2015 Peugeot 308 1.2L Petrol · LM15 FEP

A recurring oil leak advisory has appeared at three of the last four tests where defects were recorded, suggesting an ongoing seepage from somewhere on the engine or gearbox that the vehicle has lived with without it ever progressing to an MOT failure. The most recent test on 25 March 2025 returned a clean pass with no advisories, which interrupts but does not erase the pattern, as the leak had been flagged in 2022, 2023, and 2024. More concerning from a structural wear perspective is the 2023 test, which recorded worn lower suspension arm pins or bushes on both front sides together with pitted and scored rear brake discs, all of which point to a chassis that has covered meaningful mileage and is starting to show its age in the components that take the brunt of British road surfaces. A near miss with a dangerous failure on both rear tyres in June 2020 is also worth noting, although the rears were within legal limits on the 2024 test, with only the nearside rear showing edge wear. The 2021 headlamp aim failure on the nearside was a straightforward adjustment item rather than a mechanical defect. With 78,367 miles spread across roughly eleven years, this 308 is averaging around 7,100 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a car of its age and use class. There are no unusual gaps in the testing history or sudden mileage jumps between tests that would suggest the vehicle has been off the road for extended periods or clocked inconsistent readings, so the recorded odometer figure can be treated as a reliable reflection of how the car has actually been used. At this annual rate the engine, clutch, drivetrain mounts, and interior trim will all have seen normal service life wear rather than the accelerated degradation associated with very high mileage cars, but consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and suspension bushes will have required multiple replacements over the years. For a test drive, particular attention should be paid to the front suspension, since both lower arms were flagged for worn pins or bushes in 2023 and these items typically progress over time. Listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and feel for any vagueness or knocking through the steering wheel when turning lock to lock at low speed, as either symptom would indicate the bushes have worn beyond the advisory threshold. The rear brake discs were noted as pitted and scored in 2023, so on the road check for any vibration, shudder, or pulsation through the brake pedal under firm application, and listen for scraping or grinding that would suggest the discs have now worn to the limit or the pads have worn into the damaged surface. The persistent oil leak warrants a thorough under-bonnet inspection with the engine warm, looking for fresh drips or wet residue on the engine block, sump, cam cover gasket, and turbo oil lines if fitted, as well as checking the underside of the engine for fresh staining versus old dry marks. Inspect the rear tyres closely for uneven shoulder wear, particularly on the nearside which was flagged as worn on edge in 2024, and verify that all four tyres have at least 3mm of remaining tread to rule out the need for imminent replacement. Finally, confirm the headlamp aim is correctly set on both sides, as the nearside was found too low at the 2021 re-test, and check that the offside rear number plate lamp is functioning, which was noted as inoperative on the 2024 test.