2005 Peugeot 407 2.0L Petrol · KV05 YZE

A clear pattern of front suspension wear dominates the recorded history of this 2005 Peugeot 407, with advisories and failures pointing consistently at the lower wishbones, ball joints and anti-roll bar linkages on both sides. The most recent test on 2022-04-20 was a pass, but it carried advisories for a worn nearside front lower suspension arm pin or bush and a pitted or scored brake disc, continuing a trend visible at every test since 2017. That 2017 entry included a fail for missing wheel bolts on all four corners alongside a noted lower ball joint play, and the 2018 retest produced a major failure for an excessively worn offside front lower suspension ball joint, an obligatorily damaged nearside mirror, and several lighting defects. By 2019 the front end was again flagged for play in the offside front suspension arm ball joint and both anti-roll bar linkage ball joints, plus a deteriorated nearside CV joint boot. The front brake flexible hose ferrules were also recorded as corroded in 2018. Taken together, the record shows a chassis that has been shedding small suspension components consistently rather than one with a single isolated repair, and the latest pass should be read as the continuation of that ongoing wear rather than a resolution of it. At 88,273 recorded miles across roughly 21 years, this 407 has covered only about 4,200 miles annually, which is well below typical mileage for the model. The MOT history reflects this with noticeable gaps between tests, including the interval from mid 2017 to early 2021 during which the car was not presented at all, and a further gap until the 2022 test. Low annual mileage with extended standing periods tends to allow corrosion to take hold on exposed ferrous components such as brake pipe ferrules, suspension subframes and pinch welds, while rubber elements like bushings, CV boots and suspension links can harden and perish from lack of use rather than wear out from work. The recorded mileage is therefore not a reassuring figure on its own; it simply indicates the car has spent long intervals stationary, which is consistent with the recurring advisories on flexible hoses and suspension linkages. For a prospective buyer, the priority items to inspect physically are the front suspension geometry, the brake hydraulic system, and the rear anti-roll bar arrangement. On the test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, which would indicate the worn lower arm pins, bushes and ball joints have finally loosened beyond the advisory threshold, and pay particular attention to any vagueness or knocking through the steering when turning at low speed, as the noted offside arm ball joint play is the kind of defect that progresses to dangerous separation. Check for uneven or pulling braking and any sponginess in the pedal, because the 2018 advisories flagged corroded front flexible hose ferrules and fluctuating service brake performance, and brake pipe corrosion beneath the wheel arch and along the underbody is a common failure point on mid-2000s Peugeots of this age. Visually inspect the inner CV joint boots on the nearside drive shaft for splits or grease loss, as the 2019 test recorded severe deterioration of that boot, and examine the tyres, particularly the offside rear, for cracking or perishing given the 2018 advisory. Beyond the chassis, the lighting and mirror items from the 2018 failure should be verified as properly rectified rather than assumed, and a thorough walkaround should confirm the bodywork and underside for corrosion, which is a known weakness on 407s of this vintage and is not fully captured by the MOT advisories shown. Given the consistent advisories against the front suspension over five consecutive tests and the low-mileage, long-standing usage profile, a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with Peugeot 407 front subframes, wishbones and brake hydraulic lines would be a prudent step before committing to purchase.