2013 Peugeot 207 1.6L Diesel · SH13 SSZ

A thirteen year old Peugeot 207 returning an MOT pass at 135,659 miles in May 2023 carries a record shaped less by outright breakdown than by a steady accumulation of advisories and a couple of distinctly rough patches. The most recent test on 10 May 2023 recorded no failures but flagged a loose rear exhaust silencer, corroded bumper mountings, a worn front upper Macpherson strut pin or bush, and a central display showing various electrical defects. Just six days earlier the same vehicle had failed on an ABS warning lamp, incorrect headlamp aim on both sides, and an inoperative nearside front position lamp, while a previous attempt in April 2022 produced four major defects including imbalanced rear brakes, an excessively binding nearside rear service brake, an offside front coil spring fracture, and front headlamp aim set too high. The pattern therefore sits between a clean record and a chronic one, but the recurrence of brake imbalance, binding calipers, fractured coil springs and lighting defects across multiple visits points to areas of the car that will repay close physical scrutiny before purchase. Against the thirteen year span, the recorded mileage of 135,659 works out at roughly 10,400 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a car of this age and suggests neither long-term storage nor extreme high-mileage use. The eight MOT tests fall into a fairly consistent annual cadence from 2020 onwards, indicating the vehicle has been in regular service rather than laid up, and there are no obvious multi-year gaps that would raise concerns about dormant corrosion, perished rubber, or seized brake calipers from standing. That said, ten thousand miles per annum over more than a decade still places meaningful wear on suspension components, brake discs and drivetrain mounts, and the MOT record bears this out through worn strut bushes, a fractured coil spring, and binding brake mechanisms already noted. For a prospective buyer, the ABS fault flagged on the May 2023 failure deserves particular attention, as it can indicate either a failed wheel speed sensor, a reluctor ring problem, or a deeper hydraulic control unit issue; on a dampening test drive the warning lamp should be observed at ignition and during low-speed driving, and any pulsing or unexpected intervention from the system under braking warrants investigation. The Macpherson strut pin or bush advisory from the same test suggests inspecting the top mount area for any knocking over uneven surfaces, a clonking noise through the steering column when turning into a kerb, or visible cracking in the rubber. Given the fractured offside front coil spring and binding nearside rear caliper recorded in 2022, the car should be jacked or placed over an inspection pit to check the springs for visible cracking or seat settlement and to confirm the rear caliper slides freely without the caliper piston retracting unevenly. Uneven tyre wear recorded across multiple visits, including bald outer edges, indicates the geometry should be checked, and any steering pull, vibration through the pedals under heavy braking, or a rear wheel that drags and overheats on a short drive should be treated seriously. The oil leaks noted at the intercooler and gearbox in 2022, combined with the loose and defective exhaust mountings flagged in both 2021 and 2023, point to under-bonnet items worth a visual inspection from beneath the car on a ramp. Fresh oil staining or residue around the intercooler hoses, the turbo pipework, and the lower bellhousing area would suggest these leaks have progressed beyond the minor level previously recorded. The various electrical defects on the central display should also be investigated with the ignition on, confirming whether warning messages, trip computer readouts, or infotainment functions are functioning correctly, as this can reflect broader wiring loom condition on a thirteen year old French hatchback. Finally, the headlamp aim issues flagged on more than one occasion mean the lights should be checked against a wall at night for both symmetry and reach, and any condensation inside the headlamp lenses should be noted as it commonly accompanies failed adjustment on this model.