2017 Peugeot 3008 1.2L Petrol · S29 WJB

The most recent DVSA MOT test on 30 June 2026 recorded a clean pass with no advisories or defects, which is a reassuring immediate result. However, the broader trend across 2024 and 2025 shows a turbulent maintenance history that a prospective buyer should weigh carefully. The vehicle failed its MOT on 18 November 2024 due to excessive dense blue smoke during acceleration, and only two months prior it had failed again on 21 September 2024 with both an anti-roll bar ball joint play advisory classed as a major and an emissions test that could not be completed owing to excessive white smoke. The advisories issued at the July 2024 pass, relating to worn and lipped front brake discs, perished nearside front tyre sidewall, edge wear on both front tyres, and a nearside front suspension rod ball joint with slight play, collectively paint a picture of a car that had accumulated a cluster of front-end and emissions issues in quick succession. That the two subsequent tests passed without recorded defects suggests remediation work has been carried out, but the underlying nature of the failures warrants scrutiny rather than assumption. With 45,218 recorded miles over approximately nine years, the vehicle averages around 5,000 miles annually, which is notably low for its age and indicates either genuine light use or extended periods of standing. Low annual mileage of this nature reduces wear on major drivetrain components such as the engine, clutch and gearbox internals, but introduces a different set of age-related concerns. Long idle periods commonly accelerate rubber and polymer degradation, promote corrosion on brake discs and callipers that may have begun to bind, and place strain on the 12V battery through repeated partial discharge cycles. The gap-free MOT history, with tests recorded annually from mid-2024 onwards, suggests the car was likely brought out of any prolonged storage and put back into regular use relatively recently, which is helpful but means time-based degradation of fluids, seals and underbody protection has continued regardless of odometer movement. In terms of emissions, the blue smoke failure recorded in late 2024 typically points to oil entering the combustion chamber, commonly through worn valve stem seals, turbocharger oil seals on diesel variants, or piston ring wear, while the earlier white smoke issue may relate to coolant intrusion, injector function, or in diesel applications, failed glow plugs or DPF regeneration anomalies. A prospective buyer should ask for documentary evidence of the remedial work undertaken after November 2024, ideally with a receipt from a reputable garage, and should observe the exhaust on a cold start and during hard acceleration for any persistent blue, white or excessive black smoke. Cold-start smoke that clears quickly can be more benign, whereas smoke that persists under load is more indicative of internal engine wear. Given the front brake disc lipping and edge tyre wear advisories from mid-2024, the discs and pads should be physically inspected for current thickness, ridging and free running of the calliper sliders, as binding callipers are a common consequence of low-mileage or infrequently driven vehicles. Beyond the recorded items, several age- and usage-appropriate inspections are strongly recommended. Tyre sidewalls should be examined closely for perishing and cracking, particularly on the nearside front where an advisory was previously raised, even if the most recent test recorded no defects, as rubber continues to degrade with calendar age regardless of tread depth. The 12V battery should be load tested, as a nine-year-old original unit or one that has sat through extended standing periods is highly likely to require imminent replacement. Brake discs should be checked for surface rust and any uneven corrosion pitting that could cause shudder or judder under braking, and the calliper slide pins should be confirmed to be free and greased. Coolant, brake fluid and transmission fluid should all be verified as within their manufacturer service intervals, as these fluids degrade on a calendar basis rather than by mileage alone. On the test drive, listen carefully for any clonks or rattles from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, which would suggest the anti-roll bar or suspension rod ball joints previously flagged have not been correctly addressed, and pay attention to any pulling under braking, uneven tyre wear reappearing quickly, or excessive smoke on demand. Verifying full service history stamps and any invoices relating to the 2024 emissions and suspension rectification will be essential to confirming this vehicle is now sound.