2009 Peugeot 308 1.6L Diesel · OY09 UPB

A pattern of chronic braking wear and persistent minor lighting/identification issues runs through the MOT history of this Peugeot 308, alongside a steady oil leak that has been flagged at every test since 2020. The most recent examination on 2022-04-30 recorded a pass, but it carried advisories for front and rear brake disc wear, thinning rear brake pads, and the same oil leak noted in prior years. Earlier failures are also notable: in February 2020 the nearside and offside front brake pads were recorded as Dangerous at less than 1.5 mm, a defect category that signifies an immediate hazard, while stop lamp failures and a non-conforming registration plate lamp appeared across both 2020 and 2021. The fact that brake pad wear advisories have appeared at multiple tests spanning several years points to a component group that has been repeatedly left to deteriorate before replacement, rather than being addressed proactively at each service interval. The recorded mileage of 148,999 miles over approximately seventeen years equates to an annual accumulation of around 8,765 miles, which sits broadly in line with average usage for the vehicle's age. There is a noticeable gap in testing between August 2018 and February 2020, a period of roughly eighteen months for which no MOT entry is held, though the recorded odometer readings across the retained tests do not show any suspicious jumps or anomalies during that interval. The 2022 test confirms the vehicle has continued to accumulate miles steadily rather than remaining idle, which is consistent with regular road use and means that consumable wear items such as brake friction material, tyres, and suspension bushes have continued to be worked in the normal fashion. For a prospective buyer, the brake system should be the primary focus of any physical inspection, given the history of front pads reaching dangerous thickness and the recurring advisories on both front and rear discs. On a test drive, listen for any grinding or scraping from the front wheels under light braking, feel for vibration or judder through the steering wheel or pedal which would indicate disc run-out or uneven wear, and check that the car pulls evenly to either side under firm stopping. The rear discs were flagged as pitted or scored in 2022, so a low-speed reversing stop should be performed to detect any rear brake roughness or binding. Inspect the visible piston area of the front calipers for seepage and confirm that the handbrake still holds the vehicle on a slope, particularly as the 2020 tests noted very little reserve travel on the handbrake lever, which can indicate stretched rear cables or worn shoe mechanism. The persistent oil leak advisories warrant a thorough under-bonnet examination, looking for fresh residue around the cam cover gasket, sump area, and any turbo or oil filter housing, depending on the variant fitted. Check the underside of the engine and bellhousing for active dripping rather than just old staining, and monitor the oil level on the dipstick over the course of an extended viewing. The rear stop lamp failures and registration plate lamp issues from prior tests are simple electrical items, but their repeated occurrence suggests it is worth verifying that all rear lighting functions correctly and that the plate illumination is present and conforming, as these have been recurring points of failure. Finally, with tyres being flagged for cracking, perishing, and edge wear at multiple tests, examine the sidewalls closely for age-related crazing and confirm even tread wear across both axles, which would also indicate the current state of front suspension geometry and bush condition.