rails, and rear axle mounting points, all of which are DVSA failure items if perforation is found, and any bubbling paint or underseal disturbance should be investigated with a screwdriver or by tapping to test for hidden rot.