2009 Peugeot 308 1.6L Petrol · LM09 GXT

A persistent low-grade oil leak and recurring corrosion on the offside suspension mounting area define this 2009 Peugeot 308's test history, with the oil leak advisory appearing across four consecutive test cycles from 2022 through to the most recent pass on 14 March 2025. That latest test was itself a retest following a failure nine days earlier for inoperative windscreen washers on both sides, and it carried a fresh advisory for a binding nearside rear brake alongside the continuing oil leak, perishing rear tyres, and a headlamp lens coating. Earlier failures include a fractured offside front coil spring in August 2022 and an offside stop lamp fault in August 2021, both rectified promptly with passes recorded the same or following day. The overall trend is not worsening dramatically, but neither is it clean: the corrosion noted at the offside outer sill suspension mounting prescribed area in 2022 and the rear tyre cracking flagged since 2023 remain live items that have not been cleared from the record. Recorded mileage stands at 88,596 miles over roughly seventeen years, averaging about 5,212 miles per year, which is low for the age. The test dates suggest fairly consistent annual use rather than extended lay-ups, with no significant gaps in the testing sequence, and the failure-and-retest pairs in 2021, 2022, and 2025 indicate the car was being presented and repaired promptly rather than standing unused. Low annual mileage on a car of this age is consistent with the perishing and cracking recorded on both rear tyres, since rubber degrades with time as much as with distance, and it is also compatible with the binding rear brake, as lightly used calipers and handbrake mechanisms are prone to sticking. The fractured front coil spring in 2022 is a common age-related failure on this platform regardless of mileage. On a test drive, pay close attention to the rear brakes: the nearside rear binding advisory means you should feel for any dragging sensation, listen for a scraping or squeal at low speed, and after a few miles check whether the nearside rear wheel feels noticeably hotter than its opposite side, which would suggest the caliper or handbrake mechanism is sticking rather than having been freed off. Over bumps and uneven surfaces, listen for knocking or clonking from the front suspension, given the 2022 coil spring failure; ask for evidence that the spring was replaced and ideally that both sides were done, and check the car sits level at the front. Inspect the offside outer sill and suspension mounting area directly, as corrosion in a prescribed area can progress from advisory to structural failure within a couple of test cycles on a car of this age. The oil leak, though repeatedly assessed as not excessive, has persisted for at least three years and warrants investigation of its source, whether a rocker cover gasket, crankshaft seal, or sump joint, since a slow leak can deteriorate and contaminate other components. Check beneath the car and around the engine bay for fresh seepage, and monitor the oil level between viewings if possible. The rear tyres flagged for cracking since 2023 should be examined closely and budgeted for replacement if still fitted, and confirm the windscreen washers now deliver a strong, even spray to both sides of the screen, as that was the most recent failure point. Finally, verify the loose offside wing mirror has been secured and that both headlamps, noted for a lens coating, still produce a clear beam pattern.