2008 Volkswagen Transporter 1.9L Diesel · MR03 RMS

The vehicle presents a mixed but broadly improving maintenance picture, with the most recent MOT on 29 October 2025 at 202,488 miles passing cleanly apart from two advisory tyres. That clean bill of health follows a more troubled period in mid-2024, when the van failed on 19 August 2024 at 179,395 miles with a dangerously worn offside front suspension arm ball joint flagged as likely to detach, a split offside front CV boot, and a damaged obligatory mirror. The very next day, 20 August 2024 at 179,398 miles, it passed with only minor advisories on the nearside front ball joint and front suspension bush, suggesting prompt repairs were carried out. The trend since then has been stable, with no further serious defects recorded through to the October 2025 test. Mileage accumulation tells a consistent story. Between the June 2023 test at 156,223 miles and the August 2024 test at 179,399 miles, the van covered roughly 23,176 miles in just over twelve months, a notably high annual rate. From August 2024 to October 2025, however, only 23,089 miles were added across a span of over thirteen months, indicating either a drop in usage or a period of lighter work. At approximately 11,249 miles per year across its full eighteen-year life, the overall mileage is typical for a working Transporter of this age, though the uneven distribution suggests its workload shifted significantly around late 2023 to mid-2024. Prospective buyers should pay close attention to the front suspension and drivetrain. The August 2024 failure revealed a near-critical offside front ball joint and a split CV boot, both of which were evidently replaced given the clean pass the following day. A physical inspection should verify the condition of both lower suspension arms, ball joints, and bushes, along with the CV boot and joint on the offside front, checking for fresh grease contamination or play. Repeated advisories on tyre wear across multiple tests, particularly on the offside front and rear, point to possible alignment issues or uneven loading. Have the tracking and camber checked, and inspect the inner edges of all four tyres for feathering or scalloped wear. The damaged obligatory mirror noted in 2024 appears to have been replaced, but confirm the offside mirror housing is intact and secure. Given the van's working life and mileage, a thorough underside inspection for corrosion, especially around suspension mounting points, subframe, and sills, is strongly recommended before purchase.