2008 Trigano Ducato 2.3L Diesel · S13 DAE

A pattern of mechanical wear is beginning to surface on this 2008 Trigano Ducato camper conversion despite a generally clean pass history. Seven DVSA tests are recorded from 2020 through 2026, with five straight passes carrying no advisories. However, the 2026-07-23 entry reveals a failed attempt on the same day as a pass, where the exhaust system mountings were recorded as insecure and broken, and a 2025 advisory noted an offside front wheel bearing running slightly noisy. Earlier, the 2021 test flagged an offside front steering rack seepage and a nearside rear tyre cut. The presence of these isolated but increasingly mechanical items, paired with the age of the vehicle, suggests that structural exhaust components and steering/suspension wear items are starting to demand attention rather than the vehicle being trouble-free. Annual mileage is exceptionally low for an 18-year-old commercial-based platform, with 64,537 recorded miles equating to roughly 3,585 miles per year across its life. The MOT cadence is consistent and annual, with no extended testing gaps visible in the record, indicating the vehicle has been kept on the road continuously and used regularly enough for each annual test. Low-mileage Ducato-based motorhomes are mechanically less stressed in terms of high-speed wear on engines and clutches, but they can suffer from age-related degradation of rubber, bushes, seals, and underbody components due to prolonged exposure rather than use. The combination of light usage and advancing age tends to manifest in dried-out suspension bushes, perished flexible exhaust hangers, weeping steering and gearbox seals, and corrosion on underbody fastenings rather than worn clutches or brake friction material. Given the specific components flagged, a prospective buyer should prioritise a hands-on inspection of the exhaust mounting situation. Since the 2026 test noted broken exhaust mountings, the exhaust should be physically rocked by hand to confirm there is no excessive movement at the hangers, and the system should be checked for cracking at the flexible section and at the downpipe joint. Any metallic resonance or clonking from underneath, particularly on start-up or over uneven surfaces, would suggest the hangers have failed again or that the exhaust weight is now hanging on the rubber sections. The exhaust back box and intermediate pipe unions should also be examined for blueing or soot staining, which would indicate active blowing at the joints. The offside front wheel bearing advisory from 2025 and the steering rack seepage from 2021 are both worth probing during a road test. With the vehicle unladen and on a quiet road, listen for a low-frequency hum or drone from the offside front corner that changes with steering input, which is characteristic of a worn bearing. For the steering rack, a visible damp residue along the rack gaiters or on the inner track rod ends is to be expected, but the test should focus on whether any free play is present in the steering, whether the rack feels notchy through the lock, and whether steering response is consistent in both directions. Also check the underside carefully for any corrosion around the front subframe and brake pipe clips, as 18 years of road salt exposure on a low-mileage vehicle can produce surface oxidation on load-bearing structural panels that the MOT may not yet have flagged.