2008 Renault Trafic SL27+ DCI 115 Heavy oil · HEZ 30

A Renault Trafic SL27 dCi 115 of this vintage presenting a completely clean advisory record across five consecutive MOT tests is, frankly, an uncommon sight. Commercial vehicles of this age and working van heritage typically accumulate a steady trail of corrosion advisories, suspension component wear, and minor brake or exhaust notes as the miles and years stack up, but this example has passed every assessment since 2022 with absolutely no defects recorded. The most recent pass on 12 November 2025 confirms this pattern continues, and the only anomaly is a five-day gap between a failed test on 7 November 2025 and the subsequent pass, suggesting a minor rectification was carried out and immediately re-presented rather than indicating any underlying structural or mechanical concern. The overriding mechanical story here is one of consistent roadworthiness and apparently sound underlying condition, which gives a prospective buyer a much stronger baseline than is typical for an eighteen-year-old diesel panel van. With 124,898 miles recorded against roughly eighteen years on the road, the vehicle is averaging close to 6,900 miles annually, which sits squarely within the expected band for a working light commercial vehicle of this type. There are no extended gaps between test entries that would suggest a prolonged period off the road, no sudden mileage jumps between consecutive tests indicating tow-bar towing, conversion, or clock irregularities, and the steady accumulation points to consistent operational use rather than a laid-up or garaged existence. Mechanically, this usage profile means the engine, gearbox, clutch, turbo, and diesel injection system have been kept in regular working order rather than suffering the seal drying, oil glazing, and condensation issues that afflict low-mileage or rarely-used commercial diesels. Wear items such as the dual-mass flywheel, EGR valve, swirl flap, and turbo actuator will still have experienced normal service-life fatigue commensurate with the mileage, but nothing in the history flags any abnormal rate of deterioration. Because the MOT record carries no advisories at all, there are no specific components from the test history that demand priority inspection, which shifts the focus onto the known weak points of the M9R diesel engine fitted to this generation Trafic and the general condition of an unrecorded underside. Particular attention should be paid on a test drive to any signs of clutch slip or judder under load, hesitation or overboost cut-ins from the turbo actuator, and any rough running or excessive smoke that could indicate EGR or swirl flap problems. Listen for timing chain rattle on cold start, which is a recognised trait of higher-mileage M9R units, and check for any diesel smell or wet patches around the injector pump and vacuum lines. On the move, the gearbox should select cleanly without synchro crunch on the faster side of the gate, and there should be no clonks from the driveshafts or front suspension under part-throttle cornering. Underneath, a physical examination on a ramp is strongly recommended given the lack of any recorded underside advisories, as corrosion can develop unseen on the front subframe, brake and fuel pipework, and suspension arms even when no tester has flagged it. Inspect the front lower suspension arms and anti-roll bar drop links for perished bushes, check the coil springs for any cracking or sagging that would compromise ride height, and examine the discs and pads for lip wear, binding caliper guide pins, and any seizing of the rear drum or caliper mechanisms. The steering rack gaiters, wishbone rear bushes, and prop-shaft centre bearing on the dCi are all worth a visual check. On a road test, the van should track straight without drift or pull under braking, the steering should feel tight without clonks over broken surfaces, and the brakes should pull up smoothly without pedal judder or any sponginess that would suggest corroded brake pipework needing replacement.