1998 Mitsubishi Shogun 2.8L Diesel · S623 BDE

The Mitsubishi Shogun passed its most recent MOT on 9 March 2023 at 143,546 miles, but the test exposed persistent corrosion and brake wear that point to a worsening maintenance trend rather than a resolved one. Two days earlier, on 7 March 2023, the vehicle failed at 143,543 miles with excessive corrosion on multiple brake pipes, a seriously weakened near-side front chassis mount within 30cm of a body mounting, and underbody rot. The owner cleared the failure by addressing the worst defects, yet the pass still carried advisories for pitted front brake discs, a greased-over near-side rear brake pipe, corroded fuel pipes, and continued inner arch and underbody corrosion. At roughly 28 years old the recorded 143,546 miles equate to about 5,127 miles per year, which is low for the age and suggests extended periods of standing or light use. The records show a three-year gap between the November 2018 pass at 140,833 miles and the February 2020 pass at 141,001 miles, then another three-year silence before the March 2023 tests at 143,543 to 143,546 miles. Such low annual accumulation and sparse testing intervals mean moisture-related degradation, not high-mileage mechanical fatigue, drives the fault profile. A buyer must inspect the near-side front chassis mount and inner arch in person, as the 2023 failure confirmed excessive structural corrosion close to a body mounting that may have only been patched for the retest. The brake pipe network requires full examination: the 2023 failure listed near-side front, off-side front, central, and near-side rear pipes as excessively corroded, and the subsequent pass still noted a corroded near-side rear pipe hidden under grease. Front brake discs scored and pitted across both 2023 tests, while 2020 flagged slightly binding rear brakes and worn pads, so calipers and disc faces need measurement. Previous owners skipped basic upkeep on consumables and structural protection. The 2018 failure showed a loose rear position lamp, ineffective wipers, and a non-functioning front seat belt alongside excessive steering ball joint play, while the 2023 record reveals corrosion was already advanced yet left to escalate. Given the Shogun's low mileage and serious rust progression, the vehicle demands a specialist underbody and brake pipe assessment before any purchase commitment.